julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
The role of posterior ventral stream areas for viewpoint-invariant object recognition
2021-07-08

Abstract Object constancy is one of the most crucial mechanisms of the human visual system enabling viewpoint invariant object recognition. However, the neuronal foundations of object constancy are widely unknown. Research has shown that the ventral visual stream is involved in processing of various kinds of object stimuli and that several regions along the ventral stream are possibly sensitive to the orientation of an object in space. To systematically address the question of viewpoint sensitive object perception, we conducted a study with stroke patients as well as an fMRI experiment with healthy participants applying object stimuli in several spatial orientations, for example in typical and atypical viewing conditions. In the fMRI experiment, we found stronger BOLD signals and above-chance classification accuracies for objects presented in atypical viewing conditions in fusiform face sensitive and lateral occipito-temporal object preferring areas. In the behavioral patient study, we observed that lesions of the right fusiform gyrus were associated with lower performance in object recognition for atypical views. The complementary results from both experiments emphasize the contributions of fusiform and lateral-occipital areas to visual object constancy and indicate that visual object constancy is particularly enabled through increased neuronal activity and specific activation patterns for objects in demanding viewing conditions.
Mutation spectrum of the OPA1 gene in a large cohort of patients with suspected dominant optic atrophy: Identification and classification of 48 novel variants
2021-07-09

Autosomal dominant optic atrophy is one of the most common inherited optic neuropathies. This disease is genetically heterogeneous, but most cases are due to pathogenic variants in the OPA1 gene: depending on the population studied, 32–90% of cases harbor pathogenic variants in this gene. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the entire spectrum of likely pathogenic variants in the OPA1 gene in a large cohort of patients. Over a period of 20 years, 755 unrelated probands with a diagnosis of bilateral optic atrophy were referred to our laboratory for molecular genetic investigation. Genetic testing of the OPA1 gene was initially performed by a combined analysis using either single-strand conformation polymorphism or denaturing high performance liquid chromatography followed by Sanger sequencing to validate aberrant bands or melting profiles. The presence of copy number variations was assessed using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Since 2012, genetic testing was based on next-generation sequencing platforms. Genetic screening of the OPA1 gene revealed putatively pathogenic variants in 278 unrelated probands which represent 36.8% of the entire cohort. A total of 156 unique variants were identified, 78% of which can be considered null alleles. Variant c.2708_2711del/p.(V903Gfs*3) was found to constitute 14% of all disease-causing alleles. Special emphasis was placed on the validation of splice variants either by analyzing cDNA derived from patients ́ blood samples or by heterologous splice assays using minigenes. Splicing analysis revealed different aberrant splicing events, including exon skipping, activation of exonic or intronic cryptic splice sites, and the inclusion of pseudoexons. Forty-eight variants that we identified were novel. Nine of them were classified as pathogenic, 34 as likely pathogenic and five as variant of uncertain significance. Our study adds a significant number of novel variants to the mutation spectrum of the OPA1 gene and will thereby facilitate genetic diagnostics of patients with suspected dominant optic atrophy.
Biallelic variants in PCDHGC4 cause a novel neurodevelopmental syndrome with progressive microcephaly, seizures, and joint anomalies
2021-07-09

We show that biallelic variants in PCDHGC4 are causing a novel autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder and link PCDHGC4 as a member of the clustered PCDH family to a Mendelian disorder in humans.
From Agricultural Waste to a Powerful Antioxidant: Hydroxytyrosol as a Sustainable Model Substance for Understanding Antioxidant Capacity
2021-07-09

Students encounter antioxidants in many areas of their daily life. Antioxidants play a crucial role in cosmetics, in nutritional or dietary supplements, as additives for the preservation of food, and as a natural component in fruit and vegetables. Accordingly, antioxidants are believed to promote health through the prevention of oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals. The underlying oxidation and reduction processes of antioxidants are a central topic of chemistry classes. Additionally, antioxidants can be linked to aspects of sustainability. In this paper, the model substance chosen to demonstrate these aspects of antioxidants is hydroxytyrosol. Hydroxytyrosol is a natural, highly effective antioxidant, which is produced, for example, in olive trees and can be found in high concentrations in olive mill wastewater, which is potentially hazardous to the environment. In the first experiment, WELL-plate experiments are used to show the principal properties of antioxidants, both as reducing agents and radical scavengers, for the example of hydroxytyrosol. The experiments are based on the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) test, which is widely applied in the food industry. In a second experiment, the properties of antioxidants are demonstrated using alginate balls as reaction vessels to produce a luminous bubble tea. Furthermore, the school-student-friendly extraction of hydroxytyrosol is presented.
Impact of Childhood Obesity and Psychological Factors on Sleep
2021-07-09

The aim of the study was to analyze sleep duration and behaviors in relation to psychological parameters in children and adolescents with obesity seeking inpatient weight-loss treatment in comparison to normal-weight children, and whether or not these variables would improve during the time course of treatment. Sixty children or adolescents with overweight and obesity (OBE) and 27 normal-weight (NW) peers (age: 9–17) were assessed for subjective sleep measures through self-reported and parent-reported questionnaires, as well as body weight, body composition, and psychological questionnaires. The OBE participants were assessed upon admission and before discharge of an inpatient multidisciplinary weight-loss program. NW participants' data were collected for cross-sectional comparison. In comparison to NW, children and adolescents with OBE had a shorter self-reported sleep duration and had poorer sleep behaviors and more sleep-disordered breathing as reported by their parents. No change in sleep measures occurred during the inpatient treatment. Psychological factors including higher anxiety, depression, and destructive-anger-related emotion regulation were moderate predictors for unfavorable sleep outcomes, independent of weight status. Children with obesity had less favorable sleep patterns, and psychological factors influenced sleep in children, independent of weight. More research is needed on the relationship and direction of influence between sleep, psychological factors, and obesity, and whether they can be integrated in the prevention and management of childhood obesity and possibly also other pediatric diseases.
Coupling saturated and unsaturated flow: comparing the iterative and the non-iterative approach
2021-07-09

Abstract. Fully integrated three-dimensional (3D) physically based hydrologic models usually require many computational resources. For many applications, simplified models can be a cost-effective alternative. The 3D models of subsurface flow are often simplified by coupling a 2D groundwater model with multiple 1D models for the unsaturated zone. The crucial part of such models is the coupling between the two model compartments. In this work we compare two approaches for the coupling. One is iterative where the 1D unsaturated zone models go down to the impervious bottom of the aquifer, and the other one is non-iterative and uses a moving lower boundary for the unsaturated zone. In this context we also propose a new way of treating the specific yield, which plays a crucial role in linking the unsaturated and the groundwater model. Both models are applied to three test cases with increasing complexity and analyzed in terms of accuracy and speed compared to fully integrated model runs. The non-iterative approach is faster but does not yield a good accuracy for the model parameters in all applied test cases, whereas the iterative one gives good results in all cases. Which strategy is applied depends on the requirements: computational speed vs. model accuracy.
Incident detection of human papillomavirus – a prospective follow-up study among Tanzanian women with a focus on HIV status
2021-07-09

HPV acquisition was higher among HIV-positive than HIV-negative women, especially women with low CD4 counts. Improvement of immune status among HIV-positives may decrease HPV acquisition. Nonavalent HPV vaccination should be considered given the pattern of HR-HPV types acquired.
Search for dark matter annihilation signals from unidentified Fermi-LAT objects with H.E.S.S.
2021-07-09

Cosmological N-body simulations show that Milky-Way-sized galaxies harbor a population of unmerged dark matter subhalos. These subhalos could shine in gamma rays and be eventually detected in gamma-ray surveys as unidentified sources. We search for very-high-energy (VHE, ~GeV) gamma-ray emission using H.E.S.S. observations carried out from a thorough selection of unidentified Fermi-LAT Objects (UFOs) as dark matter subhalo candidates. Provided that the dark matter mass is higher than a few hundred GeV, the emission of the UFOs can be well described by dark matter annihilation models. No significant VHE gamma-ray emission is detected in any UFO dataset nor in their combination. We, therefore, derive constraints on the product of the velocity-weighted annihilation cross-section by the -factor on dark matter models describing the UFO emissions. Upper limits at 95\\\\% confidence level are derived on in and annihilation channels for the TeV dark matter particles. Focusing on thermal WIMPs, strong constraints on the -factors are obtained from H.E.S.S. observations. Adopting model-dependent predictions from cosmological N-body simulations on the -factor distribution function for Milky Way (MW)-sized galaxies, only ~TeV mass dark matter models marginally allow to explain observed UFO emission.
Dafydd Fell and Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao (eds.), Taiwan Studies Revisited
2021-07-09

The edited volume Taiwan Studies Revisited is a fascinating reflection on the emergence of Taiwan studies as an academic field by asking various academics to revisit their previous publications. These scholars were asked to discuss origins, methodology, fieldwork experience and specific problems they had encountered when writing on Taiwan, be it the lack of existing works or the transformation of Taiwan from an authoritarian state, with a prescribed Chinese identity, towards a more democratic and liberal society, with an increasing focus on the question of what Taiwan actually means. As Taiwan studies is an interdisciplinary field, subjects covered
Data for Publication "Comparing individuals buried in flexed and extended positions at the Greek colony of Chersonesos (Crimea) using cranial metric, dental metric, and dental nonmetric traits"
2021-07-09

&lt;p&gt;Data for Publication: H. Rathmann, R. Stoyanov, and R. Posamentir, Comparing individuals buried in flexed and extended positions at the Greek colony of Chersonesos (Crimea) using cranial metric, dental metric, and dental nonmetric traits.&lt;/p&gt;
Data for Publication "Comparing individuals buried in flexed and extended positions at the Greek colony of Chersonesos (Crimea) using cranial metric, dental metric, and dental nonmetric traits"
2021-07-09

Data for Publication: H. Rathmann, R. Stoyanov, and R. Posamentir, Comparing individuals buried in flexed and extended positions at the Greek colony of Chersonesos (Crimea) using cranial metric, dental metric, and dental nonmetric traits.
Anaerobic Neutrophilic Pyrite Oxidation by a Chemolithoautotrophic Nitrate-Reducing Iron(II)-Oxidizing Culture Enriched from a Fractured Aquifer
2021-07-10

Neutrophilic microbial pyrite (FeS<sub>2</sub>) oxidation coupled to denitrification is thought to be an important natural nitrate attenuation pathway in nitrate-contaminated aquifers. However, the poor solubility of pyrite raises questions about its bioavailability and the mechanisms underlying its oxidation. Here, we investigated direct microbial pyrite oxidation by a neutrophilic chemolithoautotrophic nitrate-reducing Fe(II)-oxidizing culture enriched from a pyrite-rich aquifer. We used pyrite with natural abundance (NA) of Fe isotopes (<sup>NA</sup>Fe-pyrite) and <sup>57</sup>Fe-labeled siderite to evaluate whether the oxidation of the more soluble Fe(II)-carbonate (FeCO<sub>3</sub>) can indirectly drive abiotic pyrite oxidation. Our results showed that in setups where only pyrite was incubated with bacteria, direct microbial pyrite oxidation contributed ca. 26% to overall nitrate reduction. The rest was attributed to the oxidation of elemental sulfur (S<sup>0</sup>), present as a residue from pyrite synthesis. Pyrite oxidation was evidenced in the <sup>NA</sup>Fe-pyrite/<sup>57</sup>Fe-siderite setups by maps of <sup>56</sup>FeO and <sup>32</sup>S obtained using a combination of SEM with nanoscale secondary ion MS (NanoSIMS), which showed the presence of <sup>56</sup>Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides that could solely originate from <sup>56</sup>FeS<sub>2</sub>. Based on the fit of a reaction model to the geochemical data and the Fe-isotope distributions from NanoSIMS, we conclude that anaerobic oxidation of pyrite by our neutrophilic enrichment culture was mainly driven by direct enzymatic activity of the cells. The contribution of abiotic pyrite oxidation by Fe<sup>3+</sup> appeared to be negligible in our experimental setup.
The Role of Different Raw Materials in Lithic Technology and Settlement Patterns During the Middle Stone Age of Southern Africa
2021-07-10

Abstract The study of raw materials is an essential step in lithic analysis, regardless of the age, provenance, and technology of the assemblages. As in many other contexts of the Paleolithic, researchers of the Middle Stone Age (MSA) in southern Africa have often focused their attention on fine-grained, non-local rock types, such as silcrete. Here, I spotlight raw materials considered to be of lower suitability for knapping and frequently acquired from local sources. Due to their coarse-grained nature, artifacts from rock types such as calcrete, sandstone, and quartzite might show attributes that are different from finer-grained materials. Some of these knapped stones even constitute the substrate of the sites they are from, at times resulting in their neglect or not being recognized as anthropogenic artifacts. Knapped vein quartz features sharp and durable edges, but its complicated fracture mechanics hamper comparative analysis and provide methodological challenges. In this study, raw materials from different transport distances and with different presumed qualities are compared in terms of their roles in MSA lithic technology and settlement patterns. In the first step, the article focuses on the open-air special-purpose camp of Hoedjiespunt 1 (HDP1, Western Cape) and the rockshelter residential site of Sibudu (KwaZulu-Natal), especially on assemblages dated between ~ 130–100 and ~ 58 ka. Subsequently, I review relevant materials for the southern African MSA. At HDP1 and Sibudu, local raw materials of lower knapping suitability assume several roles, from the “staple” material for all manufacturing stages to special-purpose and “add-on” functions. In the broader southern African region, MSA knappers also used these rock types in a flexible manner with gradual differences but also similarities to their use of finer-grained raw material. These differences depend on a complex interaction of raw material availability, differential site use, and the position of the localities in the settlement system.
Ellis–Bronnikov Wormholes in Asymptotically Safe Gravity
2021-07-10

In this paper, we investigate the simplest wormhole solution—the Ellis–Bronnikov one—in the context of the asymptotically safe gravity (ASG) at the Planck scale. We work with three models, which employ the Ricci scalar, Kretschmann scalar, and squared Ricci tensor to improve the field equations by turning the Newton constant into a running coupling constant. For all the cases, we check the radial energy conditions of the wormhole solution and compare them with those that are valid in general relativity (GR). We verified that asymptotic safety guarantees that the Ellis–Bronnikov wormhole can satisfy the radial energy conditions at the throat radius, r0, within an interval of values of the latter, which is quite different from the result found in GR. Following this, we evaluate the effective radial state parameter, ω(r), at r0, showing that the quantum gravitational effects modify Einstein’s field equations in such a way that it is necessary to have a very exotic source of matter to generate the wormhole spacetime–phantom or quintessence-like matter. This occurs within some ranges of the throat radii, even though the energy conditions are or are not violated there. Finally, we find that, although at r0 we have a quintessence-like matter, upon growing r, we inevitably came across phantom-like regions. We speculate whether such a phantom fluid must always be present in wormholes in the ASG context or even in more general quantum gravity scenarios.
Ex Vivo Evaluation of the Sepsis Triple Therapy High-Dose Vitamin C in Combination with Vitamin B1 and Hydrocortisone in a Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) Model
2021-07-10

Sepsis is an extremely complex clinical syndrome, usually involving an excessive inflammatory response including an overshooting cytokine release that damages tissue and organs of the patient. Due to the severity of this condition, it is estimated that over 11 million people die from sepsis each year. Despite intensive research in the field, there is still no specific therapy for sepsis. Many sepsis patients show a marked deficiency of vitamin C. 9 out of 10 sepsis patients have a hypovitaminosis C, and every third patient even shows a clinical deficiency in the scurvy range. In addition, low vitamin C levels of intensive care sepsis patients correlate with a higher need for vasopressors, higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, and increased mortality. Based on this observation and the conducted clinical trials using vitamin C as sepsis therapy in intensive care patients, the aim of the present ex vivo study was to evaluate the effects of high-dose vitamin C alone and in a triple combination supplemented with vitamin B1 (thiamine) and hydrocortisone on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cytokine response in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy human donors. We found that all corticosteroid combinations strongly reduced the cytokine response on RNA- and protein levels, while high-dose vitamin C alone significantly diminished the PBMC mediated secretion of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-10, IL-23, and monocyte chemo-attractant protein (MCP-1), which mediate the inflammatory response. However, vitamin C showed no enhancing effect on the secretion of further cytokines studied. This data provides important insights into the possible immunomodulatory function of vitamin C in an ex vivo setting of human PBMCs and the modulation of their cytokine profile in the context of sepsis. Since vitamin C is a vital micronutrient, the restoration of physiologically adequate concentrations should be integrated into routine sepsis therapy, and the therapeutic effects of supraphysiological concentrations of vitamin C in sepsis patients should be further investigated in clinical trials.
Quantifying Tectonic and Glacial Controls on Topography in the Patagonian Andes (46.5°S) From Integrated Thermochronometry and Thermo‐Kinematic Modeling
2021-07-10

Abstract The Patagonian Andes have been used to illustrate the dependency of major topographic changes in response to glacial erosion processes dominating over tectonic deformation and uplift. Here, we investigate tectonic and glacial contributors to the erosion history and evolution of topography in the Patagonian Andes at 46.5°S. We present 33 new apatite and zircon (U‐Th)/He (AHe and ZHe, respectively) and fission track (AFT and ZFT, respectively) ages integrated with 46 previously published bedrock thermochronometric ages in a 3D thermo‐kinematic model. Observed thermochronometer ages increase from the eastern flank of the topographic crest of the orogen toward the eastern retro‐foreland basin (from AFT 4–10 Ma, ZHe 4–12 Ma, ZFT 6–14 Ma to AFT 28–32 Ma, ZHe 68–117 Ma). Thermo‐kinematic modeling indicates that spatial gradients in thermochronometric ages can be explained by an up to 100‐km‐wide, parabolic‐shaped pattern in exhumation rates with a maximum rate of 0.5 mm/yr from 15 Ma until the onset of glaciation at ∼7 Ma. Furthermore, model results suggest that the youngest AHe ages require a localized acceleration in erosion from ∼0.5 mm/yr to ∼2.2 mm/yr starting between ∼5 and ∼3 Ma, coeval with intensified glaciation and subduction of the Chile Rise. Our results suggest that the long‐wavelength (∼100 km) topography and erosion patterns are likely controlled by rock uplift above mid‐crustal ramp(s) and subsequent transpression along the Liquiñe‐Ofqui Fault. Superposed on these tectonic processes, Late Cenozoic glaciation resulted in localized and accelerated erosion over wavelengths of &lt;20 km.
Religion, identity and power. Turkey and the Balkans in the twenty-first century
2021-07-10

There has been intense interest in the Balkans in International Relations literature over the last decade. The revitalization of Russia’s relations with some Balkan countries and the launch of Chin...