julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Evolution during seed production for ecological restoration? A molecular analysis of 19 species finds only minor genomic changes
2022-03-10

Abstract A growing number of restoration projects require large amounts of seeds. As harvesting natural populations cannot cover the demand, wild plants are often propagated in large‐scale monocultures. There are concerns that this cultivation process may cause genetic drift and unintended selection, altering the genetic properties of the cultivated populations and reducing their genetic diversity. Such changes could reduce the pre‐existing adaptation of restored populations and limit their adaptability to environmental change. We used single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and a pool‐sequencing approach to test for genetic differentiation and changes in gene diversity during cultivation in 19 wild grassland species, comparing source populations and up to four consecutive cultivation generations. We linked the magnitudes of genetic changes to the species' breeding systems and seed dormancy to understand the roles of these traits in genetic change. Cultivation changed the genetic composition across cultivated generations only moderately. The genetic differentiation resulting from cultivation was much lower than the natural genetic differentiation between different source regions. The propagated generations harboured even higher gene diversity than wild‐collected seeds. Genetic change was stronger in self‐compatible than self‐incompatible species, probably due to increased outcrossing in monocultures. Synthesis and applications . Our study suggests that large‐scale seed production maintains the genetic integrity of natural populations. Increased genetic diversity may even indicate increased adaptive potential of propagated seeds, which would make them especially suitable for ecological restoration. Yet, it remains to be tested whether these molecular patterns will be mirrored also by plant phenotypes. Further, we used seeds from Germany and Austria, where the seed production is regulated and certified, and we do not know yet whether other seed production systems perform equally well.
Work intensity and quality of life can be restored following double‐level osteotomy in varus knee osteoarthritis
2022-03-10

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess changes in health‐related quality of life (HRQL) and work intensity following double‐level knee osteotomy (DLO). It was hypothesized that postoperative HRQL would be comparable to that of the general population and that work intensity can be restored in the short term. Methods Twenty‐four patients (28 varus knees; mechanical tibiofemoral angle: −11.0 ± 3.0° (−6.0 to −17.0), age: 49.1 ± 9.5 (31–65) years) who underwent DLO were included. The duration the patients were unable to work was evaluated. HRQL was measured with the SF‐36 questionnaire, which consists of a physical (PCS) and mental component summary score (MCS). The pre‐ to postoperative changes in the PCS and MCS were analysed. The PCS and MCS were also compared to those of the general population, who has a reference score value of 50 points. The work intensity measured with the REFA classification and the Tegner activity scale were assessed preoperatively and at the final postoperative follow‐up examination (18.0 ± 10.0 (5–43) months). Results The duration that the patients were unable to work was 12.2 ± 4.4 (6–20) weeks. The PCS improved from 32.1 ± 11.3 (14.5–53.3) preoperatively to 54.6 ± 8.5 (25.2–63.7) ( p &lt; 0.001) at the final follow‐up, and the MCS improved from 53.9 ± 11.1 (17.1–67.7) to 57.2 ± 3.1 (47.3–61.7) (n.s). The preoperative PCS was significantly lower than the reference score of the general population ( p &lt; 0.001), whereas the preoperative MCS was similar between the two groups (n.s . ). At follow‐up, no significant differences were observed between the PCS and the MCS of the patient group and those of the general population. Five patients who were unable to work prior to surgery due to knee symptoms returned to work with moderate (four patients) or even very heavy (one patient) workloads. The Tegner activity scale increased significantly from a median of 2.0 (0.0–5.0) to 4.0 (2.0–7.0) ( p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion Our results demonstrate an improvement in quality of life and return to working activity following DLO in the short term. The HRQL can be improved by DLO in patients with varus knee osteoarthritis to the level of the general population. These results can assist surgeons in discussing realistic expectations when considering patients for DLO. Level of evidence Study type: therapeutic, IV.
Stellar laboratories II. New Zn IV and Zn V oscillator strengths and their validation in the hot white dwarfs G191-B2B and RE0503-289
2022-03-10

For the spectral analysis of high-resolution and high-signal-to-noise spectra of hot stars, state-of-the-art non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) model-atmospheres are mandatory. These are strongly dependent on the reliability of the atomic data that is used for their calculation. In a recent analysis of the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum of the DA-type white dwarf G191-B2B, 21 Zn IV lines were newly identified. Because of the lack of Zn IV data, transition probabilities of the isoelectronic Ge VI were adapted for a first, coarse determination of the photospheric Zn abundance. We performed new calculations of Zn IV and Zn V oscillator strengths to consider their radiative and collisional bound-bound transitions in detail in our NLTE stellar-atmosphere models for the analysis of the Zn IV - V spectrum exhibited in high-resolution and high-S/N UV observations of G191-B2B and RE0503-289. In the UV spectrum of G191-B2B, we identify 31 Zn IV and 16 Zn V lines. Most of these are identified for the first time in any star. We can reproduce well almost all of them at log Zn = -5.52 +/- 0.2 (mass fraction, about 1.7 times solar). In particular, the Zn IV / Zn V ionization equilibrium, which is a very sensitive indicator for the effective temperature, is well reproduced with the previously determined Teff = 60000 +/- 2000 and log g = 7.60 +/- 0.05. In the spectrum of RE0503-289, we identified 128 Zn V lines for the first time and determined log Zn = -3.57 +/- 0.2 (155 times solar). Reliable measurements and calculations of atomic data are a pre-requisite for stellar-atmosphere modeling. Observed Zn IV and Zn V line profiles in two white dwarf (G191-B2B and RE0503-289) ultraviolet spectra were well reproduced with our newly calculated oscillator strengths. This allowed us to determine the photospheric Zn abundance of these two stars precisely.
How to approach a neurogenetics diagnosis in different European countries: The European Academy of Neurology Neurogenetics Panel survey
2022-03-10

Abstract Background and purpose Seven thousand rare diseases have been identified; most of them are of genetic origin. The diagnosis of a neurogenetic disease is difficult, and management and training programs are not well defined through Europe. To capture and assess care needs, the Neurogenetics Panel of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) has performed an explorative survey. Methods The survey covering multiple topics of neurogenetics was sent to all neurologists and neuropediatricians affiliated with the EAN practicing in Europe. Results We collected answers from 239 members based in 40 European member states. Even though most of the responders were aware of neurogenetic diseases, when we came to amenability of carrying out a complete genetic diagnosis, almost one‐third of the responders declared they were not happy with the current way of ordering genetic analyses in their countries. Furthermore, although single‐gene analysis is diffusely present in Europe, whole exome and genome sequencing are not easily accessible, with considerable variabilities among countries. Almost 10% of the responders did not know if presymptomatic and prenatal diagnosis was available in their countries, and 47.3% were not aware of which newborn screening programs were available. Finally, 96.3% of responders declared that there is a need for education and training in neurogenetics. Conclusions We believe that this survey may be of importance for all European stakeholders in neurogenetics in identifying key priorities, targeting areas to encourage education/travel fellowships, and educational seminars in the future, because this area will only accelerate, and diagnostic requirements will expand.
SARS-CoV-2 B.1.214.1, B.1.214.2 and B.1.620 are predominant lineages between December 2020 and July 2021 in the Republic of Congo
2022-03-10

<b>:</b> Longitudinal monitoring and molecular surveillance across time and space are critical to understanding viral phylodynamics, which could have important implications for transmissibility and impact infection prevention and control measures.
A Nanobody-Based Toolset to Monitor and Modify the Mitochondrial GTPase Miro1
2022-03-10

The mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM)-anchored GTPase Miro1, is a central player in mitochondrial transport and homeostasis. The dysregulation of Miro1 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) suggests that Miro1 may be a potential biomarker or drug target in neuronal disorders. However, the molecular functionality of Miro1 under (patho-) physiological conditions is poorly known. For a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular functions of Miro1, we have developed Miro1-specific nanobodies (Nbs) as novel research tools. We identified seven Nbs that bind either the N- or C-terminal GTPase domain of Miro1 and demonstrate their application as research tools for proteomic and imaging approaches. To visualize the dynamics of Miro1 in real time, we selected intracellularly functional Nbs, which we reformatted into chromobodies (Cbs) for time-lapse imaging of Miro1. By genetic fusion to an Fbox domain, these Nbs were further converted into Miro1-specific degrons and applied for targeted degradation of Miro1 in live cells. In summary, this study presents a collection of novel Nbs that serve as a toolkit for advanced biochemical and intracellular studies and modulations of Miro1, thereby contributing to the understanding of the functional role of Miro1 in disease-derived model systems.
Modeling Skull Network Integrity at the Dawn of Amniote Diversification With Considerations on Functional Morphology and Fossil Jaw Muscle Reconstructions
2022-03-10

One of the major questions in evolutionary vertebrate morphology is the origin and meaning of temporal skull openings in land vertebrates. Partly or fully surrounded by bones, one, two, or even three openings may evolve behind the orbit, within the ancestrally fully roofed anapsid ( scutal ) skull. At least ten different morphotypes can be distinguished in tetrapods with many modifications and transitions in more crownward representatives. A number of potential factors driving the emergence and differentiation of temporal openings have been proposed in the literature, but only today are proper analytical tools available to conduct traceable tests for the functional morphology underlying temporal skull constructions. In the present study, we examined the anatomical network in the skull of one representative of early amniotes, † Captorhinus aguti , which ancestrally exhibits an anapsid skull. The resulting skull modularity revealed a complex partitioning of the temporal region indicating, in its intersections, the candidate positions for potential infratemporal openings. The framework of † C. aguti was then taken as a template to model a series of potential temporal skull morphotypes in order to understand how skull openings might influence the modular composition of the amniote skull in general. We show that the original pattern of skull modularity († C. aguti ) experiences comprehensive changes by introducing one or two temporal openings in different combinations and in different places. The resulting modules in each skull model are interpreted in regard to the feeding behavior of amniotes that exhibit(ed) the respective skull morphotypes. An important finding is the alternative incorporation of the jugal and palate to different modules enforcing the importance of an integrated view on skull evolution: the temporal region cannot be understood without considering palatal anatomy. Finally, we discuss how to better reconstruct relative jaw muscle compositions in fossils by considering the modularity of the skull network. These considerations might be relevant for future biomechanical studies on skull evolution.
Low-Dose CT for Renal Calculi Detection Using Spectral Shaping of High Tube Voltage
2022-03-10

Purpose To investigate reduction of radiation exposure in unenhanced CT in suspicion of renal calculi using a tin-filtered high tube voltage protocol compared to a standard low-dose protocol without spectral shaping. Materials and Methods A phantom study using 7 human renal calculi was performed to test both protocols. 120 consecutive unenhanced CT examinations performed due to suspicion of renal calculi were included in this retrospective, monocentric study. 60 examinations were included with the standard-dose protocol (SP) (100 kV/130 mAs), whereas another 60 studies were included using a low-dose protocol (LD) applying spectral shaping with tin filtration of high tube voltages (Sn150 kV/80 mAs). Image quality was assessed by two radiologists in consensus blinded to technical parameters using an equidistant Likert scale ranging from 1–5 with 5 being the highest score. Quantitative image quality was assessed using regions of interest in abdominal organs, muscles, and adipose tissue to analyze image noise and signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). Commercially available dosimetry software was used to determine and compare effective dose (ED) and size-specific dose estimates (SSDEmean). Results All seven renal calculi of the phantom could be detected with both protocols. There was no difference regarding calcluli size between the two protocols except for the smallest one. The smallest concretion measured 1.5 mm in LD and 1.0 mm in SP (ground truth 1.5 mm). CTDIvol was 3.36 mGy in LD (DLP: 119.3 mGycm) and 8.27 mGy in SP (DLP: 293.6 mGycm). The mean patient age in SP was 47 ± 17 years and in LD 49 ± 13 years. Ureterolithiasis was found in 33 cases in SP and 32 cases in LD. The median concretion size was 3 mm in SP and 4 mm in LD. The median ED in LD was 1.3 mSv (interquartile range (IQR) 0.3 mSv) compared to 2.3 mSv (IQR 0.9 mSv) in SP (p &lt; 0.001). The SSDEmean of LD was also significantly lower compared to SP with 2.4 mGy (IQR 0.4 mGy) vs. 4.8 mGy (IQR 2.3 mGy) (p &lt; 0.001). The SNR was significantly lower in LD compared to SP (p &lt; 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between SP and LD regarding the qualitative assessment of image quality with a median of 4 (IQR 1) for both groups (p = 0.648). Conclusion Tin-filtered unenhanced abdominal CT for the detection of renal calculi using high tube voltages leads to a significant reduction of radiation exposure and yields high diagnostic image quality without a significant difference compared to the institution’s standard of care low-dose protocol without tin filtration. Key Points: Citation Format
Novel Six-Quark Hidden-Color Dibaryon States in QCD
2022-03-10

The recent observation of a hadronic resonance in the proton-neutron system with isospin and spin-parity raises the possibility of producing other novel six-quark dibaryon configurations allowed by QCD. A dramatic example of an exotic six-quark color-singlet system is the charge , isospin I=3, state which couples strongly to + The width and decay properties of such six-quark resonances could be regarded as manifestations of "hidden-color" six-quark configurations, a first-principle prediction of QCD -- SU(3)-color gauge theory for the deuteron distribution amplitude. Other implications and possible future experiments are discussed.
The adiabatic limit of Schrödinger operators on fibre bundles
2022-03-10

We consider Schrödinger operators on a fibre bundle with compact fibres and a metric that blows up directions perpendicular to the fibres by a factor . We show that for an eigenvalue of the fibre-wise part of , satisfying a local gap condition, and every there exists a subspace of that is invariant under up to errors of order . The dynamical and spectral features of on this subspace can be described by an effective operator on the fibre-wise -eigenspace bundle , giving detailed asymptotics for .
The 100-month Swift catalogue of supergiant fast X-ray transients I. BAT on-board and transient monitor flares
2022-03-10

We investigate the characteristics of bright flares for a sample of supergiant fast X-ray transients and their relation to the orbital phase. We have retrieved all Swift/BAT Transient Monitor light curves, and collected all detections in excess of from both daily- and orbital-averaged light curves in the time range of 2005-Feb-12 to 2013-May-31. We also considered all on-board detections as recorded in the same time span and selected those within 4 arcmin of each source in our sample and in excess of . We present a catalogue of over a thousand BAT flares from 11 SFXTs, down to 15-150keV fluxes of erg cm s (daily timescale) and erg cm s (orbital timescale, averaging s) and spanning 100 months. The great majority of these flares are unpublished. This population is characterized by short (a few hundred seconds) and relatively bright (in excess of 100mCrab, 15-50keV) events. In the hard X-ray, these flares last in general much less than a day. Clustering of hard X-ray flares can be used to indirectly measure the length of an outburst, even when the low-level emission is not detected. We construct the distributions of flares, of their significance (in terms of sigma) and their flux as a function of orbital phase, to infer the properties of these binary systems. In particular, we observe a trend of clustering of flares at some phases as increases, as consistent with a progression from tight, circular or mildly eccentric orbits at short periods, to wider and more eccentric orbits at longer orbital periods. Finally, we estimate the expected number of flares for a given source for our limiting flux and provide the recipe for calculating them for the limiting flux of future hard X-ray observatories. (Abridged).
Buried in water, burdened by nature – Resilience carried the Iron Age people through Fimbulvinter
2022-03-10

Levänluhta is a unique archaeological site with the remains of nearly a hundred Iron Age individuals found from a water burial in Ostrobothnia, Finland. The strongest climatic downturn of the Common Era, resembling the great Fimbulvinter in Norse mythology, hit these people during the 6th century AD. This study establishes chronological, dietary, and livelihood synthesis on this population based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic and radiocarbon analyses on human remains, supported by multidisciplinary evidence. Extraordinarily broad stable isotopic distribution is observed, indicating three subgroups with distinct dietary habits spanning four centuries. This emphasizes the versatile livelihoods practiced at this boundary of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. While the impact of the prolonged cold darkness of the 6th century was devastating for European communities relying on cultivation, the broad range of livelihoods provided resilience for the Levänluhta people to overcome the abrupt climatic decline.
Time evolution of ADM and CMC center of mass in general relativity
2022-03-10

It is shown by several authors going back to Huisken-Yau that asymptotically Schwarzschildean time-slices possess a unique foliation by stable constant mean curvature (CMC) spheres defining the so-called CMC center of mass. We analyze how the leaves of this foliation evolve in time under the Einstein equations. More precisely, we prove that, asymptotically, their time evolution is a translation induced by the quotient of their linear momentum and mass, as to be expected from the corresponding Newtonian setting. In particular, the definitions of mass and linear momentum defined by Arnowitt-Deser-Misner (ADM) are compatible with the interpretation of the CMC foliation as the center of mass of the time-slice by Huisken-Yau. Furthermore, we prove that the coordinate version of the center of mass by Arnowitt-Deser-Misner and the coordinate version of the CMC center of mass coincide - without additional conditions on the scalar curvature. This is even true in the sense of existence, i.e. if one of the two exists then so does the other.
FlashCam: A fully digital camera for the Cherenkov Telescope Array
2022-03-10

FlashCam is a Cherenkov camera development project centered around a fully digital trigger and readout scheme with smart, digital signal processing, and a "horizontal" architecture for the electromechanical implementation. The fully digital approach, based on commercial FADCs and FPGAs as key components, provides the option to easily implement different types of triggers as well as digitization and readout scenarios using identical hardware, by simply changing the firmware on the FPGAs. At the same time, a large dynamic range and high resolution of low-amplitude signals in a single readout channel per pixel is achieved using compression of high amplitude signals in the preamplifier and signal processing in the FPGA. The readout of the front-end modules into a camera server is Ethernet-based using standard Ethernet switches. In its current implementation, data transfer and backend processing rates of ~3.8 GBytes/sec have been achieved. Together with the dead-time-free front end event buffering on the FPGAs, this permits the cameras to operate at trigger rates of up to several tens of kHz. In the horizontal architecture of FlashCam, the photon detector plane (PDP), consisting of photon detectors, preamplifiers, high voltage-, control-, and monitoring systems, is a self-contained unit, which is interfaced through analogue signal transmission to the digital readout system. The horizontal integration of FlashCam is expected not only to be more cost efficient, it also allows PDPs with different types of photon detectors to be adapted to the FlashCam readout system. This paper describes the FlashCam concept, its verification process, and its implementation for a 12 m class CTA telescope with PMT-based PDP.
First-Class Functions for First-Order Database Engines
2022-03-10

We describe Query Defunctionalization which enables off-the-shelf first-order database engines to process queries over first-class functions. Support for first-class functions is characterized by the ability to treat functions like regular data items that can be constructed at query runtime, passed to or returned from other (higher-order) functions, assigned to variables, and stored in persistent data structures. Query defunctionalization is a non-invasive approach that transforms such function-centric queries into the data-centric operations implemented by common query processors. Experiments with XQuery and PL/SQL database systems demonstrate that first-order database engines can faithfully and efficiently support the expressive "functions as data" paradigm.
Mirror Development for the Cherenkov Telescope Array
2022-03-10

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a planned observatory for very-high energy gamma-ray astronomy. It will consist of several tens of telescopes of different sizes, with a total mirror area of up to 10,000 square meters. Most mirrors of current installations are either polished glass mirrors or diamond-turned aluminium mirrors, both labour intensive technologies. For CTA, several new technologies for a fast and cost-efficient production of light-weight and reliable mirror substrates have been developed and industrial pre-production has started for most of them. In addition, new or improved aluminium-based and dielectric surface coatings have been developed to increase the reflectance over the lifetime of the mirrors compared to those of current Cherenkov telescope instruments.