julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
A Mendelian randomization study of glycemic and anthropometric traits and Parkinson’s disease
2020-04-01

Abstract Background Impaired glucose and obesity are frequently observed in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), although it is unclear whether the impairment precedes or results from the neurodegeneration. Objective We aimed to assess whether glycemic and anthropometric traits can influence the risk of PD in 33,674 cases and 449,056 healthy controls using the Mendelian randomization (MR) framework. Methods We investigated causality with a two-sample MR approach in the European population to compute effect estimates with summary statistics from available discovery meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on glycemic and anthropometric traits. Results We considered a threshold of p-value=0.0038 as significant after accounting for multiple testing, and p-value&lt;0.05 was considered to be a suggestive evidence for a potential association. We observed a protective effect of waist-hip ratio (WHR) on PD (Inverse variance-weighted (IVW): OR IVW =0.735; 95%CI= 0.622–0.868; p-value=0.0003; I 2 index=22.0%; MR-Egger intercept p-value=0.1508; Cochran Q test p-value=0.0003). The association was further retained after the exclusion of overlapping UK biobank (UKB) samples between the WHR and PD datasets (OR IVW =0.791; 95%CI=0.659–0.950; p-value=0.012; I 2 index=13.0%; MR-Egger intercept p-value=0.733; Cochran Q test p-value=0.035). The sensitivity analysis provided suggestive evidence of an increased risk of PD on fasting glucose (FG) (β IVW =0.0188; 95%CI=0.0062–0.0313, p-value=0.0055; I 2 index=0.0%; MR-Egger intercept p-value=0.0957; Cochran Q test p-value=0.4555) and protective effect of PD on T2D (Weighted median effect: OR WME =0.946; 95%CI=0.9290.983; p-value=0.0051; Weighted mode effect: OR MBE =0.943; 95%CI=0.904–0.983; p-value=0.0116). Conclusions Our results showed that central or abdominal obesity may be protective against PD development, independent of glucose levels.
A Multifunctional Broadband Receiver for Bistatic X-Band Radar Measurements
2020-04-01

This paper presents the multifunctional use of a developed dual-channel broadband receiver for bistatic radar applications. Modern broadband receivers integrate more and more functionality due to their increased performance. For example, the simultaneous operation of radar, communication applications and spectrum sensing is possible with a single receiver. Broadband antenna elements, radio frequency stages and corresponding analog-to-digital converters enable the multifunctional use over a wide frequency range. This reduces the overall hardware costs as the required tasks can be performed with the same device. In this paper we therefore demonstrate the multifunctional use of the receiver also for bistatic radar applications using a X-band radar as cooperative illuminator. A signal processing methodology using the sampled data from a reference and surveillance channel and the known transmit pulse parameters is presented to perform range-Doppler processing. The performance of the proposed approach is demonstrated with measurement data collected during several measurement campaigns in different rural terrain types representing the probable environment of operation for such a receiver.
Big G
2020-04-01

Big G typically refers to aggregate government spending on a homogeneous good.In this paper, we open up this construct by analyzing the entire universe of procurement contracts of the US government and establish five facts.First, government spending is granular, that is, it is concentrated in relatively few firms and sectors.Second, relative to private expenditures its composition is biased.Third, procurement contracts are short-lived.Fourth, idiosyncratic variation dominates the fluctuation of spending.Last, government spending is concentrated in sectors with relatively sticky prices.Accounting for these facts within a stylized New Keynesian model offers new insights into the fiscal transmission mechanism: fiscal shocks hardly impact inflation, little crowding out of private expenditure exists, and the multiplier tends to be larger compared to a one-sector benchmark aligning the model with the empirical evidence.
Non invasive in vivo assessment of the hepatic lipid composition in a murine model of acute and chronic carbon tetrachloride induced hepatitis
2020-04-01

Ziel/Aim Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a leading cause of hepatocellular carcinomas. Despite the increasing prevalence invasive biopsies are still the gold standard in NASH diagnostics. Here, we investigated the feasibility of non-invasive in vivo 1 H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in a murine model of acute and chronic carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatitis which exhibits similar histomorphological features like steatohepatitis.
INTERVENTIONAL TRAINING MODEL FOR FLEXIBLE ENDOSCOPY IN POSTOPERATIVELY ALTERED ANATOMY OF THE UPPER GI TRACT
2020-04-01

Aims Many surgeries in the upper gastrointestinal tract, especially the steadily growing number of bariatric procedures, often result in a fundamentally altered anatomy. Insufficient knowledge of the altered anatomy leads to an increased risk in follow-up endoscopy, for example due to cholelithiasis after bariatric surgery. A realistic, patient-like training model is not yet available, but could improve the quality of diagnostic and, above all, therapeutic endoscopy in patients with postoperatively altered anatomy.
Glioblastoma segmentation using unsupervised machine learning
2020-04-01

Ziel/Aim Multiparametric PET/MRI data of glioblastoma is complex and requires thorough understanding in order to produce: accurate tumor delineations, reliable segmentations of tumor heterogeneity, predict aggressiveness, stratify risk and therapy response assessments. Supervised machine learning (ML) approaches are not easily interpretable. Here, we focused on the segmentation using multiparametric MRI using an unsupervised ML approach.
S150. EMOTIONAL BEHAVIOUR IN HIGH-RISK AND FIRST-EPISODE PSYCHOSIS
2020-04-01

Abstract Background Studies indicate that people with schizophrenia and first-episode psychosis experience deficits in their ability to accurately detect and display emotions through facial expressions, and that functioning and symptoms are associated with these deficits. This study aims to examine how emotion recognition and facial emotion expression are related to functioning and symptoms in a sample of individuals at ultra-high risk, first-episode psychosis and healthy controls. Methods During fMRI, we combined the presentation of emotional faces with the instruction to react with facial movements predetermined and assigned. 18 patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP), 18 individuals at ultra high risk of psychosis (UHR) and 22 healthy controls (HCs) were examined while viewing happy, sad, or neutral faces and were instructed to simultaneously move the corners of their mouths either (a). upwards or (b). downwards, or (c). to refrain from movement. The subjects’ facial movements were recorded with an MR-compatible video camera. Results Neurofunctional and behavioral response to emotional faces were measured. Analyses have only recently commenced and are ongoing. Full results of the clinical and functional impact of behavioral and neuroimaging results will be presented at the meeting. Discussion Increased knowledge about abnormalities in emotion recognition and behaviour as well as their neural correlates and their impact on clinical measures and functional outcome can inform the development of novel treatment approaches to improve social skills early in the course of schizophrenia and psychotic disorders.
Demo: Execution and Access Control for Restricted Application Containers on Managed Hosts (xRAC)
2020-04-01

Restricted application containers (RACs) encapsulate applications with their dependencies and configuration for execution on a hypervisor host. xRAC [1] is a novel approach for execution control and network access control (NAC). That is, a RAC can be executed only after successful authentication and authorization (AA) and obtain limited access to network resources. A RAC has a unique IPv6 address so that its traffic is identifiable and controllable by network components. For AA, xRAC adopts and extends components and procedures of 802.1X. We publish its source code and a testbed setup guide on GitHub [2]. In this paper, we give a brief overview on the architecture and functionality of xRAC, describe the prototypical implementation, a testbed, and four demo scenarios.
Dysregulation of synaptic pruning as a possible link between intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and neuropsychiatric disorders
2020-04-02

Abstract The prenatal and early postnatal stages represent a critical time window for human brain development. Interestingly, this window partly overlaps with the maturation of the intestinal flora (microbiota) that play a critical role in the bidirectional communication between the central and the enteric nervous systems (microbiota‐gut‐brain axis). The microbial composition has important influences on general health and the development of several organ systems, such as the gastrointestinal tract, the immune system, and also the brain. Clinical studies have shown that microbiota alterations are associated with a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. In this review, we dissect the link between these neuropsychiatric disorders and the intestinal microbiota by focusing on their effect on synaptic pruning, a vital process in the maturation and establishing efficient functioning of the brain. We discuss in detail how synaptic pruning is dysregulated differently in the aforementioned neuropsychiatric disorders and how it can be influenced by dysbiosis and/or changes in the intestinal microbiota composition. We also review that the improvement in the intestinal microbiota composition by a change in diet, probiotics, prebiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation may play a role in improving neuropsychiatric functioning, which can be at least partly explained via the optimization of synaptic pruning and neuronal connections. Altogether, the demonstration of the microbiota's influence on brain function via microglial‐induced synaptic pruning addresses the possibility that the manipulation of microbiota‐immune crosstalk represents a promising strategy for treating neuropsychiatric disorders.
Microbial Effector Proteins – A Journey through the Proteolytic Landscape
2020-04-02

In the evolutionary arms race between pathogens and plants, pathogens evolved effector molecules that they secrete into the host to subvert plant cellular responses in a process termed the effector-targeted pathway (ETP). During recent years the repertoire of ETPs has increased and mounting evidence indicates that the proteasome and autophagy pathways are central hubs of microbial effectors. Both degradation pathways are implicated in a broad array of cellular responses and thus constitute an attractive target for effector proteins to have a broader impact on the host. In this article we first summarize recent findings on how effectors from various pathogens modulate proteolytic pathways and then provide a network analysis of established effector targets implicated in proteolytic degradation machineries. With this network we emphasize the idea that effectors targeting proteolytic degradation pathways will affect the protein synthesis-transport and degradation triangle. We put in perspective that, in utilizing the effector diversity of microbes, we produce excellent tools to study diverse cellular pathways and their possible interplay with each other.
Attitudes toward and Knowledge about Wolves in SW German Secondary School Pupils from within and outside an Area Occupied by Wolves (Canis lupus)
2020-04-02

Wolves (Canis lupus) were exterminated from most areas of western Europe during the last two centuries, but, during the last decades, wolves re-entered their previous distribution area in Germany. We compared secondary school students from within and outside a delineated wolf area, and analysed gender, age, and residency. A total of 254 students participated in this study (age: M = 12.63 ± 2.17). We used a measurement introduced which consisted of three parts, demographics, attitudes and knowledge. There was a significant overall effect of age, gender, and residency in attitudes toward wolves. More specifically, age was related to the subscale interest to learn, with lower interest scores related to an increasing age. Girls reported a higher level of fear. Conservation was lower within the wolf area than outside. Boys had a higher level of knowledge than girls. A higher level of knowledge was related to greater conservation, a greater interest to learn, a lower level of fear, and a lower acceptance of hunting. Hence, in order to improve students’ conservation attitudes, it would be useful to foster learning about wolves at school. Special attention should be paid to ensuring that girls also internalize the content of these lessons.
The African vital force theory of meaning in life
2020-04-02

In this article, I present and try to defend the vital force theory of the meaning of life with particular focus on the transcendentalist dimension of the theory, on which an immanentist interpretation ultimately depends. I argue that the appeal to God as the ultimate guarantor of meaning follows from the recognition of the pessimism and nihilism that a wholly naturalistic account of meaning engenders. Since the individual is not an absolute value and must ultimately surrender the life she so cherishes against the background of epistemic ignorance of the purpose of her existence, strong commitment to a naturalistic account of meaning must lead to the conclusion that human life is ultimately meaningless. Adopting an analytical and expository method, I explore ways that the vital force theory of meaning combats the idea that since the individual is the measure of meaningfulness and since she is not an absolute value, her life is ultimately meaningless, in the context of her location in a seemingly purposeless universe. I conclude that the pessimism that accompanies the naturalistic framework also compromises the transcendentalist framework of vitalism.
CD147 is a Novel Interaction Partner of Integrin αMβ2 Mediating Leukocyte and Platelet Adhesion
2020-04-02

Surface receptor-mediated adhesion is a fundamental step in the recruitment of leukocytes and platelets, as well as platelet–leukocyte interactions. The surface receptor CD147 is crucially involved in host defense against self-derived and invading targets, as well as in thrombosis. In the current study, we describe the previously unknown interaction of CD147 with integrin αMβ2 (Mac-1) in this context. Using binding assays, we were able to show a stable interaction of CD147 with Mac-1 in vitro. Leukocytes from Mac-1−/− and CD147+/− mice showed a markedly reduced static adhesion to CD147- and Mac-1-coated surfaces, respectively, compared to wild-type mice. Similarly, we observed reduced rolling and adhesion of monocytes under flow conditions when cells were pre-treated with antibodies against Mac-1 or CD147. Additionally, as assessed by antibody inhibition experiments, CD147 mediated the dynamic adhesion of platelets to Mac-1-coated surfaces. The interaction of CD147 with Mac-1 is a previously undescribed mechanism facilitating the adhesion of leukocytes and platelets.
Allan-Herndon-Dudley-Syndrome: Considerations about the Brain Phenotype with Implications for Treatment Strategies
2020-04-02

Abstract Despite its first description more than 75 years ago, effective treatment for “Allan-Herndon-Dudley-Syndrome (AHDS)”, an X-linked thyroid hormone transporter defect, is unavailable. Mutations in the SLC16A2 gene have been discovered to be causative for AHDS in 2004, but a comprehensive understanding of the function of the encoded protein, monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8), is incomplete. Patients with AHDS suffer from neurodevelopmental delay, as well as extrapyramidal (dystonia, chorea, athetosis), pyramidal (spasticity), and cerebellar symptoms (ataxia). This suggests an affection of the pyramidal tracts, basal ganglia, and cerebellum, most likely already during fetal brain development. The function of other brain areas relevant for mood, behavior, and vigilance seems to be intact. An optimal treatment strategy should thus aim to deliver T3 to these relevant structures at the correct time points during development. A potential therapeutic strategy meeting these needs might be the delivery of T3 via a “Trojan horse mechanism” by which T3 is delivered into target cells by a thyroid hormone transporter independent T3 internalization.
Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty: Development of Contrast Sensitivity and Color Vision in Patients With Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
2020-04-02

Purpose: To assess the developments in contrast sensitivity, color vision, and subjective perception after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). Methods: Included in this study were pseudophakic, unilateral DMEK patients with bilateral FECD having a follow-up period of 6 months (n = 23). The mean age at surgery was 70 years (range: 52–81 years). Pseudophakic eyes without history of other ocular pathology or surgery served as a control (n = 10). Pelli–Robson contrast sensitivity and Panel-D15 color vision tests were used. Best-corrected visual acuity, modified visual functioning questionnaire-25, central corneal thickness, and endothelial cell density were assessed. We visualized the subjective impression of patients with bilateral FECD after unilateral DMEK in a subgroup using Photoshop CS6. Results: Contrast sensitivity improved significantly from 1.35 ± 0.26 to 1.64 ± 0.17 ( P = 0.002; control eyes: 1.92 ± 0.09). No difference in the color vision error score was observed for preoperative and postoperative eyes ( P = 0.063). The best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly after surgery ( P = 0.001). The average values in the Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution were 0.59 ± 0.42 preoperatively and 0.1 ± 0.10 postoperatively (control eyes: 0.01 ± 0.03). Examinations revealed a decrease of the central corneal thickness and endothelial cell density after surgery ( P = 0.001; P = 0.001, respectively). Scores in the general and the driving questionnaire were significantly higher after surgery ( P = 0.001; P = 0.005, respectively). Conclusions: This study showed significant improvement in subjective patient satisfaction and contrast sensitivity. Spontaneous subjective color vision improvement might be explained by significantly improved contrast sensitivity. Contrast sensitivity might be considered as a parameter in preoperative decision-making and evaluation of surgical outcome.
Emergence of a New [NNN] Pincer Ligand via Si−H Bond Activation and β‐Hydride Abstraction at Tetravalent Cerium
2020-04-02

Abstract The cerium(IV) pyrazolate complexes [Ce(Me 2 pz) 4 ] 2 and [Ce(Me 2 pz) 4 (thf)] initiate β‐hydride abstraction of the bis(dimethylsilyl)amido moiety, to afford a heteroleptic cerium(IV) species containing a dimethylpyrazolyl‐substituted silylamido ligand, namely [Ce(Me 2 pz) 3 (bpsa)] (bpsa=bis((3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)dimethylsilyl)amido; Me 2 pz =3,5‐dimethylpyrazolato), along with some cerium(III) species. Remarkably, the nucleophilic attack of the pyrazolyl at the silicon atom and concomitant Si−H‐bond cleavage is restricted to the tetravalent cerium oxidation state and appears to proceed via the formation of a transient cerium(IV) hydride, which engages in immediate redox chemistry. When [Ce(Me 2 pz) 4 ] 2 is treated with [Li{N(SiMe 3 ) 2 }], that is, in the absence of the SiH functionality, any redox chemistry did not occur. Instead, the ceric ate complex [LiCe 2 (Me 2 pz) 9 ] and the stable mixed‐ligand ceric species [Ce(Me 2 pz) 2 {N(SiMe 3 ) 2 } 2 ] were obtained.
Simulation of laser induced retinal thermal injuries for non-uniform irradiance profiles and their evaluation according to the laser safety standard
2020-04-02

Laser systems emitting radiation in the visible and near infrared region are\\npotentially hazardous for the retina of the human eye. This can result in\\nirreparable injuries due to photomechanical, photothermal or photochemical\\nlight-tissue interactions. This investigation focuses on the photothermal\\ninteraction for which a computer model is used to simulate the thermal behavior\\nof the retina and to predict the injury threshold values. The most important\\nfactors are the wavelength of the radiation, the exposure time and the\\nirradiance profile on the retina. For performing safety evaluations and\\nclassifications the laser safety standard IEC 60825-1:2014 has to be\\nconsidered. These evaluations are based on emission limits which depend on the\\nsame above mentioned factors. According to the IEC 60825-1:2014, non-uniform\\nretinal images are treated by an image analysis where an averaged spot size is\\nused. This averaged size is calculated by the extent of the irradiance profile\\nalong two orthogonal directions. Unlike the laser safety standard, the computer\\nmodel predicts the injury thresholds for an irradiance profile on the retina\\nwithout averaging the spot size. In this investigation, a broad variety of\\nnon-uniform retinal images is investigated with regard to the injury thresholds\\npredicted by the computer model and to the classifications according to the\\nlaser safety standard.\\n
Forbidden herbs: Alzate’s defense of pipiltzintzintlis
2020-04-02

In a 1772 newspaper article, Jose Antonio Alzate y Ramirez (1737–1799) defended the medicinal benefits of cannabis against the prohibition of the Inquisition. Alzate concluded that the indigenous h...
Local glutamate in cingulate cortex subregions differentially correlates with affective network activations during face perception
2020-04-02

Abstract The cingulate cortex is involved in emotion recognition/perception and regulation. Rostral and caudal subregions belong to different brain networks with distinct roles in affective perception. Despite recent accounts of the relevance of cingulate cortex glutamate (Glu) on blood‐oxygen‐level‐dependent (BOLD) responses, the specificity of the subregional Glu levels during emotional tasks remains unclear. Seventy‐two healthy participants (age = 27.33 ± 6.67, 32 women) performed an affective face‐matching task and underwent magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at 7 Tesla. Correlations between the BOLD response during emotion perception and Glu concentration in the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC) and anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) were compared on a whole‐brain level. Post hoc specificity of the association with an affect was assessed. Lower Glu in the pgACC correlated with stronger activation differences between negative and positive faces in the left inferior and superior frontal gyrus (L IFG and L SFG). In contrast, lower Glu in the aMCC correlated with BOLD contrasts in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Furthermore, negative face detection was associated with prolonged response time (RT). Our results demonstrate a subregion‐specific involvement of cingulate cortex Glu in interindividual differences during viewing of affective facial expressions. Glu levels in the pgACC were correlated with frontal area brain activations, whereas Glu in the salience network component aMCC modulated responses in the PCC–precuneus. We show that region‐specific metabolite mapping enables specific activation of different BOLD signals in the brain underlying emotional perception.