julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
The Limited Capacity of Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation
2016-09-12

Sleep supports memory consolidation. However, the conceptually important influence of the amount of items encoded in a memory test on this effect has not been investigated. In two experiments, participants (n = 101) learned lists of word-pairs varying in length (40, 160, 320 word-pairs) in the evening before a night of sleep (sleep group) or of sleep deprivation (wake group). After 36 h (including a night allowing recovery sleep) retrieval was tested. Compared with wakefulness, post-learning sleep enhanced retention for the 160 word-pair condition (p < 0.01), importantly, this effect completely vanished for the 320 word-pair condition. This result indicates a limited capacity for sleep-dependent memory consolidation, which is consistent with an active system consolidation view on sleep's role for memory, if it is complemented by processes of active forgetting and/or gist abstraction. Whereas the absolute benefit from sleep should have increased with increasing amounts of successfully encoded items, if sleep only passively protected memory from interference. Moreover, the finding that retention performance was significantly diminished for the 320 word-pair condition compared to the 160 word-pair condition in the sleep group, makes it tempting to speculate that with increasing loads of information encoded during wakefulness, sleep might favor processes of forgetting over consolidation.
Evaluation of state-of-the-art pupil detection algorithms on remote eye images
2016-09-12

Eye movements are a powerful source of information as well as the most intuitive form of interaction. Although eye-tracking technology is still in its infancy, it offers the greatest potential for novel communication solutions and applications. Whereas head-mounted eye-trackers are widely used in research, several applications require most unintrusive eye tracking, ideally realized by means of a single, low-cost camera placed away from the subject. However, such remote devices usually provide low resolution images and pose several challenges to gaze position estimation. The key challenge in such a scenario is the robust detection of the pupil center in the recorded image. We evaluated eight state-of-the-art algorithms for pupil detection on three manually labeled data sets recorded in remote tracking scenarios. Among the evaluated algorithms, ElSe [6] proved to be the best performing approach on overall 3202 images from remote eye tracking, which include changing illumination, occlusion, head movements, and off-axial camera position. In addition, we contribute a new data set with 445 annotated images, recorded in a fixed setup with a low cost camera capable of using natural and infrared light.
Brightness- and motion-based blink detection for head-mounted eye trackers
2016-09-12

Blinks are an indicator for fatigue or drowsiness and can assist in the diagnose of mental disorders, such as schizophrenia. Additionally, a blink that obstructs the pupil impairs the performance of other eye-tracking algorithms, such as pupil detection, and often results in noise to the gaze estimation. In this paper, we present a blink detection algorithm that is tailored towards head-mounted eye trackers and is robust to calibration-based variations like translation or rotation of the eye. The proposed approach reached 96,35% accuracy for a realistic and challenging data set and in real-time even on low-end devices, rendering the proposed method suited for pervasive eye tracking.
Intuition and Insight: Two Processes That Build on Each Other or Fundamentally Differ?
2016-09-13

Intuition and insight are intriguing phenomena of non-analytical mental functioning: whereas intuition denotes ideas that have been reached by sensing the solution without any explicit representation of it, insight has been understood as the sudden and unexpected apprehension of the solution by recombining the single elements of a problem. By face validity, the two processes appear similar; according to a lay perspective, it is assumed that intuition precedes insight. Yet, predominant scientific conceptualizations of intuition and insight consider the two processes to differ with regard to their (dis-)continuous unfolding. That is, intuition has been understood as an experience-based and gradual process, whereas insight is regarded as a genuinely discontinuous phenomenon. Unfortunately, both processes have been investigated differently and without much reference to each other. In this contribution, we therefore set out to fill this lacuna by examining the conceptualizations of the assumed underlying cognitive processes of both phenomena, and by also referring to the research traditions and paradigms of the respective field. Based on early work put forward by Bowers et al. (1990, 1995), we referred to semantic coherence tasks consisting of convergent word triads (i.e., the solution has the same meaning to all three clue words) and/or divergent word triads (i.e., the solution means something different with respect to each clue word) as an excellent kind of paradigm that may be used in the future to disentangle intuition and insight experimentally. By scrutinizing the underlying mechanisms of intuition and insight, with this theoretical contribution, we hope to launch lacking but needed experimental studies and to initiate scientific cooperation between the research fields of intuition and insight that are currently still separated from each other.
Macrophages and cardiac fibroblasts are the main producers of eotaxins and regulate eosinophil trafficking to the heart
2016-09-13

Cardiac manifestations are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with eosinophil‐associated diseases. Eosinophils are thought to play a pathogenic role in myocarditis. We investigated the pathways that recruit eosinophils to the heart using a model of eosinophilic myocarditis, in which experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) is induced in IFNγ −/− IL‐17A −/− mice. Two conditions are necessary for efficient eosinophil trafficking to the heart: high eotaxin (CCL11, CCL24) expression in the heart and expression of the eotaxin receptor CCR3 by eosinophils. We identified cardiac fibroblasts as the source of CCL11 in the heart interstitium. CCL24 is produced by F4/80 + macrophages localized at inflammatory foci in the heart. Expression of CCL11 and CCL24 is controlled by Th2 cytokines, IL‐4 and IL‐13. To determine the relevance of this pathway in humans, we analyzed endomyocardial biopsy samples from myocarditis patients. Expression of CCL11 and CCL26 was significantly increased in eosinophilic myocarditis compared to chronic lymphocytic myocarditis and positively correlated with the number of eosinophils. Thus, eosinophil trafficking to the heart is dependent on the eotaxin‐CCR3 pathway in a mouse model of EAM and associated with cardiac eotaxin expression in patients with eosinophilic myocarditis. Blocking this pathway may prevent eosinophil‐mediated cardiac damage.
Evaluation of Staphylococcus aureus Lipoproteins: Role in Nutritional Acquisition and Pathogenicity
2016-09-13

Bacterial lipoproteins (Lpp) represent a major class of membrane proteins. They are distinguished by a lipid moiety at the N-terminus by which they are anchored either in the outer leaflet of the cytoplasmic membrane or, in Gram-negative bacteria, also in the inner leaflet of the outer membrane. In Gram-positive bacteria Lpp significantly contribute to nutrient transport, Toll-like receptor 2 activation and pathogenicity. Here we examine the Lpp of Staphylococcus aureus USA300, as a prototype for a multiple antibiotic resistant and community-acquired pathogen that is rapidly spreading worldwide. The compiled Lpp were grouped according to the postulated function and dissemination of homologs in the genus Staphylococcus and beyond. Based on this evaluation we also point out Lpp as promising vaccine candidates.
The Sussex signal: insights into leaf dorsiventrality
2016-09-13

The differentiation of a leaf – from its inception as a semicircular bulge on the surface of the shoot apical meristem into a flattened structure with specialized upper and lower surfaces – is one of the most intensely studied processes in plant developmental biology. The large body of contemporary data on leaf dorsiventrality has its origin in the pioneering experiments of Ian Sussex, who carried out these studies as a PhD student in the early 1950s. Here, we review his original experiments in their historical context and describe our current understanding of this surprisingly complex process. Finally, we postulate possible candidates for the ‘Sussex signal’ – the elusive meristem-derived factor that first ignited interest in this important developmental problem.
Guest Editors’ Introduction:Human Dignity and Business
2016-09-13

ABSTRACT: After a brief historical introduction, three interpretations of dignity in relation to management theory and business ethics are elaborated: Dignity as a general category, Human Dignity as Inherent and Universal, and Human Dignity as Earned and Contingent. Next, two literature reviews are presented under the headings of “Dignity and Business Research” and “Dignity and Business Ethics Research.” The latter discussion identifies three subcategories of business ethics research involving human dignity: the role of dignity as a cornerstone for paradigmatic shifts, the role of dignity as the ‘ultima ratio’ for the protection of human rights, and the role of dignity in organizing business practices. The article concludes with summaries of the three articles chosen for this special section.
Investigating the Local Reservoir Age and Stable Isotopes of Shells from Southeast Arabia
2016-09-13

Abstract We recently started a systematic approach to determine the reservoir age in southeast Arabia and its dependence on mollusk species and their environment. This part of the study concentrates on local reservoir age and stable isotopes of the lagoonal species Terebralia palustris and Anadara uropigimelana at Khor Kalba, Oman Sea. Environmental and nutritive influences on mollusks are reflected in the radiocarbon and stable isotope signal. We found a local reservoir age of A. uropigimelana of about 940 yr and that of T. palustris as 800 yr. Sclerochronological analyses yielded information about seasonality of growth and death in A . uropigimelana. The modern shell of Periglypta reticulata shares food resources and habitat with Anadara sp., of which we did not find a modern specimen. It provided information on response to changes in temperature in the lagoonal system needed for suitability as reflecting climatic conditions. We were interested in carbon pathways of the mangrove in Kalba and a mangrove planted anew on a former mangrove sediment in Ajman. Being an obvious source of charcoal and food of T. palustris makes this information necessary. Further analyses will be performed to interpret changes in reservoir age in complex lagoonal systems as reaction to environmental variability.
Characterization of Ax[W6I14] as Key Compounds for Ligand‐Substituted A2[W6I8L6] Clusters
2016-09-13

A x [W 6 I 14 ] compounds with A = Na, K, Rb, or Cs are prepared from W 3 I 12 and alkali iodides (AI). Crystal structures were solved and refined for Na[W 6 I 14 ] and A 2 [W 6 I 14 ] compounds with A = K, Rb and Cs on the basis of powder and single‐crystal XRD diffraction. All compounds behave stable in air and can be dissolved in polar organic solvents making them valuable precursors for long‐needed soluble octahedral [W 6 I 8 I 6 ] 2– cluster ions. Excitation and emission spectra of solid Na[W 6 I 14 ] and Cs 2 [W 6 I 14 ] are reported as reference systems for photophysically active A 2 [W 6 I 8 L 6 ] compounds (L = inorganic or organic ligand), which can be developed therefrom, as demonstrated for Na 2 [W 6 I 8 (OCH 3 ) 6 ] · 8(CH 3 OH).
A case of late-onset, thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis with ryanodine receptor and titin antibodies and concomitant granulomatous myositis
2016-09-13

The diagnosis of concurrent myositis and myasthenia gravis, especially in the presence of ryanodine receptor and titin antibodies, should lead neurologists to adopt different treatment strategies compared to those applied in myasthenia or myositis alone. Moreover, further evidence is warranted that titin and, particularly, ryanodine receptor antibodies may co-occur or be pathophysiologically involved in myasthenia-myositis cases.
Resolvin D1 Programs Inflammation Resolution by Increasing TGF-β Expression Induced by Dying Cell Clearance in Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis
2016-09-14

Experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) is the animal model of human acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathies (AIDP), an auto-immune inflammatory demyelination disease of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the world's leading cause of acute autoimmune neuromuscular paralysis. EAN and AIDP are characterized by self-limitation with spontaneous recovery; however, endogenous pathways that regulate inflammation resolution in EAN and AIDP remain elusive. A pathway of endogenous mediators, especially resolvins and clearance of apoptotic cells, may be involved. Here, we determined that resolvin D1 (RvD1), its synthetic enzyme, and its receptor were greatly increased in PNS during the recovery stage of EAN. Both endogenous and exogenous RvD1 increased regulatory T (Treg) cell and anti-inflammatory macrophage counts in PNS, enhanced inflammation resolution, and promoted disease recovery in EAN rats. Moreover, RvD1 upregulated the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) level and pharmacologic inhibition of TGF-β signaling suppressed RvD1-induced Treg cell counts, but not anti-inflammatory macrophage counts, and RvD1-improved inflammation resolution and disease recovery in EAN rats. Mechanistically, the RvD1-enhanced macrophage phagocytosis of apoptotic T cells leading to reduced apoptotic T-cell accumulation in PNS induced TGF-β production and caused Treg cells to promote inflammation resolution and disease recovery in EAN. Therefore, these data highlight the crucial role of RvD1 as an important pro-resolving molecule in EAN and suggest its potential as a therapeutic target in human neuropathies. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) is the animal model of human acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathies, an auto-immune inflammatory demyelination disease of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the world's leading cause of acute autoimmune neuromuscular paralysis. Here, we demonstrated that resolvin D1 (RvD1) promoted macrophage phagocytosis of apoptotic T cells in PNS, thereby upregulating transforming growth factor-β by macrophages, increased local Treg cell counts, and finally promoted inflammation resolution and disease recovery in EAN. These data highlight the crucial role of RvD1 as an important pro-resolving molecule in EAN and suggest that it has potential as a therapeutic target in human neuritis.
Interest in Integrative Medicine Among Postmenopausal Hormone Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer Patients in the EvAluate-TM Study
2016-09-14

Background. Breast cancer patients often use complementary and alternative medicine, but few prospectively collected data on the topic are available specifically for postmenopausal breast cancer patients. A large prospective study was therefore conducted within a noninterventional study in order to identify the characteristics of patients interested in integrative medicine. Methods. The EvAluate-TM study is a prospective, multicenter noninterventional study in which treatment with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole was evaluated in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive primary breast cancer. Between 2008 and 2009, 5045 postmenopausal patients were enrolled at 339 certified breast centers in Germany. As part of the data collection process, patients were asked at the baseline about their interest in and information needs relating to integrative medicine. Results. Of the 5045 patients recruited, 3411 responded to the questionnaire on integrative medicine and took part in the analysis, 1583 patients expressed an interest in integrative medicine, and 1828 patients declared no interest. Relevant predictors of interest in integrative medicine were age, body mass index, tumor size, previous chemotherapy, and use of concomitant medications for other medical conditions. Interest in integrative medicine declined highly significantly ( P &lt; .001) with age (&lt;50 years, 74.1%; 50-60 years, 54.1%; &gt;65 years, 38.0%). Patients in favor of integrative medicine were significantly less satisfied with the information received about individual treatments and antihormonal therapy. Patients with interest in integrative medicine were more often interested in rehabilitation and fitness, nutritional counseling, and additional support from self-help organizations. These women were mostly interested in receiving information about their disease and integrative medicine from a physician, rather than from other sources. Conclusions. This study shows that a considerable proportion of postmenopausal breast cancer patients are interested in integrative medicine. Information about integrative medicine should therefore be provided as part of patient care for this group. It was found that receiving concomitant medication for other medical conditions is one of the main predictors for women not being interested in integrative medicine. This group of patients may need special attention and individualized information about integrative medicine. Additionally, most patients were interested in obtaining the relevant information from their doctor.
Covariant variational approach to Yang-Mills theory: Effective potential of the Polyakov loop
2016-09-14

We compute the effective action of the Polyakov loop in SU(2) and SU(3)\\nYang-Mills theory using a previously developed covariant variational approach.\\nThe formalism is extended to background gauge and it is shown how to relate the\\nlow order Green's functions to the ones in Landau gauge studied earlier. The\\nrenormalization procedure is discussed. The self-consistent effective action is\\nderived and evaluated using the numerical solution of the gap equation. We find\\na clear signal for a deconfinement phase transition at finite temperatures,\\nwhich is second order for SU(2) and first order for SU(3). The critical\\ntemperatures obtained are in reasonable agreement with high precision lattice\\ndata.\\n
Design of intelligent chitosan/heparin hollow microcapsules for drug delivery
2016-09-14

ABSTRACT In this study, a novel strategy has been developed for the assembly of polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) on CaCO 3 templates in acidic pH solutions, where consecutive polyelectrolyte layers (heparin/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) or heparin/chitosan) were deposited on PEM hollow microcapsules established previously on CaCO 3 templates. The PEM build‐up, hollow capsule characterization and successful encapsulation of fluorescein 5(6)‐isothiocyanate (FITC)‐Dextran by coprecipitation with CaCO 3 are demonstrated. Improvement by the removal of CaCO 3 core was achieved while the depositions. In the course of the release profile, high retardation for encapsulated FITC‐Dextran was observed. The combined shell capsules system is a significant trait that has potential use in tailoring functional layer‐by‐layer capsules as intelligent drug delivery vehicles where the preliminary in vitro tests showed the responsiveness on the enzymes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 44425.
Human pluripotent stem cell-derived acinar/ductal organoids generate human pancreas upon orthotopic transplantation and allow disease modelling
2016-09-15

Objective The generation of acinar and ductal cells from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) is a poorly studied process, although various diseases arise from this compartment. Design We designed a straightforward approach to direct human PSCs towards pancreatic organoids resembling acinar and ductal progeny. Results Extensive phenotyping of the organoids not only shows the appropriate marker profile but also ultrastructural, global gene expression and functional hallmarks of the human pancreas in the dish. Upon orthotopic transplantation into immunodeficient mice, these organoids form normal pancreatic ducts and acinar tissue resembling fetal human pancreas without evidence of tumour formation or transformation. Finally, we implemented this unique phenotyping tool as a model to study the pancreatic facets of cystic fibrosis (CF). For the first time, we provide evidence that in vitro , but also in our xenograft transplantation assay, pancreatic commitment occurs generally unhindered in CF. Importantly, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activation in mutated pancreatic organoids not only mirrors the CF phenotype in functional assays but also at a global expression level. We also conducted a scalable proof-of-concept screen in CF pancreatic organoids using a set of CFTR correctors and activators, and established an mRNA-mediated gene therapy approach in CF organoids. Conclusions Taken together, our platform provides novel opportunities to model pancreatic disease and development, screen for disease-rescuing agents and to test therapeutic procedures.
On the existence of accretion-driven bursts in massive star formation
2016-09-15

Abstract Accretion-driven luminosity outbursts are a vivid manifestation of variable mass accretion on to protostars. They are known as the so-called FU Orionis phenomenon in the context of low-mass protostars. More recently, this process has been found in models of primordial star formation. Using numerical radiation hydrodynamics simulations, we stress that present-day forming massive stars also experience variable accretion and show that this process is accompanied by luminous outbursts induced by the episodic accretion of gaseous clumps falling from the circumstellar disc on to the protostar. Consequently, the process of accretion-induced luminous flares is also conceivable in the high-mass regime of star formation and we propose to regard this phenomenon as a general mechanism that can affect protostars regardless of their mass and/or the chemical properties of the parent environment in which they form. In addition to the commonness of accretion-driven outbursts in the star formation machinery, we conjecture that luminous flares from regions hosting forming high-mass stars may be an observational implication of the fragmentation of their accretion discs.
Staphylococcus aureus Exploits a Non-ribosomal Cyclic Dipeptide to Modulate Survival within Epithelial Cells and Phagocytes
2016-09-15

Community-acquired (CA) Staphylococcus aureus cause various diseases even in healthy individuals. Enhanced virulence of CA-strains is partly attributed to increased production of toxins such as phenol-soluble modulins (PSM). The pathogen is internalized efficiently by mammalian host cells and intracellular S. aureus has recently been shown to contribute to disease. Upon internalization, cytotoxic S. aureus strains can disrupt phagosomal membranes and kill host cells in a PSM-dependent manner. However, PSM are not sufficient for these processes. Here we screened for factors required for intracellular S. aureus virulence. We infected escape reporter host cells with strains from an established transposon mutant library and detected phagosomal escape rates using automated microscopy. We thereby, among other factors, identified a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) to be required for efficient phagosomal escape and intracellular survival of S. aureus as well as induction of host cell death. By genetic complementation as well as supplementation with the synthetic NRPS product, the cyclic dipeptide phevalin, wild-type phenotypes were restored. We further demonstrate that the NRPS is contributing to virulence in a mouse pneumonia model. Together, our data illustrate a hitherto unrecognized function of the S. aureus NRPS and its dipeptide product during S. aureus infection.