julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
How can I run sleep and anesthesia studies with intracranial EEG?
2022-08-08

The similarity of sleep and general anesthesia has fascinated scientists for a longtime. At first glance, both states are characterized by similar behavioralcorrelates, namely decreased responsiveness, arousal and movement. Previously,non-invasive scalp electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings demonstratedhighly comparable spectral signatures of both states, such as the ubiquitouspresence of slow waves or delta oscillations. More recently, intracranialrecordings in humans provided a more fine-grained perspective and revealedthat sleep and anesthesia reflect highly distinct entities.Here, we outline how intracranial sleep and anesthesia recordings can beembedded into the clinical routine. We discuss caveats and shortcomings thatneed to be considered, especially in the context of epilepsy as the underlyingneurological disorder. Subsequently, we provide a practical road map to obtainstate-specific neural recordings and discuss technical prerequisites as well asimportant analytical considerations. Finally, we summarize how intracranialrecordings extend our understanding about the mechanism-of-action ofanesthetic drugs at the network level and to which extent these signaturesoverlap with physiologic sleep networks. Collectively, here we review howintracranial recordings in humans can be leveraged to gain important insightsinto sleep physiology and the neural correlates of (un-) consciousness.
Inhibitory control towards angry stimuli in patients with binge eating disorder – a pilot study
2022-08-08

Abstract Background Emotion regulation theories as well as the negative urgency concept assume that negative mood increases binge eating. Negative emotions are considered as a trigger for binge eating, while binge eating itself is regarded as an impulsive behavior and should thus be increased within the negative urgency concept. Anger might be a specific negative emotion triggering binge eating in patients with binge eating disorder (BED). We investigated how inhibitory control as one main factor of impulsivity is influenced by anger in patients with BED and two control groups. Methods We compared patients with BED (N = 20) with normal-weight healthy control participants (NW-CG, N = 20) and BMI-matched overweight and obese control participants (BMI-CG, N = 18). We used the emotional Stop Signal task (eSST) to investigate inhibitory control, where we presented angry facial expressions in comparison with neutral facial expressions as emotional stimuli. Results All participants showed decreased inhibitory control in the angry vs. neutral condition, i.e., a faster Stop Signal Reaction Time and a lower percentage of correct reactions. However, no significant group differences emerged in terms of performance. Performance in the eSST did not correlate with negative urgency, disorder- or emotion-related characteristics. Conclusions The current pilot study does not deliver evidence for decreased inhibitory control towards angry stimuli in patients with BED, as we detected a general and not disorder-related effect in all participants that might represent the conjunction of inhibitory control and anger. Further studies should investigate the interplay of several discrete emotions and impulsive behavior in healthy and clinical groups.
First Experience and Prospective Evaluation on Feasibility and Acute Toxicity of Online Adaptive Radiotherapy of the Prostate Bed as Salvage Treatment in Patients with Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer on a 1.5T MR-Linac
2022-08-09

Introduction: Novel MRI-linear accelerator hybrids (MR-Linacs, MRL) promise an optimization of radiotherapy (RT) through daily MRI imaging with enhanced soft tissue contrast and plan adaptation on the anatomy of the day. These features might potentially improve salvage RT of prostate cancer (SRT), where the clinical target volume is confined by the mobile organs at risk (OAR) rectum and bladder. So far, no data exist about the feasibility of the MRL technology for SRT. In this study, we prospectively examined patients treated with SRT on a 1.5 T MRL and report on workflow, feasibility and acute toxicity. Patients and Methods: Sixteen patients were prospectively enrolled within the MRL-01 study (NCT: NCT04172753). All patients were staged and had an indication for SRT after radical prostatectomy according to national guidelines. RT consisted of 66 Gy in 33 fractions or 66.5/70 Gy in 35 fractions in case of a defined high-risk region. On the 1.5 T MRL, daily plan adaption was performed using one of two workflows: adapt to shape (ATS, using contour adaptation and replanning) or adapt to position (ATP, rigid replanning onto the online anatomy with virtual couch shift). Duration of treatment steps, choice of workflow and treatment failure were recorded for each fraction of each patient. Patient-reported questionnaires about patient comfort were evaluated as well as extensive reporting of acute toxicity (patient reported and clinician scored). Results: A total of 524/554 (94.6%) of fractions were successfully treated on the MRL. No patient-sided treatment failures occurred. In total, ATP was chosen in 45.7% and ATS in 54.3% of fractions. In eight cases, ATP was performed on top of the initial ATS workflow. Mean (range) duration of all fractions (on-table time until end of treatment) was 25.1 (17.6–44.8) minutes. Mean duration of the ATP workflow was 20.60 (17.6–25.2) minutes and of the ATS workflow 31.3 (28.2–34.1) minutes. Patient-reported treatment experience questionnaires revealed high rates of tolerability of the treatment procedure. Acute toxicity (RTOG, CTC as well as patient-reported CTC, IPSS and ICIQ) during RT and 3 months after was mild to moderate with a tendency of recovery to baseline levels at 3 months post RT. No G3+ toxicity was scored for any item. Conclusions: In this first report on SRT of prostate cancer patients on a 1.5 T MRL, we could demonstrate the feasibility of both available workflows. Daily MR-guided adaptive SRT of mean 25.1 min per fraction was well tolerated in this pretreated collective, and we report low rates of acute toxicity for this treatment. This study suggests that SRT on a 1.5 T MRL can be performed in clinical routine and it serves as a benchmark for future analyses.
Thiourea leaching of gold from processed municipal solid waste incineration residues
2022-08-09

Abstract Incineration is one of the key technologies in disposal of municipal waste, which produces municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) residues with high valuable metal contents. The recycling strategy for the MSWI residues is typically focused on the recovery of scrap metals yielding processed municipal solid waste incineration residues (PIR) as the main byproduct. However, the PIR still contains valuable metals, particularly gold, which cannot be extracted by conventional methods. Here, we evaluated the feasibility of using the 0.5–2.0 mm grain size fraction of PIR containing 28.82 ± 1.62 mg/kg of gold as raw material for a two-stage extraction process. In the first stage the alkalic fine-grained PIR was acidified with a solution of 20% (v/v) of HCl-containing flue gas cleaning liquid that is obtained by the municipal waste incineration plant itself as a waste product. In the second stage we leached the acidified fine-grained PIR by thiourea with Fe 3+ as an oxidant. Application of the thiourea-Fe 3+ leaching system resulted in recovery of 16.4 ± 1.56 mg/kg of gold from the fine-grained PIR within 6 h of incubation. Due to high gold market prices, upscaling of the suggested technology can represent a suitable strategy for gold recovery from PIR and other MSWI residues.
Optimized modelling of countrywide soil organic carbon levels via an interpretable decision tree
2022-08-10

There are relatively few studies that explicitly evaluate the performance of machine learning algorithms (MLAs) such as decision trees while varying conditions like data splitting strategies and feature selection methods in digital soil mapping (DSM). Since several more powerful black-box models such as Random Forest (RF) exist, regular models like the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) are least applied despite being more intelligible than the former. We demonstrate a simple yet relevant way to improve the performance of a CART model for DSM while still benefiting from its intelligibility, interpretability and intuition potential. Soil organic carbon (SOC) levels across the Czech Republic are predicted at 30 m × 30 m resolution using selected covariates coupled with respective CART models. For this work, 440 topsoils (0–20 cm) for the Czech Republic were retrieved from the LUCAS soil database. Regarding the distinct CART models, data splitting strategies (Random, SPlit and Conditional Latin Hypercube Sampling: cLHS) and 7 feature selection methods were varied. Meanwhile, overall model results were compared using accuracy metrics including the root mean square error (RMSE). One of the satisfactory SOC model validation results based on SPlit has a root mean square error (RMSE) of 17.30 g/kg and a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.52. The cLHS proves robust for model data splitting. Feature selection methods including Stepwise Regression (SWR), Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) and the Genetic Algorithm (GA) were considered computationally efficient for identifying relevant covariates. Generally, the study demonstrates the relevance and effectiveness of varying data splitting strategies and feature selection methods for improving SOC modelling via a decision tree (CART).
The Impact of the Oil Phase Selection on Physicochemical Properties, Long-Term Stability, In Vitro Performance and Injectability of Curcumin-Loaded PEGylated Nanoemulsions
2022-08-10

A nanotechnology-based approach to drug delivery presents one of the biggest trends in biomedical science that can provide increased active concentration, bioavailability, and safety compared to conventional drug-delivery systems. Nanoemulsions stand out amongst other nanocarriers for being biodegradable, biocompatible, and relatively easy to manufacture. For improved drug-delivery properties, longer circulation for the nanoemulsion droplets should be provided, to allow the active to reach the target site. One of the strategies used for this purpose is PEGylation. The aim of this research was assessing the impact of the oil phase selection, soybean or fish oil mixtures with medium chain triglycerides, on the physicochemical characteristics and injectability of curcumin-loaded PEGylated nanoemulsions. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrated the structural impact of the oil phase on the stabilizing layer of nanoemulsions, with a more pronounced stabilizing effect of curcumin observed in the fish oil nanoemulsion compared to the soybean oil one. The design of the experiment study, employed to simultaneously assess the impact of the oil phase, different PEGylated phospholipids and their concentrations, as well as the presence of curcumin, showed that not only the investigated factors alone, but also their interactions, had a significant influence on the critical quality attributes of the PEGylated nanoemulsions. Detailed physicochemical characterization of the NEs found all formulations were appropriate for parenteral administration and remained stable during two years of storage, with the preserved antioxidant activity demonstrated by DPPH and FRAP assays. In vitro release studies showed a more pronounced release of curcumin from the fish oil NEs compared to that from the soybean oil ones. The innovative in vitro injectability assessment, designed to mimic intravenous application, proved that all formulations tested in selected experimental setting could be employed in prospective in vivo studies. Overall, the current study shows the importance of oil phase selection when formulating PEGylated nanoemulsions.
First eROSITA‐TESS results for M dwarfs: Mass dependence of the X‐ray activity rotation relation and an assessment of sensitivity limits
2022-08-10

Abstract We present a study of the activity‐rotation relation for M dwarf stars, using new X‐ray data from the ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array (eROSITA) on board the Russian Spektrum‐Roentgen‐Gamma mission (SRG), combined with photometric rotation periods from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) . The stars used in this work are selected from the superblink proper motion catalog of nearby M dwarfs. We study the 135 stars with both a detection in the first eROSITA survey (eRASS1) and a rotation period measurement from TESS jointly with the sample of 197 superblink M dwarfs re‐adapted from our previous work. We fit the activity‐rotation relation for stars with rotation periods shorter than d (saturated regime) using three mass bins. The surprising positive slope for stars in our lowest mass bin () is due to a paucity of stars with intermediate rotation periods ( d), probably caused by fast period evolution. The much higher fraction of eRASS1 detections compared to stars that have also rotation periods from TESS shows that eROSITA is also sensitive for slower rotating M dwarfs that are in the unsaturated regime with periods inaccessible to TESS .
Gradient SERS Substrates with Multiple Resonances for Analyte Screening: Fabrication and SERS Applications
2022-08-10

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) provides a strong enhancement to an inherently weak Raman signal, which strongly depends on the material, design, and fabrication of the substrate. Here, we present a facile method of fabricating a non-uniform SERS substrate based on an annealed thin gold (Au) film that offers multiple resonances and gap sizes within the same sample. It is not only chemically stable, but also shows reproducible trends in terms of geometry and plasmonic response. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals particle-like and island-like morphology with different gap sizes at different lateral positions of the substrate. Extinction spectra show that the plasmonic resonance of the nanoparticles/metal islands can be continuously tuned across the substrate. We observed that for the analytes 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl) ethylene (BPE) and methylene blue (MB), the maximum SERS enhancement is achieved at different lateral positions, and the shape of the extinction spectra allows for the correlation of SERS enhancement with surface morphology. Such non-uniform SERS substrates with multiple nanoparticle sizes, shapes, and interparticle distances can be used for fast screening of analytes due to the lateral variation of the resonances within the same sample.
Interface Properties of Perfluorinated Iron Phthalocyanine on Au(111) and Ag(111): The Influence of Iron and the Macrocycle
2022-08-10

The molecular orientation and interface properties of Fe(II) hexadecafluoro-phthalocyanine (FePcF16) on Ag(111) are investigated by photoexcited electron spectroscopies: X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and resonant photoemission (ResPES). The data are compared to those for FePcF16 on Au(111). The molecules are oriented predominantly flat, lying on both substrate surfaces; increased tilts are observed for FePcF16 on Au(111). On Ag(111), the electronic structure of FePcF16 is distinctly altered at the interface, involving both the macrocycle and the central metal atom. An interface state close to the Fermi energy exhibits a clear Fe character.
Human brain organoid model of maternal immune activation identifies radial glia cells as selectively vulnerable
2022-08-10

Abstract Maternal immune activation (MIA) during the critical windows of gestation is correlated with long- term neurodevelopmental deficits in the offspring, including increased risks for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in humans. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) derived from the gestational parent is one of the major molecular mediators, by which MIA alters the developing brain. In this study, we established a human three-dimensional (3D) in vitro model of MIA by treating induced pluripotent stem cell- derived dorsal forebrain organoids with a constitutively active form of IL-6, Hyper-IL-6. We validated our model by showing that dorsal forebrain organoids express the molecular machinery necessary for responding to Hyper-IL-6 and activate STAT signaling upon Hyper-IL-6 treatment. RNA sequencing analysis revealed the upregulation of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHCI) genes, which have been implicated with ASD. Immunohistochemical analysis as well as single-cell RNA-sequencing revealed a small increase in the proportion of radial glia cells. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed the highest number of differentially expressed genes in radial glia cells with downregulation of genes related to protein translation in line with data from mouse models of MIA. Additionally, we identified differentially expressed genes not found in mouse models of MIA which might drive species-specific responses to MIA. Together, we establish a human 3D model of MIA, which can be used to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the increased risk for developing disorders such as ASD.
Jain Life Reimagined: An Examination of Jain Practice and Discourse during the Covid-19 Pandemic
2022-08-10

This article analyzes the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the religious practices and the public discourse of Jains in the U.S.A. and India. On the institutional level, I show how Jain organizations made extensive efforts to connect digitally with their community members when collective, in-person celebrations and temple visits were either reduced in number, limited in capacity, or cancelled because of the pandemic. Given the new importance of Jain online platforms, I address their potential role in both blurring sectarian boundaries and creating authentic sacred spaces. On the individual level, I examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the everyday religious practices of Jains. I conducted eight semi-structured interviews over Zoom between November 2020 and January 2021. I argue that while there is a great diversity of individual Jain responses, a common feature appears to be a significant increase of Jains participating in scholarly religious activities. In terms of the ways in which Jains talk, write, and reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic, I theorize that the Jain discourse on the COVID-19 pandemic is characterized by environmental concerns and by the processes of scientization and universalization. Building on the work of Knut Aukland (2016) that examines the role of science in contemporary Jain discussions, I define scientization as the ongoing process where Jains underline the convergence of their religion with modern science. With the term universalization, I refer to the noticeable trend among Jains to argue for the need to teach Jainism beyond the Jain community by showing its contemporary relevance and applicability to overcome global problems, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Untangling the Intertwined: Metallic to Semiconducting Phase Transition in Colloidal MoS2 Nanoplatelets and Nanosheets
2022-08-10

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have a thickness-tunable band gap in the semiconducting crystal phase and – in monolayer form – exhibit a direct band gap. TMDCs are highly promising for spin- and valleytronics and show an ultrafast response to external (optical) stimuli, an essential feature for optoelectronics. However, up to now, colloidal synthesis routes for ultrathin TMDCs typically yield different shapes and crystal phases and a thorough understanding of the product guiding reaction mechanism is missing. We investigate the colloidal synthesis of ultrathin MoS2 nanoplatelets (8 nm ± 4 nm) and nanosheets (22 nm ± 9 nm) in terms of the evolution of crystal phase and shape over the course of their formation. The reaction is followed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, showing that a mixture of the semiconducting 2H and the metallic 1T crystal phase is formed initially, regardless of the molybdenum oleate precursor concentration used for the reaction. A low precursor concentration however leads to the formation of MoS2 nanoplatelets, while a high concentration yields laterally larger MoS2 nanosheets. Both structures have undergone a full transition to the semiconducting 2H crystal phase by the end of the reaction. Phase pure semiconducting MoS2 nanoplatelets with a lateral size approaching the MoS2 exciton Bohr radius exhibit strong additional lateral quantum confinement leading to a drastically shortened decay of the B-exciton, which we characterize by ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy. Our results offer a straight-forward synthesis strategy to phase pure semiconducting 2D MoS2 and represent an important starting point for chemically exploring upcoming colloidal TMDC heterostructures for optical applications.
Registry of the International Society of Uterus Transplantation: First Report
2022-08-11

Background. Uterus transplantation (UTx) is a novel type of transplantation to treat infertility in women with an absent or nonfunctioning uterus. The International Society of Uterus Transplantation (ISUTx) has developed a registry to monitor worldwide UTx activities while serving as a repository for specific research questions. Methods. The web-based registry has separate data fields for donor, recipient, surgeries, immunosuppression, rejections, pregnancies with live birth(s), and transplant hysterectomies. Data are prospectively registered. Results. A total of 45 UTx procedures have been registered; the majority (78%) of those procedures were live donor (LD) transplants. Median age of the LDs, deceased donors, and recipients were 50 y (range 32–62), 38.5 y (19–57), and 29 y (22–38), respectively. The duration of LD surgery was approximately twice as long as the recipient surgery. Postoperative complications of any Clavien-Dindo grade were registered in 20% of LDs and 24% of recipients. Rejection episodes were more frequent (33%) early after transplantation (months 1–5) compared with later time points (months 6–10; 21%). Healthy neonates were delivered by 16 recipients, with 3 women giving birth twice. The total live birth rate per embryo transfer was 35.8%. Median length of pregnancy was 35 gestational weeks. Twelve uteri were removed without childbirth, with 9 transplant hysterectomies occurring during the initial 7 mo post-UTx. Conclusions. A mandatory registry is critical to determine quality and process improvement for any novel transplantation. This registry provides a detailed analysis of 45 UTx procedures performed worldwide with a thorough analysis of outcomes and complications.
T cell-mediated additive cytotoxicity – death by multiple bullets
2022-08-11

Immune effector cells, including cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), induce apoptosis and eliminate target cells by direct cell-cell contacts. In vivo, CTLs fail to efficiently kill solid tumor cells by individual contacts but rely upon multihit interactions by many CTLs (swarming). Recent evidence has indicated that multihit interactions by CTLs induce a series of sublethal damage events in target cells, including perforin-mediated membrane damage, induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nuclear envelope rupture, and DNA damage. Individual damage can be repaired, but when induced in rapid sequence, sublethal damage can accumulate and induce target cell death. Here, we summarize the sublethal damage and additive cytotoxicity concepts for CTL-induced and other cell stresses and discuss the implications for improving immunotherapy and multitargeted anticancer therapies.