julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Improving statistical analysis in brain imaging: an alternative way to use principal component analysis
2018-05-01

275 Objectives: While principal component analysis (PCA) has been explored extensively in brain imaging to identify patterns associated with a particular clinical condition, we here propose using it to identify patterns that are neither primarily related to that condition nor orthogonal to the pattern of interest in order to reduce noise before statistical image interpretation. In particular, we here propose identifying principal components from healthy controls and removing them from patient data before calculating the degree (pattern expression score) to which a known pattern associated with a particular clinical condition is present in the patient data. A theoretical framework is provided to estimate the benefit of denoising as well as the cost. Furthermore, the effect of denoising is shown for FDG-PET data from 180 controls from the ADNI-database, which were used to identify PCs (n=130) and manipulated (n=50) to contain a random degree of a pattern known as PDCP (Parkinson disease cognition related pattern: widespread cortical hypometabolism, subcortical hypermetabolism, particularly in cerebellum and brainstem, here derived from our own FDG-PET-data). The effect of denoising was measured in terms of altered Pearson’s correlation between the pattern expression score derived from the manipulated images and the random score used for manipulation. For our pattern, Monte Carlo simulation showed best results when using all available PCs for denoising (R2 = .77 as opposed to R2 = .40 without denoising) while removing single PCs often worsened the correlation. We conclude that the proposed method is a powerful tool to improve statistical image interpretation. The proposed procedure differs from the usual procedure in that the PCs that are interpreted as noise and thus removed from the data are not orthogonal to the (known) pattern of interest so that, in combination, they may explain a part of the noise component of the pattern expression score. The proposed method can be applied before calculation of an index for individual diagnosis but should be evaluated for each pattern. To our knowledge, it hasn’t been described before.
Dopamine and intertemporal choice in humans
2018-05-01

Abstract. The dopamine (DA) system has been implicated in the mediation of cost/benefit evaluations involved in the intertemporal choices between immediate and delayed rewards. This involvement was further investigated in two studies of normal participants that had to decide between a smaller immediate and a larger delayed reward in a series of 27 decisions.In study 1 the dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist pramipexole or placebo were administered in a double-blind cross-over protocol prior to the decisions. In study 2 the same experiment was conducted in two groups of normal participants that were homozygous for either the 7repeat or the 4 repeat variant of the exon III polymorphism of the Dopamine D4 receptor gene. Dopaminergic involvement is highlighted by the results.
The t(14;18) translocation is absent from endothelial and follicular dendritic cells of follicular lymphoma (FL) and shows heterogeneous presence in preserved FL mantle zones
2018-05-01

The t(14;18) translocation in follicular lymphoma is limited to B-cells. The origin of IgD+ mantle cells is heterogeneous, in the majority of cases belonging to the neoplastic clone, whereas a minority of cases of manifest FL show nonneoplastic mantle zones, similar to ISFN.
An essay on life, care and death in the Brave New World after 1984
2018-05-01

Purpose In order to explore the impact of the recent wave of a technological revolution on global culture and society, the purpose of this paper is to re-read the two most outstanding dystopian novels of the mid-twentieth century. George Orwell and Aldous Huxley observe and anticipate technological development in relation to questions of human nature and culture, individual identity and close relationships, matters of care, privacy and private life. The totalitarian regimes both authors experienced in their time have disappeared, yet today the two fields of high technology that fueled their fantasy are reaching levels of development to surpass Orwell’s and Huxley’s daunting visions. Design/methodology/approach This paper approaches the recent innovations in the information and communication technology as well as the upsurge of life sciences and bio-technology from a philosophical perspective, considering their impact on the social structure (division of labor, distribution of wealth) as well as on the symbolic order of advanced industrial societies (the sign and the body, life and death). Findings Taking up Michel Foucault’s distinction between ancient sovereign rule and modern biopolitics, the author suggests discerning a third stage of domination: bio economics plus culture industries. In contrast to the two previous forms of domination, this new regime does not endeavor to suppress but to foster and unleash life. Therefore, it instigates less resistance and opposition but meets with more approval and compliance. Domination in this neoliberal-libertarian guise may prove not less dangerous than the former totalitarian variant. It forces the author to re-think ways of resistance and critique. Originality/value This paper makes a theoretical contribution to the analysis of care, society and democracy.
Evaluation of cancer prevention habits in germline TP53 mutation carriers in Germany – a multicentric observational study about acceptance, adherence of surveillance modalities in adulthood
2018-05-01

Li-Fraumeni syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome caused by germline TP53 mutations with a lifetime cancer risk of up to 90%. Complex, intense and costly surveillance programs are recommended to mutation carriers, with yearly over 18 interventions for early cancer detection, including whole bodyMRI. To date, feasibility, acceptance and adherence to such program in Germany have not been addressed. This study aims at identifying factors to optimize care in times of increasing genetic testing.
Electrode-size dependent thresholds in subretinal neuroprosthetic stimulation
2018-05-02

Our results suggest the following guidelines for retinal prosthetics employing biphasic current pulses. The encoding of small objects may be achieved through the activation of a confined set of different retinal ganglion cells, with individual stimulation thresholds spanning a wide range of charge densities. The encoding of increasing object sizes may be achieved by decreasing stimulation charge density.
Coherent transport and symmetry breaking - Laser dynamics of constrained granular matter
2018-05-02

We present diagrammatic transport theory including self-consistent nonlinear enhancement and dissipation in the multiple scattering regime. Our model of Vollhardt-W\\"olfle transport of photons is fit-parameter-free and raises the claim that the results hold up to the closest packed volume of randomly arranged ZnO Mie scatterers. We find that a symmetry breaking caused by dissipative effects of a lossy underlying substrate leads to qualitatively different physics of coherence and lasing in granular amplifying media. According to our results, confined and extended mode and their laser thresholds can be clearly attributed to unbroken and broken spatial symmetry. The diameters and emission profiles of random laser modes, as well as their thresholds and the positional-dependent degree of coherence can be checked experimentally.
A new perspective on lipid research in age-related macular degeneration
2018-05-03

There is an urgency to find new treatment strategies that could prevent or delay the onset or progression of AMD. Different classes of lipids and lipoproteins metabolism genes have been associated with AMD in a multiple ways, but despite the ever-increasing knowledge base, we still do not understand fully how circulating lipids or local lipid metabolism contribute to AMD. It is essential to clarify whether dietary lipids, systemic or local lipoprotein metabolismtrafficking of lipids in the retina should be targeted in the disease. In this article, we critically evaluate what has been reported in the literature and identify new directions needed to bring about a significant advance in our understanding of the role for lipids in AMD. This may help to develop potential new treatment strategies through targeting the lipid homeostasis.
Longitudinal motor performance development in early adolescence and its relationship to adult success: An 8-year prospective study of highly talented soccer players
2018-05-03

Several talent identification and development (TID) programs in soccer have implemented diagnostics to measure players' motor performance. Yet, there is a lack of research investigating the relationship between motor development in adolescence and future, adult performance. This longitudinal study analyzed the three-year development of highly talented young soccer players' speed abilities and technical skills and examined the relevance of this development to their adult success. The current research sample consisted of N = 1,134 players born between 1993 and 1995 who were selected for the German Soccer Association's TID program and participated in nationwide motor diagnostics (sprinting, agility, dribbling, ball control, shooting) four times between the Under 12 (U12) and Under 15 (U15) age class. Relative age (RA) was assessed for all players, and a total motor score was calculated based on performances in the individual tests. In order to investigate players' future success, participants were divided into two groups according to their adult performance level (APL) in the 2014/2015 season: Elite (1st-5th German division; N = 145, 12.8%) and non-elite players (lower divisions; N = 989, 87.2%). Using multilevel regression analyses each motor performance was predicted by Time, Time2 (level-1 predictors), APL, and RA (level-2 covariates) with simultaneous consideration for interaction effects between the respective variables. Time and Time2 were significant predictors for each test performance. A predictive value for RA was confirmed for sprinting and the total motor score. A significant relationship between APL and the motor score as well as between APL and agility, dribbling, ball control, and shooting emerged. Interaction effects distinctly failed to reach significance. The study found a non-linear improvement in players' performance for all considered motor performance factors over a three-year period from early to middle adolescence. While their predictive value for future success was confirmed by a significant relationship between APL and most of the considered factors, there was no significant interaction between APL and Time. These findings indicate that future elite players had already been better at the beginning of the TID program and maintained this high level throughout their promotion from U12 to U15.
Public Child‐Care Expansion and Changing Gender Ideologies of Parents in Germany
2018-05-03

This study investigates whether the expansion of public child care for children aged younger than 3 years in Germany has been associated with individual‐level change in gender ideologies. The authors develop and test a theoretical framework of the short‐term impact of family policy institutions on ideology change. The analysis links the German Family Panel pairfam (2008 to 2015) with administrative records on county‐level child‐care provision for those aged younger than 3 years and applies fixed effects panel models. The findings show that the child‐care expansion has been associated with moderate changes toward less‐traditional gender ideologies only among mothers in West Germany and mostly among mothers without a college degree. In East Germany, the authors found evidence of more traditional gender ideologies among mothers without a college degree as the child‐care reform unfolded. The results provide evidence that policy reforms may alter gender ideologies also in the short‐term.
GAD65 Promoter Polymorphism rs2236418 Modulates Harm Avoidance in Women via Inhibition/Excitation Balance in the Rostral ACC
2018-05-03

Anxiety disorders are common and debilitating conditions with higher prevalence in women. However, factors that predispose women to anxiety phenotypes are not clarified. Here we investigated potential contribution of the single nucleotide polymorphism rs2236418 in GAD2 gene to changes in regional inhibition/excitation balance, anxiety-like traits, and related neural activity in both sexes. One hundred and five healthy individuals were examined with high-field (7T) multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); including resting-state functional MRI in combination with assessment of GABA and glutamate (Glu) levels via MR spectroscopy. Regional GABA/Glu levels in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) subregions were assessed as mediators of gene–personality interaction for the trait harm avoidance and moderation by sex was tested. In AA homozygotes, with putatively lower GAD2 promoter activity, we observed increased intrinsic neuronal activity and higher inhibition/excitation balance in pregenual ACC (pgACC) compared with G carriers. The pgACC drove a significant interaction of genotype, region, and sex, where inhibition/excitation balance was significantly reduced only in female AA carriers. This finding was specific for rs2236418 as other investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms of the GABA synthesis related enzymes ( GAD1 , GAD2 , and GLS ) were not significant. Furthermore, only in women there was a negative association of pgACC GABA/Glu ratios with harm avoidance. A moderated-mediation model revealed that pgACC GABA/Glu also mediated the association between the genotype variant and level of harm avoidance, dependent on sex. Our data thus provide new insights into the neurochemical mechanisms that control emotional endophenotypes in humans and constitute predisposing factors for the development of anxiety disorders in women. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Anxiety disorders are among the most common and burdensome psychiatric disorders, with higher prevalence rates in women. The causal mechanisms are, however, poorly understood. In this study we propose a neurobiological basis that could help to explain female bias of anxiety endophenotypes. Using magnetic resonance brain imaging and personality questionnaires we show an interaction of the genetic variation rs2236418 in the GAD2 gene and sex on GABA/glutamate (Glu) balance in the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC), a region previously connected to affect regulation and anxiety disorders. The GAD2 gene polymorphism further influenced baseline neuronal activity in the pgACC. Importantly, GABA/Glu was shown to mediate the relationship between the genetic variant and harm avoidance, however, only in women.
Your Co-author Received 150 Citations: Pride, but Not Envy, Mediates the Effect of System-Generated Achievement Messages on Motivation
2018-05-03

ResearchGate, a social network site for academics, prominently displays the achievements of people one follows ("With 150 new reads, X was the most read author from their institute"). The goal of this paper was to examine the emotional and motivational effects of these system-generated messages, thereby extending prior research on envy-evoking status updates on Facebook to a professional context. We also extend the research on social comparisons and more broadly, on emotional responses elicited by social media. Specifically, social media research has largely focused on examining emotional reactions to content that is both generated by and is about others. In this research we directly examine updates generated by the system (ResearchGate) while also directly comparing reactions to updates about others' achievements with reactions to updates that are about the self-i.e., one's personal achievements which are also displayed on ResearchGate ("With 150 new reads, you were the most read author from your institute"). Particular attention was paid to the mediating role of envy and pride. The results of our quasi-experimental field study (<i>n</i> = 419) showed that the achievements of others elicited envy, whereas personal achievements elicited pride. People exposed to their personal achievements (vs. the achievement of others) showed a higher motivation to work harder. This effect was mediated by pride, but not envy. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Younger vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) are more likely than adults to explore novel objects
2018-05-03

The effects of age on neophobia and exploration are best described in birds and primates, and broader comparisons require reports from other taxa. Here we present data showing age-dependent exploration in a long-lived social species, the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus). A previous study found that vampire bats regurgitated food to partners trapped in a cage. Interestingly, while only a few adult bats visited the trapped bat, in every trial all or most of the eight young males in the colony would visit the trapped bat without feeding it. To test whether this behavioral difference resulted from age class differences in exploration, we compared responses of the bats to a trapped conspecific versus an inanimate novel object. Some adults and young showed interest in trapped conspecifics, but only the young males explored the novel objects. Additional novel object tests in a second captive colony showed that higher rates of novel object exploration were shown by young of both sexes. Our results corroborate past findings from other mammals and birds that age predicts exploration. If age-dependent exploration is indeed adaptive, then the role of age as a predictor of exploration tendency should depend on species-specific life history traits. Finally, because younger vampire bats also appear to have higher exposure to pathogens such as rabies virus, there may be implications for pathogen transmission if younger and more exploratory vampire bats are more likely to feed on novel hosts.
Aligning with the UN: Nonviolent Self-Determination Movements in the Global South
2018-05-03

Self-determination campaigns in the Global South have often been pursued through warfare. Since the 1990s, however, an increasing number of such movements have endorsed legalistic mechanisms of international law and the UN's core principle of nonviolence. We introduce the concept of UN-aligned self-determination movements for them. As a starting point to explain their occurrence, we examine two major cases: The Peaceful Southern Movement (Hirak) in Yemen and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in contemporary Nigeria. Our analysis combines theories on political opportunities, diffusion, and framing from social movement, civil resistance, and armed rebellion research. We observe that since the end of the Cold War the rule of law, role of the UN, and norms of nonviolent conflict resolution have been strengthened in the international system. We argue that this has given self-determination movements in the Global South new opportunities for claims-making: Facing repressive governments, the leaders of Hirak and MASSOB have successfully aligned their movements with the UN by diffusing its core principles to the local struggle through resonant collective action frames. Thereby, our study contributes to understanding the diffusion of nonviolence in the international system, in particular in self-determination campaigns, and directs attention to the rise of UN-aligned self-determination movements.
MAGIC: a MATLAB Toolbox for External Control of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Devices
2018-05-03

The capacity to externally control transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) devices is becoming increasingly important in brain stimulation research. Here we introduce MAGIC (MAGnetic stimulator Interface Controller), an open-source MATLAB toolbox for controlling Magstim and MagVenture stimulators. MAGIC includes a series of MATLAB functions which allow the user to arm/disarm the stimulator, send triggers, change stimulator settings such as amplitude, interpulse intervals, and frequency, and receive stimulator setting information via a serial port connection between a computer and the stimulator. By providing external control capability, MAGIC enables greater flexibility in designing research protocols which require trial-by-trial changes of device settings to realize a priori trial randomization or interactive ad hoc adjustment of parameters during an ongoing experiment. MAGIC thus helps to prevent experimental confounds related to the block-wise variation of parameters and facilitates the integration of TMS with cognitive/sensory tasks, and the development of more adaptive brain state-dependent brain stimulation protocols.
Therapeutic Interference With Vascular Calcification—Lessons From Klotho-Hypomorphic Mice and Beyond
2018-05-04

Medial vascular calcification, a major pathophysiological process associated with cardiovascular disease and mortality, involves osteo-/chondrogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In chronic kidney disease (CKD), osteo-/chondrogenic transdifferentiation of VSMCs and, thus, vascular calcification is mainly driven by hyperphosphatemia, resulting from impaired elimination of phosphate by the diseased kidneys. Hyperphosphatemia with subsequent vascular calcification is a hallmark of klotho-hypomorphic mice, which are characterized by rapid development of multiple age-related disorders and early death. In those animals, hyperphosphatemia results from unrestrained formation of 1,25(OH)<sub>2</sub>D<sub>3</sub> with subsequent retention of calcium and phosphate. Analysis of klotho-hypomorphic mice and mice with vitamin D<sub>3</sub> overload uncovered several pathophysiological mechanisms participating in the orchestration of vascular calcification and several therapeutic opportunities to delay or even halt vascular calcification. The present brief review addresses the beneficial effects of bicarbonate, carbonic anhydrase inhibition, magnesium supplementation, mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) blockage, and ammonium salts. The case is made that bicarbonate is mainly effective by decreasing intestinal phosphate absorption, and that carbonic anhydrase inhibition leads to metabolic acidosis, which counteracts calcium-phosphate precipitation and VSMC transdifferentiation. Magnesium supplementation, MR blockage and ammonium salts are mainly effective by interference with osteo-/chondrogenic signaling in VSMCs. It should be pointed out that the, by far, most efficient substances are ammonium salts, which may virtually prevent vascular calcification. Future research will probably uncover further therapeutic options and, most importantly, reveal whether these observations in mice can be translated into treatment of patients suffering from vascular calcification, such as patients with CKD.