julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Future Challenges
2022-05-19

This book has covered a wide range of new and exciting research in the science of information-seeking. Yet many open questions still remain. For example, how is information-seeking related to reward-seeking? What are the principles that enable us to acquire useful information with computational efficiency, despite possessing limited cognitive capacities and knowledge? Which aspects of our neural machinery are unique to information-seeking, and what is shared across other cognitive systems? How does the science of information-seeking inform important societal issues, such as fake news, conspiracy theories, and education? In this closing chapter, we present a brief overview of future challenges and current puzzles in the field, organized around the same three questions used to structure the sections of this book: What drives humans to seek information? How do humans search for information? Which machinery supports the drive for knowledge? While our current theories and frameworks have answered many questions about information-seeking, many more still remain. At the end of this chapter, we address the social implications for the science of information-seeking. Like boats paddling against the current, the drive for knowledge will continue to propel us toward new and exciting questions to be curious about.
Lexical Phylogenetics of the Tupí-Guaraní Family: Language, Archaeology, and the Problem of Chronology
2022-05-20

Abstract Tupí-Guaraní is one of the largest branches of the Tupían language family, but despite its relevance there is no consensus about its origins in terms of age, homeland, and expansion. Linguistic classifications vary significantly, with archaeological studies suggesting incompatible date ranges while ethnographic literature confirms the close similarities as a result of continuous inter-family contact. To investigate this issue, we use a linguistic database of cognate data, employing Bayesian phylogenetic methods to infer a dated tree and to build a phylogeographic expansion model. Results suggest that the branch originated around 2500 BP in the area of the upper course of the Tapajós-Xingu basins, with a split between Southern and Northern varieties starting around 1750 BP. We analyse the difficulties in reconciling archaeological and linguistic data for this group, stressing the importance of developing an interdisciplinary unified model that incorporates evidence from both disciplines.
A Perspective on Plant Phenomics: Coupling Deep Learning and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
2022-05-20

The trait-based approach in plant ecology aims at understanding and classifying the diversity of ecological strategies by comparing plant morphology and physiology across organisms. The major drawback of the approach is that the time and financial cost of measuring the traits on many individuals and environments can be prohibitive. We show that combining near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with deep learning resolves this limitation by quickly, non-destructively, and accurately measuring a suite of traits, including plant morphology, chemistry, and metabolism. Such an approach also allows to position plants within the well-known CSR triangle that depicts the diversity of plant ecological strategies. The processing of NIRS through deep learning identifies the effect of growth conditions on trait values, an issue that plagues traditional statistical approaches. Together, the coupling of NIRS and deep learning is a promising high-throughput approach to capture a range of ecological information on plant diversity and functioning and can accelerate the creation of extensive trait databases.
Combination of pigment epithelium derived factor with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy protects the neuroretina from ischemic damage
2022-05-20

Ocular ischemia is a vision-threatening disease, and is a medical condition associated with many ocular diseases. Anti-VEGF therapy has limitations related to its side effects and suppression of physiological revascularization. Pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) has anti-angiogenesis and neurotrophic neuroprotective functions and is a promising agent in the treatment of ischemia-induced retinal neurodegeneration. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of PEDF and anti-VEGF and the combined therapy on the ischemic rat eye model ex vivo. In this study, the PEDF protein, anti-VEGF drug (Avastin) or the combination of PEDF and Avastin were intravitreally injected immediately after eye enucleation. Then the eyes were incubated in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium (DMEM) at 4 °C for 14 h. After that the eyes were fixed immediately by formalin. VEGF, PEDF and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. The IHC staining intensity was evaluated for each eye. Compared to the groups treated by vehicle, PEDF, and anti-VEGF alone, the value of staining intensity of VEGF and GFAP was significantly reduced in the retina and choroidal vessels of the PEDF/Anti-VEGF treatment group. The intravitreally injected PEDF protein can locate in the retina and the choroidal vessels. Compared to the vehicle-treatment group, both the PEDF-treatment and the PEDF/Anti-VEGF treatment groups showed significantly decreased number of TUNEL-positive nuclei, and the PEDF/Anti-VEGF treatment group had the least TUNEL-positive nuclei. Combination of PEDF and an anti-VEGF drug (Avastin) is a possible therapeutic strategy against ischemic retinal and choroidal diseases.
Addressing barriers to mental health services: evaluation of a psychoeducational short film for forcibly displaced people
2022-05-20

Mental health self-stigma was shown to be a persistent and underestimated burden in forcibly displaced people.Psychoeducational online interventions are promising for addressing the burden of self-stigma and reducing barriers to seeking mental health services.
Crossing paths: recent insights in the interplay between autophagy and intracellular trafficking in plants
2022-05-20

Autophagy fulfills a crucial role in plant cellular homeostasis by recycling diverse cellular components ranging from protein complexes to whole organelles. Autophagy cargos are shuttled to the vacuole for degradation, thereby completing the recycling process. Canonical autophagy requires the lipidation and insertion of ATG8 proteins into double‐membrane structures, termed autophagosomes, which engulf the cargo to be degraded. As such, the autophagy pathway actively contributes to intracellular membrane trafficking. Yet, the autophagic process is not fully considered a bona fide component of the canonical membrane trafficking pathway. However, recent findings have started to pinpoint the interconnection between classical membrane trafficking pathways and autophagy. This review details the latest advances in our comprehension of the interplay between these two pathways. Understanding the overlap between autophagy and canonical membrane trafficking pathways is important to illuminate the inner workings of both pathways in plant cells.
Model eye assessment by 3D fast-scanning peripheral refraction wavefront sensor
2022-05-20

Peripheral vision not only plays a vital role in daily visual tasks, such as locomotion and detection but there is also the hypothesis that peripheral refraction could influence eye growth and myopia development. In 1971 Hoogerheide et al. suggested an increased risk for humans to become myopic if the peripheral refractive errors tend to be hyperopic, i.e., positive relative peripheral refraction (RPR). The hypothetical link discovered between peripheral refraction and myopia development has opened a series of scientific investigations to confirm the theory and understand the underlying foundations. In this way, high-quality peripheral refractometry has gained importance in the study of myopia. Clinical aberrometers are efficient and robust instruments for measuring wavefront error for central vision; however, to measure aberrometry in the peripheral field, several difficulties arise that prevent standardization for clinical use. In the present work, we develop a new type of scanning aberrometer to improve and simplify the system for the analysis of peripheral refraction. Four physical eye models were made to provide a stable sample resembling a human eye and validate the new methodology. The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the current system to determine the factors that limit the employability of the instrument, and it is aimed at the development of the gold standard technology for peripheral refraction measurement, making the instrument more economical, simple to use and offering the highest possible measurement quality. The validation has been done by a comparative analysis between theoretical and experimental results showing good correlation. The results of this study will provide us with helpful information when conducting studies in human eyes using this new apparatus.
Believing in a political media dictate is associated with Covid-19-related beliefs, media usage, and health behaviors
2022-05-20

A substantial number of citizens in democratic countries believe in a political media dictate, the false assumption that governments decide what mainstream and flagship journalistic outlets may report or not. Two survey studies using national German samples (N= 590 and N = 1067) revealed that more than one third of the adult population believes in a political media dictate. The studies explored cognitive and metacognitive underpinnings of how this belief is related to other beliefs (true and false statements about Covid-19), the confidence that beliefs are held with, and the insights into the accuracy of one’s beliefs. Moreover, relations between belief in a media dictate and behaviors (media consumption, compliance with Covid-19 measures, vaccination intentions) were investigated. Results revealed that those who believe in a media dictate are not a homogeneous group, but may be comprised of two sub-groups: one that is characterized by deep-seated distrust against institutions (often fueled by alternative media consumption) and has developed interrelated beliefs in an “alternative reality” of misinformed beliefs; and one that is characterized by ignorance and lack of interest in political affairs. This has implications for how to target these sub-groups in political and science communication.
Deviant Cartographies: A Contribution to Post-critical Cartography
2022-05-23

Abstract Based on the recently developed approach of 'post-critical cartography', this article addresses how developments in cartography can be interpreted functionally, dysfunctionally, afunctionally, and metafunctionally. This interpretation takes up the sociological topic of deviance . Normatively, this article bases on Ralf Dahrendorf’s concept of life chances. It includes established terminology which can be applied to the development of cartography. For example, the development and dissemination of digital cartography, in different development stages, has shown to be functional. Cartographic representations restricting life chances due to disinformation and manipulation can be described as dysfunctional. Cartographic representations that do not receive positive responses from the public or the professional community can be characterized as afunctional. Metafunctional representations are capable of highlighting the contingency of the world and its cartographic interpretation, particularly by including the stylistic device of irony. Critical cartography has made some functional contributions to cartography, but it also comprises dysfunctional effects originating in its moral rigorism. This article intends to contribute to the preservation of its functional and to overcome its dysfunctional impacts.
Pyroptosis and Its Role in SARS-CoV-2 Infection
2022-05-23

The pore-forming inflammatory cell death pathway, pyroptosis, was first described in the early 1990s and its role in health and disease has been intensively studied since. The effector molecule GSDMD is cleaved by activated caspases, mainly Caspase 1 or 11 (Caspase 4/5 in humans), downstream of inflammasome formation. In this review, we describe the molecular events related to GSDMD-mediated pore formation. Furthermore, we summarize the so far elucidated ways of SARS-CoV-2 induced NLRP3 inflammasome formation leading to pyroptosis, which strongly contributes to COVID-19 pathology. We also explore the potential of NLRP3 and GSDMD inhibitors as therapeutics to counter excessive inflammation.
The broad edge of synchronization: Griffiths effects and collective phenomena in brain networks
2022-05-23

Many of the amazing functional capabilities of the brain are collective properties stemming from the interactions of large sets of individual neurons. In particular, the most salient collective phenomena in brain activity are oscillations, which require the synchronous activation of many neurons. Here, we analyse parsimonious dynamical models of neural synchronization running on top of synthetic networks that capture essential aspects of the actual brain anatomical connectivity such as a hierarchical-modular and core-periphery structure. These models reveal the emergence of complex collective states with intermediate and flexible levels of synchronization, halfway in the synchronous–asynchronous spectrum. These states are best described as broad Griffiths-like phases, i.e. an extension of standard critical points that emerge in structurally heterogeneous systems. We analyse different routes (bifurcations) to synchronization and stress the relevance of ‘hybrid-type transitions’ to generate rich dynamical patterns. Overall, our results illustrate the complex interplay between structure and dynamics, underlining key aspects leading to rich collective states needed to sustain brain functionality. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Emergent phenomena in complex physical and socio-technical systems: from cells to societies’.
Metastable discrete time-crystal resonances in a dissipative central spin system
2022-05-23

We consider the non-equilibrium behavior of a central spin system where the central spin is periodically reset to its ground state. The quantum mechanical evolution under this effectively dissipative dynamics is described by a discrete-time quantum map. Despite its simplicity this problem shows surprisingly complex dynamical features. In particular, we identify several metastable time-crystal resonances. Here the system does not relax rapidly to a stationary state but undergoes long-lived oscillations with a period that is an integer multiple of the reset period. At these resonances the evolution becomes restricted to a low-dimensional state space within which the system undergoes a periodic motion. Generalizing the theory of metastability in open quantum systems, we develop an effective description for the evolution within this long-lived metastable subspace and show that in the long-time limit a non-equilibrium stationary state is approached. Our study links to timely questions concerning emergent collective behavior in the 'prethermal' stage of a dissipative quantum many-body evolution and may establish an intriguing link to the phenomenon of quantum synchronization.
Committed Bird-Watchers Gain Greater Psychological Restorative Benefits Compared to Those Less Committed Regardless of Expertise
2022-05-23

Numerous studies have shown a positive impact of nature on psychological restoration and on well-being, which, in turn, are related to life satisfaction. Previous studies were place based or episode assessments, usually in the field. Here, we studied bird-watchers at different levels of their recreational specialization, especially the factor commitment. We applied a leisure activity-related questionnaire to assess psychological restorativeness. We analyzed responses from 388 bird-watchers (260 male, 127 female, 1 diverse) from an internet survey. Three factors emerged and were labeled as restoration, detachment, and experiencing freedom. We here show for the first time that the psychological restorativeness of a leisure activity is dependent on the recreational specialization level. Psychological commitment toward birding was related to all three factors. Thus, birders do not need to have a high knowledge or must do many birding trips, but rather birding needs to be important to their life. This, in turn, suggests that even beginners in bird-watching with low expertise may gain health benefits from their leisure activity.
Polygenic Resilience Modulates the Penetrance of Parkinson Disease Genetic Risk Factors
2022-05-23

Objective The aim of the current study is to understand why some individuals avoid developing Parkinson disease (PD) despite being at relatively high genetic risk, using the largest datasets of individual‐level genetic data available. Methods We calculated polygenic risk score to identify controls and matched PD cases with the highest burden of genetic risk for PD in the discovery cohort (International Parkinson's Disease Genomics Consortium, 7,204 PD cases and 9,412 controls) and validation cohorts (Comprehensive Unbiased Risk Factor Assessment for Genetics and Environment in Parkinson's Disease, 8,968 cases and 7,598 controls; UK Biobank, 2,639 PD cases and 14,301 controls; Accelerating Medicines Partnership–Parkinson's Disease Initiative, 2,248 cases and 2,817 controls). A genome‐wide association study meta‐analysis was performed on these individuals to understand genetic variation associated with resistance to disease. We further constructed a polygenic resilience score, and performed multimarker analysis of genomic annotation (MAGMA) gene‐based analyses and functional enrichment analyses. Results A higher polygenic resilience score was associated with a lower risk for PD (β = −0.054, standard error [SE] = 0.022, p = 0.013). Although no single locus reached genome‐wide significance, MAGMA gene‐based analyses nominated TBCA as a putative gene. Furthermore, we estimated the narrow‐sense heritability associated with resilience to PD ( h 2 = 0.081, SE = 0.035, p = 0.0003). Subsequent functional enrichment analysis highlighted histone methylation as a potential pathway harboring resilience alleles that could mitigate the effects of PD risk loci. Interpretation The present study represents a novel and comprehensive assessment of heritable genetic variation contributing to PD resistance. We show that a genetic resilience score can modify the penetrance of PD genetic risk factors and therefore protect individuals carrying a high‐risk genetic burden from developing PD. ANN NEUROL 2022;92:270–278
Resilin is needed for wing posture in Drosophila suzukii
2022-05-23

Abstract Resilin is a protein matrix in movable regions of the cuticle conferring resistance to fatigue. The main component of Resilin is Pro‐Rresilin that polymerises via covalent di‐ and tri‐tyrosine bounds (DT). Loss of Pro‐Resilin is nonlethal and causes a held‐down wing phenotype ( hdw ) in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster . To test whether this mild phenotype is recurrent in other insect species, we analysed resilin in the spotted‐wing fruit fly Drosophila suzukii . As quantified by DT autofluorescence by microscopy, DT intensities in the trochanter and the wing hinge are higher in D. suzukii than in D. melanogaster , while in the proboscis the DT signal is stronger in D. melanogaster compared to D. suzukii . To study the function of Pro‐Resilin in D. suzukii , we generated a mutation in the proresilin gene applying the Crispr/Cas9 technique. D. suzukii pro‐resilin mutant flies are flight‐less and show a hdw phenotype resembling respective D. melanogaster mutants. DT signal intensity at the wing hinge is reduced but not eliminated in D. suzukii hdw flies. Either residual Pro‐Resilin accounts for the remaining DT signal or, as proposed for the hdw phenotype in D. melanogaster , other DT forming proteins might be present in Resilin matrices. Interestingly, DT signal intensity reduction rates in D. suzukii and D. melanogaster are somehow different. Taken together, in general, the function of Pro‐Resilin seems to be conserved in the Drosophila genus; small differences in DT quantity, however, allow us to hypothesise that Resilin matrices might be modulated during evolution probably to accommodate the species‐specific lifestyle.
Early postoperative endoscopic evaluation of rectal anastomoses: a prospective cross-sectional study
2022-05-23

Abstract Background Reported incidence of anastomotic leakage (AL) of rectal anastomoses is up to 29% with an overall mortality up to 12%. Nevertheless, there is no uniform evidence-based diagnostic procedure for early detection of AL. The objective of this prospective clinical trial was to demonstrate the diagnostic value of early postoperative flexible endoscopy for rectal anastomosis evaluation. Methods Flexible endoscopy between 5 and 8th postoperative day was performed consecutively in 90 asymptomatic patients. Sample size calculation was made using the two-stage Simon design. Diagnostic value was measured by management change after endoscopic evaluation. Anastomoses were categorized according to a new classification. Study is registered in German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00019217). Results Of the 90 anastomoses, 59 (65.6%) were unsuspicious. 20 (22.2%) were suspicious with partial fibrin plaques ( n = 15), intramural hematoma and/or local blood coagulum ( n = 4) and ischemic area in one. 17 of these anastomoses were treated conservatively under monitoring. In three a further endoscopic re-evaluation was performed and as consequence one patient underwent endoscopic vacuum therapy. 11 (12.2%) AL were detected. Here, two could be treated conservatively under monitoring, four with endoscopic vacuum therapy and five needed revision surgery. No intervention-related adverse events occurred. A change in postoperative management was made in 31 (34.4%) patients what caused a significant improvement of diagnosis of AL ( p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions Early postoperative endoscopic evaluation of rectal anastomoses is a safe procedure thus allows early detection of AL. Early treatment for suspicious anastomoses or AL could be adapted to avoid severe morbidity and mortality. Graphical abstract