julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Noradrenergic Modulation of Primary and Secondary Rewards in Healthy Subjects
2017-09-01

We investigated effects of the noradrenergic agent reboxetine (REB) and the antipsychotic amisulpride (AMS) in healthy subjects on erotic stimulus processing. Whereas AMS left sexual functions and neural activations unimpaired, we observed detrimental effects of REB on sexual functions along with attenuated neural activations of emotional, autonomic and motivational components (e.g. within the nucleus accumbens; NAcc) of sexual behavior. To assess the effects of these two agents on neural processing of secondary rewards, we now investigated the same sample by fMRI and an established monetary reward paradigm. 17 healthy males were investigated under REB, AMS and placebo for 7 days each within a double-blind cross-over design. During fMRI, we used an monetary incentive task to explore neural prediction error signals within the NAcc. An ANOVA on reaction times revealed a significant main effect for levels of reward-probability. Here, mean reaction times fastened according to higher reward probability in all treatments. In contrast to diminished sexual function and attenuated neural NAcc-activation under REB during erotic stimulation, we revealed unaffected neural NAcc-activity during secondary rewards. Also here, AMS left neural NAcc-activations and behavioural results unimpaired. We provide evidence of specific alterations of reward system activity by noradrenergic agents towards a dampening of primary reward processing and unimpaired neural processing of secondary rewards.
Auxin as an Intercellular Signal
2017-09-01

Abstract The sections in this article are Introduction Auxin Transport – Known Pathways Molecular Components Subcellular Dynamics of Auxin Carriers The Role of Auxin Gradients in Plant Development Conclusions Acknowledgements
Mutation detection of Pakistani families with autosomal recessive retinal dystrophies
2017-09-01

Purpose Hereditary retinal dystrophies ( RD ) are a group of heterogeneous disorders caused by mutations in over 200 genes. RD s can be subdivided into different groups based on the primary degeneration of rod or cone photoreceptor cells. This study was conducted to investigate the underlying RD genes and mutation in consanguineous families from Pakistan. Methods Families were recruited after informed consent. Peripheral blood was collected and genomic DNA was extracted according to standard procedures. Homozygosity mapping was performed using Affymetrix Gene Chip Human Mapping 250 K‐NspI arrays. The data were analyzed using Homozygosity Mapper software. Primers for amplifying all exons and intron boundaries of all genes were designed with Primer3plus software followed by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Minigene splicing assay and DNA walking were performed on respective samples. Results Homozygosity mapping identified a novel locus in family A, one novel gene ( C8 ORF 37 ) in family B and a large novel genomic deletion of the ( LCA 5 ) gene in family C. Conclusions Our study indicates the heterogeneous nature of retinal dystrophies in Pakistan. Although earlier studies have explored a number of RD families, but underlying genes are still unknown for significant proportion of Pakistani families. Theoretically the traditional screening methods (homozygosity mapping based candidate gene sequencing) were successful, however SNP based genome wide scan were further implemented to improve the detection of underlying variations responsible for Retinal Dystrophies. Therefore the amalgamation of traditional and modern molecular techniques is required for accurate identification of mutations. It is anticipated that these findings will contribute to future genetic testing in Pakistani families to minimize the risk of recessive disorders.
Time-domain analysis of distortion-product otoacoustic emissions using a hydrodynamic cochlea model
2017-09-01

Abstract As a by-product of nonlinear amplification in the cochlea, the inner ear emits sound waves in response to two tones with different frequencies. These sound waves are measurable in the ear canal as distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). DPOAEs putatively consist of two components emerging at different locations in the cochlea. Wave interference between the two components limits the accuracy of DPOAEs as a noninvasive measure of cochlear function. Using short stimulus pulses instead of continuous stimuli, the two DPOAE components can be separated in the time domain due to their different latencies. The present work utilizes a nonlinear hydrodynamic cochlea model to simulate short-pulse DPOAEs in the time domain. When adding irregularities to the mechanical parameters of the model, the simulated DPOAE signals show two distinguishable components and long-lasting beat tones, similar to band-pass filtered experimental data from normal-hearing human subjects. The model results suggest that the beat tones can occur solely due to interference of the coherent-reflection component with the fading nonlinear-distortion component.
Improvements in the simulation code of the SOX experiment
2017-09-01

The aim of the SOX experiment is to test the hypothesis of existence of light sterile neutrinos trough a short baseline experiment. Electron antineutrinos will be produced by an high activity source and detected in the Borexino experiment. Both an oscillometry approach and a conventional disappearance analysis will be performed and, if combined, SOX will be able to investigate most of the anomaly region at 95% c.l. This paper focuses on the improvements performed on the simulation code and on the techniques (calibrations) used to validate the results.
P16.06: First trimester ultrasound screening for Trisomy 21 based on maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency and different methods of ductus venosus assessment
2017-09-01

To examine whether combining the dichotomous assessment of the a-wave and the Ductus venosus (DV) PIV measurement improves first-trimester-screening performance. Retrospective study performed at the University Hospital of Tuebingen based on singleton pregnancies that underwent first-trimester-screening including DV flow assessment. In each case, the risk of Trisomy 21 was calculated based on maternal age, fetal NT, and DV flow either as dichotomous classification of the a-wave, as measurement of the DV PIV, or both. There were 5280 euploid fetuses and 127 fetuses with Trisomy 21. The DV a-wave was reversed in 2.3% and 66.1% in the euploid and Trisomy 21 cases, respectively. The DV PIV measurements were above the 95th percentile in 8.3% and 77.2% the euploid and Trisomy 21 cases, respectively. For a FPR of 3%, DR for Trisomy 21 based on maternal age, fetal NT and DV flow is about 87% irrespective of whether DV is examined as a continuous or dichotomous variable. The combination of both resulted in a small decrease at 3% FPR. Assessment of the DV a-wave and the DV PIV result in similar DRs. Combining these two approaches does not appear to improve their individual screening performance.
OC15.03: Comparison between first trimester combined screening and a combination between ultrasound and cell‐free DNA
2017-09-01

To compare the false positive rate (FPR) of first trimester combined screening for Trisomy 21 to a combination of first trimester ultrasound and cell free DNA (cfDNA) testing in a clinical setting. Randomised prospective single centre study at the university of Tuebingen involving singleton pregnancies at 11–13 weeks. In all pregnancies, a first trimester anatomy scan was performed including measurement of the fetal NT. Pregnancies with NT ≥3.5mm or pregnancies with fetal defects underwent invasive testing and were not considered eligible for this study. The others were randomised accordingly. Women in study arm 1 had first trimester combined screening. Women in study arm 2 received cfDNA testing (Harmony Prenatal Test, Cenata, Germany). In order to provide a test result for those cases without cfDNA test result, a serum sample that was also taken at the time of the ultrasound examination. Primary outcome was the FPR in both arms which was defined as risk for Trisomy 21 of 1:100 or higher. The analysis followed an intention to treat approach. Study arm 1 included 699 pregnancies, study arm 2 701, respectively. In study arm 1 and 2, median maternal age was 33.8 and 33.9 years, median CRL was 67.6 mm in both groups and median NT was 1.9 and 1.8mm, respectively. In study arm 2, in 11 (1.6%) pregnancies, the cfDNA analysis did not yield a result and a combined risk was calculated based on combined screening. The median risk in study arm 1 was 1:3,810. In 15 (2.2%) cases, the risk was above 1:100. All of those were false positive cases. In study arm 2, median risk was 1:10,000 and none of the risks was above 1:100 (chi square p<0.0001). In this first randomised study of cfDNA testing vs. first trimester combined screening we demonstrate that even after exclusion of cases with increased NT or fetal anomalies and using the same risk cut-off of 1:100, the combination of first trimester ultrasound and cfDNA testing results in significantly lower false positive cases than first trimester combined screening.
Search for dark photons using data from CRESST-II Phase 2
2017-09-01

Understanding the nature and origin of dark matter is one of the most important&#13;\\nchallenges for modern particle physics. During the previous decade the sensitivities of direct&#13;\\ndark matter searches have improved by several orders of magnitude. These experiments focus&#13;\\ntheir work mainly on the search for dark-matter particles interacting with nuclei (e.g. Weakly&#13;\\nInteracting Massive Particles, WIMPs). However, there exists a large variety of different&#13;\\ncandidates for dark-matter particles. One of these candidates, the so-called dark photon, is&#13;\\na long-lived vector boson with a kinetic mixing to the standard-model photon. In this work we&#13;\\npresent the preliminary results of our search for dark photons. Using data from the direct dark&#13;\\nmatter search CRESST-II Phase 2 we can improve the existing constraints for the kinetic mixing&#13;\\nfor dark-photon masses between 0.3 and 0.5 keV/c2. In addition, we also present projected&#13;\\nsensitivities for the next phases of the CRESST-III experiment showing great potential to&#13;\\nimprove the sensitivity for dark-photon masses below 1 keV.
P01.06: Effectiveness of the contemporary treatment of preterm labour: a comparison with a historical cohort
2017-09-01

To compare the effectiveness of contemporary treatment of preterm labour to a historical cohort. Retrospective matched case-control study to compare the outcomes of patients that were treated for preterm labour at the University Hospital of Tuebingen, Germany in 2014/ 2015 (current treatment cohort) and 2006/2007 (historical cohort). The study included women with singleton gestations who were admitted with the diagnosis of preterm labour between 24+0 and 34+0 weeks' gestation and a cervical length of ≤15 mm. Women in the historical cohort were hospitalised until either 34 weeks' gestation or until complete cessation of uterine contractions. They were treated with intravenous beta-mimetics continuously, received antibiotics based on the vaginal culture and corticosteroids regardless of cervical length measurement. Bed rest was always recommended. The current treatment cohort was tocolysed with an oral calcium channel blocker for approximately 3 days followed by vaginal progesterone until 34 weeks' gestation. Corticosteroids were given only if the cervical length is ≤15 mm. Bed rest was not recommended. The study population consisted of 110 pregnancies, 55 in the historical cohort and 55 in the current treatment cohort. At the time of admission, mean gestational age in both groups was 29.3 and 29.7 weeks. In the historical and current treatment cohort the length of the hospitalisation was 24.0 and 5.5 days and tocolysis was given for 19.5 and 3.4 days, respectively. In the historical cohort, mean gestational age at delivery was 35.6 weeks. In 63.6% cases delivery occurred prior to 37 weeks. In the current treatment group mean gestational age at the delivery was 37.0 weeks and 36.4% were delivered prior to 37 weeks. Short-term hospitalisation and tocolysis followed by vaginal progesterone for maintenance tocolysis is more effective than a protocol which includes long term hospital stay, beta-mimetics, antibiotics, and bed rest.
EP17.03: Effectiveness of a 2‐weekly HIG protocol in first trimester CMV infection
2017-09-01

Primary CMV infection is particularly associated with an adverse outcome if transmission occurs before 20 weeks. Administration of HIG should prevent transmission but the results are contradictory. So far, HIGs are given on a 4 weekly basis. However, we were able to demonstrate an index case with a half-life of about 14 days. In this pilot-study we examine the effectiveness of a HIG on a 2weekly basis in primary CMV infection in the first trimester. This is an observational study at the University Hospital of Tuebingen between 2013 and 2016. Women with a primary infection ≤14 weeks were included. A recent infection was assumed if <40U/ml, IgM-Index>2, CMV IgG avidity<40%, and without presence of anti-CMV-gB2-IgG. HIG application was started as soon as possible and repeated every 2 weeks. HIG was stopped when CMV-IgG levels were stable > 100U/ml after 2 weeks of the last HIG cycle (Hamprecht et al, 2017). In all cases, an amniocentesis was performed at around 20 weeks. Amniotic fluid was tested by nested PCR, q-rt-PCR and 18h and 14d cell culture. 20 women fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Serostatus was examined at 11.6 weeks' gestation and HIG application was started at 13.6 weeks, respectively. In 20 cases HIG were administered twice, in 18, 9, 3 and 1 case, HIG was given 3, 4 and 5 times, respectively. Mean gestational age at administration was 15.2, 17.0, 17.8 and 18.4 weeks. Amniocentesis was performed at 20.1 weeks. In none of the cases, we observed transmission. Administration of HIG may play a role in the prevention of first and second trimester transmission if they are given on a 2 weekly basis. Further, larger studies are necessary to confirm this finding.
Investigation of laser contact opening pitch affecting the void formation on n-Type rear emitter silicon solar cells
2017-09-01

The pitch of the rear side laser contact opening (LCO) strongly influences the performance of n-type Passivated Emitter and Rear Totally diffused (n-PERT) solar cells. The rear emitter of a back junction (BJ) cell was formed by boron doping [1,2]. The considered n-PERT, BJ cell structure is based on a p-type passivated emitter and rear cell (p-PERC) process sequence [3] upgraded by a boron diffusion on the rear side. Due to the application on n-type substrates, the cells have no light-induced degradation (LID) [4]. In this work we focus on fine tuning the LCO pitch of the device. We found that the LCO pitch directly affected the quality of the contact formation, leading to a variation on the solar cell performance investigated. By combined electroluminescence (EL) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. Voids were identified (It's about 60 μm width, 25 μm depth.) by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confirmed the different nature of the defects contributing to EL and PL contrast. Void formation is attributed to the diffusion of Si and Al at the Si/Al metallization interface. We found that void formation can be controlled by different LCO pitches. Based on this result we achieved a 0.35% absolute efficiency gain in average.
Diffusing capacity (DLCO) as a potential surrogate marker for scleroderma related lung disease–data from the german network for systemic sclerosis
2017-09-01

<b>Background:</b> Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is common in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), significantly limiting quality of life and survival. Data on clinical correlations between lung function, SSc phenotypes and early diagnosis of pulmonary involvement are sparse. <b>Methods:</b> SSc patients within the German Network for Systemic Scleroderma were analyzed for the relationship of DLCO and clinical characteristics at baseline and follow up. <b>Results:</b> DLCO measurements were available for 1917 SSc patients with a total of 5597 clinical visits. At baseline, 64% of the patients had DLCO levels &lt;75% predicted. Impaired DLCO levels were observed in 74% of dcSSc patients, in 64% of SSc-Overlap patients and in 57% of lcSSc patients (p&lt;0.0001). Furthermore, ILD patients (80%), males (62%), patients with PH (80%), dyspnea (78%), and those with anti-topoisomerase I antibodies (71%) exhibited significantly more often DLCO levels &lt;75% (p&lt;0.01). Patients suffering from dcSSc had the lowest DLCO levels (mean 62%), followed by patients with SSc-Overlap syndromes (mean 67%) and lcSSc patients (mean 70%). Long-term follow-up evaluation (mean follow up, 6.0 years) showed that in comparison to lcSSc patients, dcSSc patients (OR 2.1; p&lt;0.0001; 95% CI 1.7-2.5) and SSc-Overlap patients (OR, 1.55; p&lt;0.0001; 95% CI, 1.2-2.0) had a significantly increased risk to decline in DLCO levels &lt; 75%. <b>Conclusions:</b> Impairment of DLCO is more common and more pronounced in patients with dcSSc and SSc-Overlap Syndrome compared to lcSSc. DLCO alone may be useful for diagnosing and monitoring pulmonary involvement in SSc.
Implementation and validation of the extended Hill-type muscle model with robust routing capabilities in LS-DYNA for active human body models
2017-09-02

In the state of the art finite element AHBMs for car crash analysis in the LS-DYNA software material named *MAT_MUSCLE (*MAT_156) is used for active muscles modeling. It has three elements in parallel configuration, which has several major drawbacks: restraint approximation of the physical reality, complicated parameterization and absence of the integrated activation dynamics. This study presents implementation of the extended four element Hill-type muscle model with serial damping and eccentric force-velocity relation including Ca2+ dependent activation dynamics and internal method for physiological muscle routing.
Urban organization under empire: Iron Age Sam’al (Zincirli, Turkey) from royal to provincial capital
2017-09-02

Excavations of residential areas in the north lower town of Zincirli, Turkey, the Iron Age Aramaean capital of Sam'al, show a change, in the second-half of the 8th century BC, toward a stratified socio-economic organization with the foundation of an elite residential district. This change coincided with the onset of strong Neo-Assyrian imperial influence on the last local kings and intensified through the Assyrian provincial period. The development of the urban residential areas, as Sam'al changed from a royal to a provincial capital, reflects the different political aims of urbanization in the context of territorial state formation and imperialism.
Urban organization under empire: Iron Age Sam’al (Zincirli, Turkey) from royal to provincial capital
2017-09-02

AbstractExcavations of residential areas in the north lower town of Zincirli, Turkey, the Iron Age Aramaean capital of Sam’al, show a change, in the second-half of the 8th century BC, toward a stratified socio-economic organization with the foundation of an elite residential district. This change coincided with the onset of strong Neo-Assyrian imperial influence on the last local kings and intensified through the Assyrian provincial period. The development of the urban residential areas, as Sam’al changed from a royal to a provincial capital, reflects the different political aims of urbanization in the context of territorial state formation and imperialism.
Chewing: Goethe’s Proserpina
2017-09-02

This article argues that Goethe reduced the rich myth of Proserpina to a sequence of pure repetitions, which in their various forms then dominate the entire text of the drama. Goethe reproduces the myth as a rhetorical skeleton or, rather, as the skeleton of rhetoric. Put differently, Goethe’s Proserpina, executing a meta-theatrical experiment with the rich linguistic possibilities repetition provides, is a monodrama whose actual heroine is repetition.
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy-Based Frontal Lobe Neurofeedback Integrated in Virtual Reality Modulates Brain and Behavior in Highly Impulsive Adults
2017-09-03

Based on neurofeedback (NF) training as a neurocognitive treatment in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), we designed a randomized, controlled functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) NF intervention embedded in an immersive virtual reality classroom in which participants learned to control overhead lighting with their dorsolateral prefrontal brain activation. We tested the efficacy of the intervention on healthy adults displaying high impulsivity as a sub-clinical population sharing common features with ADHD. Twenty participants, 10 in an experimental and 10 in a shoulder muscle-based electromyography control group, underwent eight training sessions across 2 weeks. Training was bookended by a pre- and post-test including go/no-go, n-back, and stop-signal tasks (SST). Results indicated a significant reduction in commission errors on the no-go task with a simultaneous increase in prefrontal oxygenated hemoglobin concentration for the experimental group, but not for the control group. Furthermore, the ability of the subjects to gain control over the feedback parameter correlated strongly with the reduction in commission errors for the experimental, but not for the control group, indicating the potential importance of learning feedback control in moderating behavioral outcomes. In addition, participants of the fNIRS group showed a reduction in reaction time variability on the SST. Results indicate a clear effect of our NF intervention in reducing impulsive behavior possibly via a strengthening of frontal lobe functioning. Virtual reality additions to conventional NF may be one way to improve the ecological validity and symptom-relevance of the training situation, hence positively affecting transfer of acquired skills to real life.
AGS-003 combined with sunitinib for the precision treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma
2017-09-03

Introduction: Unselective approaches of immunotherapy in metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) have been largely abandoned over the past decade. Despite the established clinical benefit of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for mRCC and the recent successful implementation of immune check-point inhibition, specific immunotherapy may additionally contribute to anti-cancer immune response with good tolerability and long-term clinical benefit.Areas covered: AGS-003 represents an approach of specific immunotherapy using a dendritic cell-based vaccine based on monocyte derived dendritic cells, which are co-electroporated with individual antigen coding amplified tumor RNA and synthetic CD40L RNA. After successful clinical phase I and II trials, current evaluation of AGS-003 in mRCC in combination with sunintib is under way in a phase III clinical trial and results are awaited.Expert commentary: Initial results from clinical evaluation of AGS-003 are promising also based on the underlying mechanistic rationale. Toxicity profiles in combinatory regimens are mainly attributed to the side effects of the respective drugs. Apart from further awaited results of the oncologic efficacy of AGS-003 in mRCC, it will be of interest how the preparation of the compound ex vivo and issues related to cost and logistics will affect a potential clinical application of AGS-003 in the daily routine practice.
Validation of a Step Detection Algorithm during Straight Walking and Turning in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease and Older Adults Using an Inertial Measurement Unit at the Lower Back
2017-09-04

This cwt-based algorithm for step detection measured at the lower back is in high agreement with the optoelectronic system in both PD patients and older adults. This approach and algorithm thus could provide a valuable tool for future research on home-based gait analysis in these vulnerable cohorts.