julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
The Alteration of Emotion Regulation Precedes the Deficits in Interval Timing in the BACHD Rat Model for Huntington Disease
2018-05-09

Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominantly inherited, progressive neurodegenerative disorder which is accompanied by executive dysfunctions and emotional alteration. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of emotion/stress on on-going highly demanding cognitive tasks, i.e., temporal processing, as a function of age in BACHD rats (a "full length" model of HD). Middle-aged (4-6 months) and old (10-12 months) rats were first trained on a 2 vs. 8-s temporal discrimination task, and then exposed to a series of bisection tests under normal and stressful (10 mild unpredictable foot-shocks) conditions. The animals were then trained on a peak interval task, in which reinforced fixed-interval (FI) 30-s trials were randomly intermixed with non-reinforced probe trials. After training, the effect of stress upon time perception was again assessed. Sensitivity to foot-shocks was also assessed independently. The results show effects of both age and genotype, with largely greater effects in old BACHD animals. The older BACHD animals had impaired learning in both tasks, but reached equivalent levels of performance as WT animals at the end of training in the temporal discrimination task, while remaining impaired in the peak interval task. Whereas sensitivity to foot-shock did not differ between BACHD and WT rats, delivery of foot-shocks during the test sessions had a disruptive impact on temporal behavior in WT animals, an effect which increased with age. In contrast, BACHD rats, independent of age, did not show any significant disruption under stress. In conclusion, BACHD rats showed a disruption in temporal learning in late symptomatic animals. Age-related modification in stress-induced impairment of temporal control of behavior was also observed, an effect which was greatly reduced in BACHD animals, thus confirming previous results suggesting reduced emotional reactivity in HD animals. The results suggest a staggered onset in cognitive and emotional alterations in HD, with emotional alteration being the earliest, possibly related to different time courses of degeneration in cortico-striatal and amygdala circuits.
Sex differences in a chronometric mental rotation test with cube figures
2018-05-09

In chronometric mental rotation tasks, sex differences are widely discussed. Most studies find men to be more skilled in mental rotation than women, which can be explained by the holistic strategy that they use to rotate stimuli. Women are believed to apply a piecemeal strategy. So far, there have been no studies investigating this phenomenon using eye-tacking methods in combination with electroencephalography (EEG) analysis: the present study compared behavioral responses, EEG activity, and eye movements of 15 men and 15 women while solving a three-dimensional chronometric mental rotation test. The behavioral analysis showed neither differences in reaction time nor in the accuracy rate between men and women. The EEG data showed a higher right activation on parietal electrodes for women and the eye-tracking results indicated a longer fixation in a higher number of areas of interest at 0° for women. Men and women are likely to possess different perceptual (visual search) and decision-making mechanisms, but similar mental rotation processes. Furthermore, men presented a longer visual search processing, characterized by the greater saccade latency of 0°-135°. Generally, this study could be considered a pilot study to investigate sex differences in mental rotation tasks while combining eye-tracking and EEG methods.
Ancient genomes reveal a high diversity of Mycobacterium leprae in medieval Europe
2018-05-10

Studying ancient DNA allows us to retrace the evolutionary history of human pathogens, such as Mycobacterium leprae, the main causative agent of leprosy. Leprosy is one of the oldest recorded and most stigmatizing diseases in human history. The disease was prevalent in Europe until the 16th century and is still endemic in many countries with over 200,000 new cases reported annually. Previous worldwide studies on modern and European medieval M. leprae genomes revealed that they cluster into several distinct branches of which two were present in medieval Northwestern Europe. In this study, we analyzed 10 new medieval M. leprae genomes including the so far oldest M. leprae genome from one of the earliest known cases of leprosy in the United Kingdom-a skeleton from the Great Chesterford cemetery with a calibrated age of 415-545 C.E. This dataset provides a genetic time transect of M. leprae diversity in Europe over the past 1500 years. We find M. leprae strains from four distinct branches to be present in the Early Medieval Period, and strains from three different branches were detected within a single cemetery from the High Medieval Period. Altogether these findings suggest a higher genetic diversity of M. leprae strains in medieval Europe at various time points than previously assumed. The resulting more complex picture of the past phylogeography of leprosy in Europe impacts current phylogeographical models of M. leprae dissemination. It suggests alternative models for the past spread of leprosy such as a wide spread prevalence of strains from different branches in Eurasia already in Antiquity or maybe even an origin in Western Eurasia. Furthermore, these results highlight how studying ancient M. leprae strains improves understanding the history of leprosy worldwide.
A new large-bodied thalattosuchian crocodyliform from the Lower Jurassic (Toarcian) of Hungary, with further evidence of the mosaic acquisition of marine adaptations in Metriorhynchoidea
2018-05-10

Based on associated and three-dimensionally preserved cranial and postcranial remains, a new thalattosuchian crocodyliform, Magyarosuchus fitosi gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Jurassic (Upper Toarcian) Kisgerecse Marl Formation, Gerecse Mountains, Hungary is described here. Phylogenetic analyses using three different datasets indicate that M. fitosi is the sister taxon of Pelagosaurus typus forming together the basal-most sub-clade of Metriorhynchoidea. With an estimated body length of 4.67–4.83 m M. fitosi is the largest known non-metriorhynchid metriorhynchoid. Besides expanding Early Jurassic thalattosuchian diversity, the new specimen is of great importance since, unlike most contemporaneous estuarine, lagoonal or coastal thalattosuchians, it comes from an ‘ammonitico rosso’ type pelagic deposit of the Mediterranean region of the Tethys. A distal caudal vertebra having an unusually elongate and dorsally projected neural spine implies the presence of at least a rudimentary hypocercal tail fin and a slight ventral displacement of the distal caudal vertebral column in this basal metriorhynchoid. The combination of retaining heavy dorsal and ventral armors and having a slight hypocercal tail is unique, further highlighting the mosaic manner of marine adaptations in Metriorhynchoidea.
Are personality traits and relationship characteristics reciprocally related? Longitudinal analyses of codevelopment in the transition out of high school and beyond.
2018-05-10

Personality development has been associated with changes in various aspects of social relationships (e.g., contact frequency, emotional closeness, etc.). However, specific patterns of personality-relationship transactions are still not well understood as not many empirical studies have explored major life transitions. Emerging adulthood with its numerous life transitions is crucial for personality and social relationship development. In this study, we looked at personality-relationship transactions in the transition from high school to college, apprenticeship training, and so forth. We used Waves 1 to 3 of the Transformation of the Secondary School System and Academic Careers (TOSCA) study, which measured the Big Five (McCrae & Costa, 2008) and their facets as well as five relationship characteristics in social networks with one's romantic partner, friends, kin, and others. Our analyses of extended bivariate latent difference score models revealed four main findings: First, there was an imbalance in personality-relationship transaction effects with the majority of effects occurring from personality to change in social relationships rather than in the opposite direction. Furthermore, only a few change-to-change associations occurred. Second, two thirds of the cross-lagged effects derived from personality facets. Third, the majority of effects were found in the second measurement interval (i.e., not during the transition out of high school, but in the time period after this transition). Finally, neuroticism and its facets, as well as conflict frequency and perceived feelings of insecurity in the relationship emerged as the most consistent associations in this age group. Theoretical and empirical implications for personality-relationship transaction patterns are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Multi-epoch analysis of the X-ray spectrum of the active galactic nucleus in NGC 5506
2018-05-10

We present a multi-epoch X-ray spectroscopy analysis of the nearby narrow-line Seyfert I galaxy NGC 5506. For the first time, spectra taken by Chandra, XMM–Newton, Suzaku, and NuSTAR– covering the 2000–2014 time span – are analysed simultaneously, using state-of-the-art models to describe reprocessing of the primary continuum by optical thick matter in the active galactic nucleus environment. The main goal of our study is determining the spin of the supermassive black hole (SMBH). The nuclear X-ray spectrum is photoelectrically absorbed by matter with column density ≃ 3 × 1022 cm−2. A soft excess is present at energies lower than the photoelectric cut-off. Both photoionized and collisionally ionized components are required to fit it. This component is constant over the time-scales probed by our data. The spectrum at energies higher than 2 keV is variable. We propose that its evolution could be driven by flux-dependent changes in the geometry of the innermost regions of the accretion disc. The black hole spin in NGC 5506 is constrained to be 0.93&#13;\\n±^(0.04)_(0.04) at 90 per cent confidence level for one interesting parameter.
3D radiative transfer: Continuum and line scattering in non-spherical winds from OB stars
2018-05-10

Context. State of the art quantitative spectroscopy utilizes synthetic spectra to extract information from observations. For hot, massive stars, these synthetic spectra are calculated by means of 1D, spherically symmetric, NLTE atmosphere and spectrum-synthesis codes. Certain stellar atmospheres, however, show strong deviations from spherical symmetry, and need to be treated in 3D. Aims. We present and test a newly developed 3D radiative transfer code, tailored to the solution of the radiation field in rapidly expanding stellar atmospheres. We apply our code to the continuum transfer in wind-ablation models, and to the UV resonance line formation in magnetic winds. Methods. We have used a 3D finite-volume method for the solution of the time-independent equation of radiative transfer, to study continuum- and line-scattering problems, currently approximated by a two-level-atom. Convergence has been accelerated by coupling the formal solver to a non-local approximate Λ -iteration scheme. Particular emphasis has been put on careful tests, by comparing with alternative solutions for 1D, spherically symmetric model atmospheres. These tests allowed us to understand certain shortcomings of the methods, and to estimate limiting cases that can actually be calculated. Results. The typical errors of the converged source functions, when compared to 1D solutions, are of the order of 10–20%, and rapidly increase for optically thick ( τ ≳ 10) continua, mostly due to the order of accuracy of our solution scheme. In circumstellar discs, the radiation temperatures in the (optically thin) transition region from wind to disc are quite similar to corresponding values in the wind. For MHD simulations of dynamical magnetospheres, the line profiles, calculated with our new 3D code, agree well with previous solutions using a 3D-SEI method. When compared with profiles resulting from the so-called analytic dynamical magnetosphere (ADM) model, however, significant differences become apparent. Conclusions. Due to similar radiation temperatures in the wind and the transition region to the disc, the same line-strength distribution can be applied within radiation hydrodynamic calculations for optically thick circumstellar discs in “accreting high-mass stars”. To properly describe the UV line formation in dynamical magnetospheres, the ADM model needs to be further developed, at least in a large part of the outer wind.
Enhancing Psychosis-Spectrum Nosology Through an International Data Sharing Initiative
2018-05-10

The latent structure of schizotypy and psychosis-spectrum symptoms remains poorly understood. Furthermore, molecular genetic substrates are poorly defined, largely due to the substantial resources required to collect rich phenotypic data across diverse populations. Sample sizes of phenotypic studies are often insufficient for advanced structural equation modeling approaches. In the last 50 years, efforts in both psychiatry and psychological science have moved toward (1) a dimensional model of psychopathology (eg, the current Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology [HiTOP] initiative), (2) an integration of methods and measures across traits and units of analysis (eg, the RDoC initiative), and (3) powerful, impactful study designs maximizing sample size to detect subtle genomic variation relating to complex traits (the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium [PGC]). These movements are important to the future study of the psychosis spectrum, and to resolving heterogeneity with respect to instrument and population. The International Consortium of Schizotypy Research is composed of over 40 laboratories in 12 countries, and to date, members have compiled a body of schizotypy- and psychosis-related phenotype data from more than 30000 individuals. It has become apparent that compiling data into a protected, relational database and crowdsourcing analytic and data science expertise will result in significant enhancement of current research on the structure and biological substrates of the psychosis spectrum. The authors present a data-sharing infrastructure similar to that of the PGC, and a resource-sharing infrastructure similar to that of HiTOP. This report details the rationale and benefits of the phenotypic data collective and presents an open invitation for participation.
Peer Review #1 of "A new large-bodied thalattosuchian crocodyliform from the Lower Jurassic (Toarcian) of Hungary, with further evidence of the mosaic acquisition of marine adaptations in Metriorhynchoidea (v0.1)"
2018-05-10

Based on associated and three-dimensionally preserved cranial and postcranial remains, a new thalattosuchian crocodyliform, Magyarosuchus fitosi gen.et sp.nov.from the Lower Jurassic (Upper Toarcian) Kisgerecse Marl Formation, Gerecse Mountains, Hungary is described here.Phylogenetic analyses using three different datasets indicate that M. fitosi is the sister taxon of Pelagosaurus typus forming together the basal-most sub-clade of Metriorhynchoidea.With an estimated body length of 4.67-4.83meter M. fitosi is the largest known non-metriorhynchid metriorhynchoid.Besides expanding Early Jurassic thalattosuchian diversity, the new specimen is of great importance since, unlike most contemporaneous estuarine, lagoonal or coastal thalattosuchians, it comes from an "ammonitico rosso" type pelagic deposit of the Mediterranean region of the Tethys.A distal caudal vertebra having an unusually elongate and dorsally projected neural spine implies the presence of at least a rudimentary hypocercal tail fin and a slight ventral displacement of the distal caudal vertebral column in this basal metriorhynchoid.The combination of retaining heavy dorsal and ventral armors and having a slight hypocercal tail is unique, further highlighting the mosaic manner of marine adaptations in Metriorhynchoidea.
The central locus of self-prioritisation
2018-05-11

Self-related information is under many circumstances processed in a preferred and biased way, leading to what has been termed the self-prioritisation effect (SPE). The SPE has been demonstrated with arbitrary stimuli assigned to self and others, thereby controlling the influence of familiarity, and originally been attributed to facilitated perceptual processing of self-related stimuli. Subsequent studies, however, casted doubts on this interpretation and suggested further possible sources for the SPE. In the present four experiments, we used the well-established psychological refractory period paradigm together with the locus of slack and the effect propagation logic to pinpoint the source of the SPE. The data consistently demonstrated the SPE across all experiments. More important, the results converge on the notion that the SPE has its source in a capacity-limited stage of central processing. The implications of these results are discussed in light of possible candidate processes as sources for the SPE, such as memory-related processing.
Nickel‐Catalyzed Coupling of Arylzinc Halides with Thioesters
2018-05-11

Abstract The Pd‐catalyzed Fukuyama reaction of thioesters with organozinc reagents is a mild, functional‐group‐tolerant method for acylation chemistry. Its Ni‐catalyzed variant might be a sustainable alternative to expensive catalytic Pd sources. We investigated the reaction of S ‐ethyl thioesters with aryl zinc halides with hetero‐ and homotopic Ni precatalysts and several ligands. The results show that both homo‐ and heterotopic species may contribute to catalysis. The substrate scope using an operationally homogeneous defined Ni complex was established. Acyl radicals are postulated as short‐lived intermediates.
Relationships between the inflammatory potential of the diet, aging and anthropometric measurements in a cross-sectional study in Pakistan
2018-05-11

BACKGROUND: Little is known about associations between dietary inflammation, age and anthropometric measurements. OBJECTIVE: In this regard, we examine how DII is related to age, anthropometrics [weight, Body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR)] and other parameters of nutrition (energy, protein, fats and cholesterol intake, Net Endogenous Acid Production (NEAP) and Phytochemical Index (PI)) in a cross-sectional study in Pakistan. DESIGN: Only men ( n = 651, age 54–95 years) participated in the study. Anthropometric data were collected using standard methods. DII was calculated from nutrients derived from 24-hr Dietary Recall questionnaires. NEAP and PI were calculated by established algorithms using information on nutrient intake. RESULTS: The results show that with increasing age, there was a significant increase in the DII score ( p &lt; 0.05). Similarly significant positive correlations were found between DII score and weight, BMI, WHR and % BF ( p, for all trends &lt; 0.05). DII score significantly positively correlated with the dietary factors studied i.e. energy, protein, and fats ( p, for all trends &lt; 0.0001) but non-significantly with cholesterol ( p &gt; 0.05). Similarly, a significant positive correlation with NEAP ( p &lt; 0.0001) was found, but negative with PI ( p &lt; 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the present study shows direct positive correlations between the DII, age and indices of obesity, and thus supports the hypothesis that diet may have a role in the development of obesity through inflammatory modulation mechanisms in elderly.
Long-Term, Low-Frequency Cluster of a German-Imipenemase-1-Producing Enterobacter hormaechei ssp. steigerwaltii ST89 in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Germany
2018-05-11

Enterobacter cloacae complex is a common cause of hospital outbreaks. A retrospective and prospective molecular analysis of carbapenem-resistant clinical isolates in a tertiary care center demonstrated an outbreak of a German-imipenemase-1 (GIM-1) metallo-beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacter hormaechei ssp. steigerwaltii affecting 23 patients between 2009 and 2016. Thirty-three isolates were sequence type 89 by conventional multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and displayed a maximum difference of 49 out of 3,643 targets in the ad-hoc core-genome MLST (cgMLST) scheme (SeqSphere+ software; Ridom, Münster, Germany). The relatedness of all isolates was confirmed by further maximum-likelihood phylogeny. One clonal complex of highly related isolates (≤15 allele difference in cgMLST) contained 17 patients, but epidemiological data only suggested five transmission events. The bla<sub>GIM-1</sub>-gene was embedded in a class-1-integron (In770) and the Tn21-subgroup transposon Tn6216 (KC511628) on a 25-kb plasmid. Environmental screening detected one colonized sink trap in a service room. The outbreak was self-limited as no further bla<sub>GIM-1</sub>-positive E. hormaechei has been isolated since 2016. Routine molecular screening of carbapenem-nonsusceptible gram-negative isolates detected a long-term, low-frequency outbreak of a GIM-1-producing E. hormaechei ssp. steigerwaltii clone. This highlights the necessity of molecular surveillance.
On the stationary distribution of the block counting process for\\n population models with mutation and selection
2018-05-11

We consider two population models subject to the evolutionary forces of\\nselection and mutation, the Moran model and the -Wright-Fisher model.\\nIn such models the block counting process traces back the number of potential\\nancestors of a sample of the population at present. Under some conditions the\\nblock counting process is positive recurrent and its stationary distribution is\\ndescribed via a linear system of equations. In this work, we first characterise\\nthe measures leading to a geometric stationary distribution, the\\nBolthausen-Sznitman model being the most prominent example having this feature.\\nNext, we solve the linear system of equations corresponding to the Moran model.\\nFor the -Wright-Fisher model we show that the probability generating\\nfunction associated to the stationary distribution of the block counting\\nprocess satisfies an integro differential equation. We solve the latter for the\\nKingman model and the star-shaped model.\\n
The molecular pathogenesis of superoxide dismutase 1-linked ALS is promoted by low oxygen tension
2018-05-11

Abstract Mutations that destabilize superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) are a cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). SOD1, which is located in the reducing cytosol, contains an oxidized disulfide bond required for stability. We show that the bond is an Achilles heel of the protein because it is sensitive to the oxygen tension. Culture of ALS patient-derived fibroblasts, astrocytes and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mixed motor neuron and astrocyte cultures (MNACs) under lowered oxygen tensions caused reductive bond cleavage and misfolding. The effects were greatest in cells expressing mutant SOD1s, but also occurred in wild type SOD1 in cultures derived from patients carrying ALS-linked mutations in C9orf72, FUS and TBK1 , as well as from controls. MNACs showed a greater response than the other cell types, including enhanced SOD1 aggregation, in line with the vulnerability of the motor system. Our results show that oxygen tension is a principal determinant of SOD1 stability and shed light on how risk factors for ALS, such as aging and other conditions causing reduced vascular perfusion, could lead to disease initiation and progression. Subject categories Neuroscience; Molecular Biology of Disease