julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Literature Review of Analytics for Adaptivity Within Educational Video Games
2021-01-29

Research has shown that serious games, digital game-based learning, and educational video games can be powerful learning instruments. However, experimental and meta-research have revealed that several moderators and variables influence the resulting learning outcomes. Advances in the areas of learning and game analytics potentially allow for controlling and improving the underlying learning processes of games by adapting their mechanics to the individual needs of the learner, to properties of the learning material, and/or to environmental factors. However, the field is young and no clear-cut guidelines are yet available. To shed more light on this topic and to identify common ground for further research, we conducted a systematic and pre-registered analysis of the literature. Particular attention was paid to different modes of adaptivity, different adaptive mechanisms in various learning domains and populations, differing theoretical frameworks, research methods, and measured concepts, as well as divergent underlying measures and analytics. Only 10 relevant papers were identified through the systematic literature search, which confirms that the field is still in its very early phases. The studies on which these papers were based, however, show promise in terms of the efficacy of adaptive educational games. Moreover, we identified an increased interest in the field of adaptive educational games and in the use of analytics. Nevertheless, we also identified a clear lack of common theoretical foundations as well as the application of rather heterogenous methods for investigating the effects of adaptivity. Most problematic was the lack of sufficient information (e.g., descriptions of used games, adaptive mechanisms), which often made it difficult to draw clear conclusions. Future studies should therefore focus on strong theory building and adhere to reporting standards across disciplines. Researchers from different disciplines must act in concert to advance the current state of the field in order to maximize its potential.
A hetero-oligomeric remorin-receptor complex regulates plant development
2021-01-29

Abstract Plant growth and development are modulated by both biotic and abiotic stress. Increasing evidence suggests that cellular integration of the corresponding signals occurs within preformed hubs at the plasma membrane called nanodomains. These membrane sub-compartments are organized by multivalent molecular scaffold proteins, such as remorins. Here, we demonstrate that Group 1 remorins form a hetero-oligomeric complex at the plasma membrane. While these remorins are functionally redundant for some pathways their multivalency also allows the recruitment of specific interaction partners. One of them, the receptor-like kinase REMORIN-INTERACTING RECEPTOR 1 (RIR1), that acts redundantly with the closely related receptor NILR2, is specifically recruited by REM1.2 in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Overlapping developmental phenotypes suggest that the REM/RIR complex regulates key developmental pathways.
Data transmission by quantum matter wave modulation
2021-01-29

Abstract Classical communication schemes exploiting wave modulation are the basis of our information era. Quantum information techniques with photons enable future secure data transfer in the dawn of decoding quantum computers. Here we demonstrate that also matter waves can be applied for secure data transfer. Our technique allows the transmission of a message by a quantum modulation of coherent electrons in a biprism interferometer. The data is encoded in the superposition state by a Wien filter introducing a longitudinal shift between separated matter wave packets. The transmission receiver is a delay line detector performing a dynamic contrast analysis of the fringe pattern. Our method relies on the Aharonov–Bohm effect but does not shift the phase. It is demonstrated that an eavesdropping attack will terminate the data transfer by disturbing the quantum state and introducing decoherence. Furthermore, we discuss the security limitations of the scheme due to the multi-particle aspect and propose the implementation of a key distribution protocol that can prevent active eavesdropping.
Linking objective measures of physical activity and capability with brain structure in healthy community dwelling older adults
2021-01-29

Abstract Maintaining high levels of daily activity and physical capability have been proposed as important constituents to promote healthy brain and cognitive aging. Studies investigating the associations between brain health and physical activity in late life have, however, mainly been based on self-reported data or measures designed for clinical populations. In the current study, we examined cross-sectional associations between physical activity, recorded by an ankle-positioned accelerometer for seven days, physical capability (grip strength, postural control, and walking speed), and neuroimaging based surrogate markers of brain health in 122 healthy older adults aged 65-88 years. We used a multimodal brain imaging approach offering two complementary structural MRI based indicators of brain health: white matter diffusivity and coherence based on diffusion tensor imaging and subcortical and global brain age based on brain morphology inferred from T1-weighted MRI data. The analyses revealed a significant association between global white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) and walking speed, indicating higher white matter coherence in people with higher pace. We also found a significant interaction between sex and brain age on number of daily steps, indicating younger-appearing brains in more physically active women, with no significant associations among men. These results provide insight into the intricate associations between different measures of brain and physical health in old age, and corroborate established public health advice promoting physical activity.
Genetic Diversity and Emerging Zoonotic Onchocerca Species in Human Populations in Taraba State, Nigeria
2021-01-29

Abstract Background: A better understanding of parasite population genetic processes in specific biogeography is needed to support onchocerciasis elimination goals. The genetic diversity of Onchocerca microfilariae was explored by amplifying a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene in the endemic area in Taraba State, Nigeria, Methods: Eight (8) communities were selected including six onchocerciasis endemic communities with records of ivermectin treatment having been annually distributed for 10 to 16 years, and two non-onchocerciasis endemic areas. The participants were 211 from endemic and 110 from non-endemic areas as control. Skin snips were taken from consenting participants by convenience sampling methods using a sterile sclera punch, from males and females residing within the communities for ten years and above or since birth, microfilaria and residual skin snips were preserved in RNALater® in a 1.5 ml micro-centrifuge tube. DNA was extracted from microfilariae recovered and from those in residual skin snip specimens. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification using specific primers for 16S genes was done to detect the identity of Onchocerca species. The amplified products were sequenced and analyzed for species identity. Results: Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis results showed distinct diversity of two sample sequences (G49_O.v. Gashaka and Y02_O.v. Yorro) from other samples from the study area and other regions, indicating emergence of a new polymorphic strain of O. volvulus . Report of a preliminary case of emerging zoonosis of O. ochengi infection in human (skin snips) sample ( O. ochengi G44) in this study. Conclusions: It is clear there is genetic diversity of Onchocerca species and emerging zoonosis in the study site. We suggest further investigation on the extent and potentials of emerging zoonotic onchocerciasis by O. ochengi , in the light of cattle, Simulium vectors, environmental and humans overlap in the study area.
Post-infectious Lymphedema Can Cause Facial Paralysis
2021-01-30

Background: Lymphedema (LE) as well as facial palsy ́s (FP) are relatively common disease.FP can be divided into idiopathic FP (Bell ́s palsy) and secondary FP due to a determined reason like trauma.The most common reasons of secondary FP are metabolic disease, tumors, infections, neurological disorders, autoimmune disorders, trauma and surgical interventions.LE is a high protein edema.The most common reasons for a secondary LE are lymphatic filariasis, irradiation and surgical interventions.Report: A 51 year old male with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and a hypersensitivity lung disease (HLD) presented with 3 days fever and cellulitis in his face.He developed a very extensive LE and becomes septic (in the cours, he needs pressors and intubation for airway protection).The rapid streptococcal test was positive.In the examination, we diagnosed then a dense, painless facial nerve palsy in all branches on the left (except his marginal branch). Conclusion:In our knowledge, this is the first publication which reports, that a LE causes a secondary FP.Due to the fact, that both LE and FP are not so rarely seen disorders, our goal is to sensitise other physicians about the possibility of a casual coherence between them; that may be of important relevance for the outcome of the patients.
Classification of pseudocalcium visual responses from mouse retinal ganglion cells
2021-01-30

&lt;p&gt;The dataset includes spike data of 9 different recordings from mouse&nbsp;retina ganglion cells and the&nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Pseudocalcium &lt;/em&gt;traces after convolving spikes with OGB kernel.&lt;/p&gt;
Nerve Ultrasound as Helpful Tool in Polyneuropathies
2021-01-31

Background: Polyneuropathies (PNP) are a broad field of diseases affecting millions of people. While the symptoms presented are mostly similar, underlying causes are abundant. Thus, early identification of treatable causes is often difficult. Besides clinical data and basic laboratory findings, nerve conduction studies are crucial for etiological classification, yet limited. Besides Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), high-resolution nerve ultrasound (HRUS) has become a noninvasive, fast, economic and available tool to help distinguish different types of nerve alterations in neuropathies. Methods: We aim to describe typical ultrasound findings in PNP and patterns of morphological changes in hereditary, immune-mediated, diabetic, metabolic and neurodegenerative PNP. Literature research was performed in PubMed using the terms ‘nerve ultrasound’, neuromuscular ultrasound, high-resolution nerve ultrasound, peripheral nerves, nerve enlargement, demyelinating, hereditary, polyneuropathies, hypertrophy’. Results: Plenty of studies over the past 20 years investigated the value of nerve ultrasound in different neuropathies. Next to nerve enlargement, patterns of nerve enlargement, echointensity, vascularization and elastography have been evaluated for diagnostic terms. Furthermore, different scores have been developed to distinguish different etiologies of PNP. Conclusions: Where morphological alterations of the nerves reflect underlying pathologies, early nerve ultrasound might enable a timely start of available treatment and also facilitate follow up of therapy success.
Decision aids to prepare patients for shared decision making: Two randomized controlled experiments on the impact of awareness of preference‐sensitivity and personal motives
2021-01-31

Abstract Objective To participate in shared decision making (SDM), patients need to understand their options and develop trust in their own decision‐making abilities. Two experiments investigated the potential of decision aids (DAs) in preparing patients for SDM by raising awareness of preference‐sensitivity (Study 1) and showing possible personal motives for decision making (Study 2) in addition to providing information about the treatment options. Methods Participants (Study 1: N = 117; Study 2: N = 217) were put into two scenarios (Study 1: cruciate ligament rupture; Study 2: contraception), watched a consultation video and were randomized into one of three groups where they received additional information in the form of (a) narrative patient testimonials; (b) non‐narrative decision strategies; and (c) an unrelated text (control group). Results Participants who viewed the patient testimonials or decision strategies felt better prepared for a decision (Study 1: P &lt; .001, = 0.43; Study 2: P &lt; .001, = 0.57) and evaluated the decision‐making process more positively (Study 2: P &lt; .001, = 0.13) than participants in the control condition. Decision certainty (Study 1: P &lt; .001, = 0.05) and satisfaction (Study 1: P &lt; .001, = 0.11; Study 2: P = .003, d = 0.29) were higher across all conditions after watching the consultation video, and certainty and satisfaction were lower in the control condition (Study 2: P &lt; .001, = 0.05). Discussion Decision aids that explain preference‐sensitivity and personal motives can be beneficial for improving people's feelings of being prepared and their perception of the decision‐making process. To reach decision certainty and satisfaction, being well informed of one's options is particularly relevant. We discuss the implications of our findings for future research and the design of DAs.
The Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Anaerobic Bacteria in Major Liver Resection
2021-01-31

(1) Background: Anaerobic infections in hepatobiliary surgery have rarely been addressed. Whereas infectious complications during the perioperative phase of liver resections are common, there are very limited data on the prevalence and clinical role of anaerobes in this context. Given the risk of contaminated bile in liver resections, the goal of our study was to investigate the prevalence and outcome of anaerobic infections in major hepatectomies. (2) Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the charts of 245 consecutive major hepatectomies that were performed at the department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery of the University Hospital of Tuebingen between July 2017 and August 2020. All microbiological cultures were screened for the prevalence of anaerobic bacteria and the patients’ clinical characteristics and outcomes were evaluated. (3) Results: Of the 245 patients, 13 patients suffered from anaerobic infections. Seven had positive cultures from the biliary tract during the primary procedure, while six had positive culture results from samples obtained during the management of complications. Risk factors for anaerobic infections were preoperative biliary stenting (p = 0.002) and bile leaks (p = 0.009). All of these infections had to be treated by intervention and adjunct antibiotic treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics. (4) Conclusions: Anaerobic infections are rare in liver resections. Certain risk factors trigger the antibiotic coverage of anaerobes.
Phylogenomics of Mycobacterium africanum reveals a new lineage and a complex evolutionary history
2021-02-01

Human tuberculosis (TB) is caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). The MTBC comprises several human-adapted lineages known as M. tuberculosis sensu stricto , as well as two lineages (L5 and L6) traditionally referred to as Mycobacterium africanum . Strains of L5 and L6 are largely limited to West Africa for reasons unknown, and little is known of their genomic diversity, phylogeography and evolution. Here, we analysed the genomes of 350 L5 and 320 L6 strains, isolated from patients from 21 African countries, plus 5 related genomes that had not been classified into any of the known MTBC lineages. Our population genomic and phylogeographical analyses showed that the unclassified genomes belonged to a new group that we propose to name MTBC lineage 9 (L9). While the most likely ancestral distribution of L9 was predicted to be East Africa, the most likely ancestral distribution for both L5 and L6 was the Eastern part of West Africa. Moreover, we found important differences between L5 and L6 strains with respect to their phylogeographical substructure and genetic diversity. Finally, we could not confirm the previous association of drug-resistance markers with lineage and sublineages. Instead, our results indicate that the association of drug resistance with lineage is most likely driven by sample bias or geography. In conclusion, our study sheds new light onto the genomic diversity and evolutionary history of M. africanum , and highlights the need to consider the particularities of each MTBC lineage for understanding the ecology and epidemiology of TB in Africa and globally.
The novel P II -interactor PirC identifies phosphoglycerate mutase as key control point of carbon storage metabolism in cyanobacteria
2021-02-01

Significance In this work, we identified the regulatory mechanism of the key control point of cyanobacterial carbon metabolism, the glycolytic phosphoglycerate mutase (PGAM) reaction, converting 3-PGA into 2-PGA and thereby exporting organic carbon from the photosynthetic Calvin cycle. We show that PGAM activity is controlled by a small modulator protein PirC (product of sll0944 ), which inhibits the enzyme through protein–protein interaction. The availability of PirC for PGAM inhibition is controlled by the pervasive carbon/nitrogen balance regulator P II , which sequesters PirC at low 2-oxoglutarate levels and releases it at high 2-oxoglutarate levels. PirC-mediated inhibition of PGAM triggers glycogen accumulation, and disrupting this regulation allows the redirection of carbon flux, a decisive requirement for transforming cyanobacteria into green factories.
Integrated Impact Assessment for Sustainable Hydropower Planning in the Vjosa Catchment (Greece, Albania)
2021-02-01

Mitigating climate change, while human population and economy are growing globally, requires a bold shift to renewable energy sources. Among renewables, hydropower is currently the most economic and efficient technique. However, due to a lack of impact assessments at the catchment scale in the planning process, the construction of hydropower plants (HPP) may have unexpected ecological, socioeconomic, and political ramifications in the short and in the long term. The Vjosa River, draining parts of Northern Greece and Albania, is one of the few predominantly free-flowing rivers left in Europe; at the same time its catchment is identified an important resource for future hydropower development. While current hydropower plants are located along tributaries, planned HPP would highly impact the free-flowing main stem. Taking the Vjosa catchment as a case study, the aim of this study was to develop a transferable impact assessment that ranks potential hydropower sites according to their projected impacts on a catchment scale. Therefore, we integrated established ecological, social, and economic indicators for all HPP planned in the river catchment, while considering their capacity, and developed a ranking method based on impact categories. For the Vjosa catchment, ten hydropower sites were ranked as very harmful to the environment as well as to society. A sensitivity analysis revealed that this ranking is dependent upon the selection of indicators. Small HPP showed higher cumulative impacts than large HPP, when normalized to capacity. This study empowers decision-makers to compare both the ranked impacts and the generated energy of planned dam projects at the catchment scale.
Steady state by recycling prevents premature collapse of protoplanetary atmospheres
2021-02-01

Context. In recent years, space missions such as Kepler and TESS have discovered many close-in planets with significant atmospheres consisting of hydrogen and helium: mini-Neptunes. This indicates that these planets formed early in gas-rich disks while avoiding the runaway gas accretion that would otherwise have turned them into hot-Jupiters. A solution is to invoke a long Kelvin-Helmholtz contraction (or cooling) timescale, but it has also been suggested that thermodynamical cooling can be prevented by hydrodynamical planet atmosphere-disk recycling. Aims. We investigate the efficacy of the recycling hypothesis in preventing the collapse of the atmosphere, check for the existence of a steady state configuration, and determine the final atmospheric mass to core mass ratio. Methods. We use three-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations to model the formation of planetary proto-atmospheres. Equations are solved in a local frame centered on the planet. Results. Ignoring small oscillations that average to zero over time, the simulations converge to a steady state where the velocity field of the gas becomes constant in time. In a steady state, the energy loss by radiative cooling is fully compensated by the recycling of the low entropy gas in the planetary atmosphere with high entropy gas from the circumstellar disk. Conclusions. For close-in planets, recycling naturally halts the cooling of planetary proto-atmospheres, preventing them from contracting toward the runaway regime and collapsing into gas giants.
Not Recommended, But Done: Breastfeeding with HIV in Germany
2021-02-01

Breastfeeding (BF) in mothers living with HIV (MLWH) is still discussed controversially in resource-rich settings. In Germany, where formula feeding is recommended for MLWH single BF cases have been reported, but no systematic data collection and analysis are available so far. This study, titled HELENE, aims to fill this data gap. A questionnaire covering the course of BF was distributed by a graduate student visiting each study site. Information was collected from patient files and by personal communication with the health care provider. Primary study objectives were the duration of BF and the maternal antiretroviral treatment (ART). Fifteen treatment centers across Germany contributed a total of 42 BF cases, observed from May 2009 to July 2020. There was an increasing number of BF cases over time. The median duration of BF was 20 weeks varying from single BF of colostrum to 104 weeks. All BF women except one elite controller received ART: 39% non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-, 37% INSTI-, 29% protease inhibitor-based regimens; one woman was on maraviroc. Thirty-nine percent of the ART regimens included drugs that were not recommended by the German-Austrian pregnancy guidelines. Our findings highlight the diversity of BF cases in Germany in terms of duration, maternal ART, and monitoring. Since the number of BF cases is increasing, guidelines are obliged to implement more detailed recommendations on BF, the monitoring of BF mothers, and the follow-up of the infants. There is an urgent need for prospective national and European data collections to further improve HIV prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in the setting of BF.