julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Range-dependent flexibility in the acoustic field of view of echolocating porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)
2015-03-20

Toothed whales use sonar to detect, locate, and track prey. They adjust emitted sound intensity, auditory sensitivity and click rate to target range, and terminate prey pursuits with high-repetition-rate, low-intensity buzzes. However, their narrow acoustic field of view (FOV) is considered stable throughout target approach, which could facilitate prey escape at close-range. Here, we show that, like some bats, harbour porpoises can broaden their biosonar beam during the terminal phase of attack but, unlike bats, maintain the ability to change beamwidth within this phase. Based on video, MRI, and acoustic-tag recordings, we propose this flexibility is modulated by the melon and implemented to accommodate dynamic spatial relationships with prey and acoustic complexity of surroundings. Despite independent evolution and different means of sound generation and transmission, whales and bats adaptively change their FOV, suggesting that beamwidth flexibility has been an important driver in the evolution of echolocation for prey tracking.
Starting off on the right foot: strong right-footers respond faster with the right foot to positive words and with the left foot to negative words
2015-03-20

Recent studies have provided evidence for an association between valence and left/right modulated by handedness, which is predicted by the body-specificity hypothesis (Casasanto, 2009) and also reflected in response times. We investigated whether such a response facilitation can also be observed with foot responses. Right-footed participants classified positive and negative words according to their valence by pressing a key with their left or right foot. A significant interaction between valence and foot only emerged in the by-items analysis. However, when dividing participants into two groups depending on the strength of their footedness, an interaction between valence and left/right was observed for strong right-footers, who responded faster with the right foot to positive words, and with the left foot to negative words. No interaction emerged for weak right-footers. The results strongly support the assumption that fluency lies at the core of the association between valence and left/right.
Crystal Structure of a Commercial Product Called Lead Cyanurate
2015-03-20

Abstract The reaction of PbO with cyanuric acid was reported to give lead cyanurate , described in the literature as Pb 3 (O 3 C 3 N 3 ) 2 · 2H 2 O. Crystalline powders were prepared and investigated by X‐ray powder diffraction, yielding a monoclinic crystal structure (space group Cc, a = 16.6217(1) Å, b = 6.7161(1) Å, c = 12.4308(1) Å, β = 117.567(1)°). The structure solution and refinement yielded lead oxide isocyanurate corresponding to the formula Pb 3 O 2 (O 3 C 3 N 3 H 2 ) 2 , with a layered arrangement of [Pb 3 O 2 ] 2+ ions and monovalent isocyanurate anions in an alternating fashion.
Arbitrary numbers counter fair decisions: trails of markedness in card distribution
2015-03-20

Converging evidence from controlled experiments suggests that the mere processing of a number and its attributes such as value or parity might affect free choice decisions between different actions. For example the Spatial Numerical Associations of Response Codes (SNARC) effect indicates the magnitude of a digit to be associated with a spatial representation and might therefore affect spatial response choices (i.e., decisions between a left and a right option). At the same time, other (linguistic) features of a number such as parity are embedded into space and might likewise prime left or right responses through feature words (odd or even, respectively; MARC effect). In this experiment we aimed at documenting such influences in a natural setting. We therefore assessed number-space and parity-space association effects by exposing participants to a fair distribution task in a card playing scenario. Participants drew cards, read out loud their number values, and announced their response choice, i.e., dealing it to a left versus right player, indicated by Playmobil characters. Not only did participants prefer to deal more cards to the right player, the card’s digits also affected response choices and led to a slightly but systematically unfair distribution, supported by a regular SNARC effect and counteracted by a reversed MARC effect. The experiment demonstrates the impact of SNARC- and MARC-like biases in free choice behavior through verbal and visual numerical information processing even in a setting with high external validity.
Glutamate and Hypoxia as a Stress Model for the Isolated Perfused Vertebrate Retina
2015-03-22

Neuroprotection has been a strong field of investigation in ophthalmological research in the past decades and affects diseases such as glaucoma, retinal vascular occlusion, retinal detachment, and diabetic retinopathy. It was the object of this study to introduce a standardized stress model for future preclinical therapeutic testing. Bovine retinas were prepared and perfused with an oxygen saturated standard solution, and the ERG was recorded. After recording stable b-waves, hypoxia (pure N2) or glutamate stress (250 μm glutamate) was exerted for 45 min. To investigate the effects on photoreceptor function alone, 1 mM aspartate was added to obtain a-waves. ERG-recovery was monitored for 75 min. For hypoxia, a decrease in a-wave amplitude of 87.0% was noted (p<0.01) after an exposition time of 45 min (decrease of 36.5% after the end of the washout p=0.03). Additionally, an initial decrease in b-wave amplitudes of 87.23% was recorded, that reached statistical significance (p<0.01, decrease of 25.5% at the end of the washout, p=0.03). For 250 μm glutamate, an initial 7.8% reduction of a-wave amplitudes (p>0.05) followed by a reduction of 1.9% (p>0.05). A reduction of 83.7% of b-wave amplitudes (p<0.01) was noted; after a washout of 75 min the reduction was 2.3% (p=0.62). In this study, a standardized stress model is presented that may be useful to identify possible neuroprotective effects in the future.
Insight into the evolution and origin of leprosy bacilli from the genome sequence of Mycobacterium lepromatosis
2015-03-23

Significance Leprosy was thought to be exclusively caused by infection of humans by Mycobacterium leprae . In 2008, Han et al. proposed that Mycobacterium lepromatosis , a separate unculturable species, might be responsible for a rare yet severe form of the disease called diffuse lepromatous leprosy. Here, by using comparative genomics, we show that the two species are very closely related and derived from a common ancestor that underwent genome downsizing and gene decay. Since their separation 13.9 Mya, the two species have continued to lose genes, but from different regions of the genome, and M. leprae appears to be more recent. In a phylogeographic survey, by using differential PCR, we found that M. lepromatosis was scarce and restricted to patients from Mexico.
CSF biomarkers for the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: A large‐scale international multicenter study
2015-03-23

Abstract Introduction The aim of this study was to test the diagnostic value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) beta‐amyloid (Aβ 1–42 ), phosphorylated tau, and total tau (tau) to discriminate Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia from other forms of dementia. Methods A total of 675 CSF samples collected at eight memory clinics were obtained from healthy controls, AD dementia, subjective memory impairment, mild cognitive impairment, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia (LBD), fronto‐temporal dementia (FTD), depression, or other neurological diseases. Results CSF Aβ 1–42 showed the best diagnostic accuracy among the CSF biomarkers. At a sensitivity of 85%, the specificity to differentiate AD dementia against other diagnoses ranged from 42% (for LBD, 95% confidence interval or CI = 32–62) to 77% (for FTD, 95% CI = 62–90). Discussion CSF Aβ 1–42 discriminates AD dementia from FTD, but shows significant overlap with other non‐AD forms of dementia, possibly reflecting the underlying mixed pathologies.
Nucleon structure in a light-front quark model consistent with quark counting rules and data
2015-03-23

Using global fits of valence u and d quark parton distributions and data on\\nquark and nucleon form factors in the Euclidean region, we derive a light-front\\nquark model for the nucleon structure consistent with quark counting rules.\\n
Exploring big educational learner corpora for SLA research
2015-03-23

We consider the opportunities presented by big educational learner corpora for Second Language Acquisition (SLA). In particular, we focus on the EF Cambridge Open Language Database (EFCAMDAT), an open access database of student writings submitted to Englishtown , the online school of EF Education First . EFCAMDAT stands out for its size (33 million words, 85 thousand learners) and a range of 128 writing tasks covering all CEFR levels with data from learners from varying nationalities. We discuss methodological issues arising from analyzing big data resources generated in educational contexts and argue that Natural Language Processing (NLP) is essential for the automated processing of such datasets. As a study case, we follow the developmental trajectory of relative clauses, a construction that necessitates deeper syntactic analysis. We consider specific issues that can affect the developmental trajectory, including task effects, formulaic language and national language effects.
Underarousal in Adult ADHD
2015-03-23

In children and adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a general slowing of spontaneous electroencephalographic (EEG) brain activity and a decrease of event-related potential amplitudes such as the contingent negative variation (CNV) are observed. Additionally, some studies have reported decreased skin conductance level (SCL) in this clinical population leading to the hypothesis of a peripheral hypoarousal, which may be a target of biofeedback treatment in addition to or instead of neurofeedback. To our knowledge, the relationship between SCL and CNV has not been simultaneously investigated in one experiment. Using the theoretical background of the hypoarousal model, this article aims to gain more insight into the differences and correlations of cortical (CNV) and peripheral (SCL) arousal in adults with ADHD. A sample of 23 adults with ADHD and 22 healthy controls underwent an auditory Go-NoGo task with simultaneous 22-channel EEG and SCL recordings. Reaction time (RT) and reaction time variability (RTV) were also measured to assess task performance. Significantly decreased CNV amplitude and significantly higher RTV were observed in the ADHD group, reflecting cortical underarousal and problems with sustained attention. No significant correlation between peripheral underarousal and cortical underarousal was observed in the ADHD group or the control group. The observed cortical underarousal reflected in the decreased CNV supports the notion of a reduced CNV amplitude as a possible biomarker for ADHD. However, the connection between cortical and peripheral arousal is not as clear as is suggested in previous research investigating both separately. Implications of these results for new treatment options for ADHD such as biofeedback are discussed.
HISTORY – High-Speed Network Monitoring and Analysis
2015-03-23

Abstract—In this paper we demonstrate the potentials of a new network monitoring architecture named HISTORY (High Speed Network Monitoring and Analysis). The basis of this approach is a high-speed monitoring probe allowing to process up to one gigabit per second on a standard PC. The complete architecture relies on standardized protocols such as IPFIX and PSAMP for transmission of monitoring data between the monitoring elements and successive traffic analysis. Especially the employed statistical methodologies allow the usage of History for various applications in network security such as intrusion detection and traceback. In this paper we introduce two tools developed in History for high-speed network monitoring (Vermont) and analysis (Nasty).
Quasiclassical quantum defect theory and the spectrum of highly excited rubidium atoms
2015-03-23

We report on a significant discrepancy between recently published highly\\naccurate variational calculations and precise measurements of the spectrum of\\nRydberg states in Rb on the energy scale of fine splitting. Introducing\\na modified effective single-electron potential we determine the spectrum of the\\noutermost bound electron from a standard WKB approach. Overall very good\\nagreement with precise spectroscopic data is obtained.\\n
A Non-Magnetic Rotating Disk Stimulator for the Study of Neuromagnetic Correlates of Sensorimotor Interaction
2015-03-23

Fine motor skills in humans require close interaction between the motor and the sensory systems. It is still not fully understood, how sensory feedback modulates motor commands. This is due to the fact, that there is no approach for investigating the sensorimotor cortical-interaction in sufficient detail. The fast and precise communication between the sensory and motor-systems requires measurements of cortical activity with high temporal and spatial resolution. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is capable of both. Previously, we showed that sensory responses, can be observed by repetitive tactile stimulation. Further, motor cortex responses can be generated by periodical increase and decrease of muscle tone. Utilizing both observations we have designed an MEG and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible stimulator allowing for the study of brain activity related to sensorimotor integration. The stimulator consists of a rotating disk with an elevation such that subject senses with his finger the speed of the disk. With the force applied by the finger onto the disk, the subject can control its speed. During the experiment the subject is asked to keep the speed of the disk constant while the driving torque is systematically manipulated. This closed-loop design is especially useful to analyze the fast and continuous information flow between the two systems. In a single case pilot study using MEG, we could show that a detailed analysis of the sensorimotor-network is possible. In contrast to existing paradigms this setup allows separate time-locked analysis of the sensory- and motor-component independently and therefore the calculation of latency parameters for both systems. In the future this method will help to understand the interaction between the two systems in much greater detail.
N-Acetyl-L-Leucine Accelerates Vestibular Compensation after Unilateral Labyrinthectomy by Action in the Cerebellum and Thalamus
2015-03-24

An acute unilateral vestibular lesion leads to a vestibular tone imbalance with nystagmus, head roll tilt and postural imbalance. These deficits gradually decrease over days to weeks due to central vestibular compensation (VC). This study investigated the effects of i.v. N-acetyl-DL-leucine, N-acetyl-L-leucine and N-acetyl-D-leucine on VC using behavioural testing and serial [18F]-Fluoro-desoxyglucose ([18F]-FDG)-μPET in a rat model of unilateral chemical labyrinthectomy (UL). Vestibular behavioural testing included measurements of nystagmus, head roll tilt and postural imbalance as well as sequential whole-brain [18F]-FDG-μPET was done before and on days 1,3,7 and 15 after UL. A significant reduction of postural imbalance scores was identified on day 7 in the N-acetyl-DL-leucine (p < 0.03) and the N-acetyl-L-leucine groups (p < 0.01), compared to the sham treatment group, but not in the N-acetyl-D-leucine group (comparison for applied dose of 24 mg i.v. per rat, equivalent to 60 mg/kg body weight, in each group). The course of postural compensation in the DL- and L-group was accelerated by about 6 days relative to controls. The effect of N-acetyl-L-leucine on postural compensation depended on the dose: in contrast to 60 mg/kg, doses of 15 mg/kg and 3.75 mg/kg had no significant effect. N-acetyl-L-leucine did not change the compensation of nystagmus or head roll tilt at any dose. Measurements of the regional cerebral glucose metabolism (rCGM) by means of μPET revealed that only N-acetyl-L-leucine but not N-acetyl-D-leucine caused a significant increase of rCGM in the vestibulocerebellum and a decrease in the posterolateral thalamus and subthalamic region on days 3 and 7. A similar pattern was found when comparing the effect of N-acetyl-L-leucine on rCGM in an UL-group and a sham UL-group without vestibular damage. In conclusion, N-acetyl-L-leucine improves compensation of postural symptoms after UL in a dose-dependent and specific manner, most likely by activating the vestibulocerebellum and deactivating the posterolateral thalamus.
THE 2012 FLARE OF PG 1553+113 SEEN WITH H.E.S.S. ANDFERMI-LAT
2015-03-24

Very high energy (VHE, E &gt; 100 GeV) -ray flaring activity of the high-frequency peaked BL Lac object PG 1553+113 has been detected by the H.E.S.S. telescopes. The flux of the source increased by a factor of 3 during the nights of 2012 April 26 and 27 with respect to the archival measurements with a hint of intra-night variability. No counterpart of this event has been detected in the Fermi-Large Area Telescope data. This pattern is consistent with VHE -ray flaring being caused by the injection of ultrarelativistic particles, emitting -rays at the highest energies. The dataset offers a unique opportunity to constrain the redshift of this source at z = 0.49 0.04 using a novel method based on Bayesian statistics. The indication of intra-night variability is used to introduce a novel method to probe for a possible Lorentz invariance violation (LIV), and to set limits on the energy scale at which Quantum Gravity (QG) effects causing LIV may arise. For the subluminal case, the derived limits are GeV and GeV for linear and quadratic LIV effects, respectively.
Impaired Endothelial Regeneration Through Human Parvovirus B19–Infected Circulating Angiogenic Cells in Patients With Cardiomyopathy
2015-03-24

Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a common pathogen in microvascular disease and cardiomyopathy, owing to infection of endothelial cells. B19V replication, however, is almost restricted to erythroid progenitor cells (ErPCs). Endothelial regeneration attributable to bone marrow-derived circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) is a prerequisite for organ function. Because of many similarities of ErPCs and CACs, we hypothesized that B19V is a perpetrator of impaired endogenous endothelial regeneration. B19V DNA and messenger RNA from endomyocardial biopsy specimens, bone marrow specimens, and circulating progenitor cells were quantified by polymerase chain reaction analysis. The highest B19V DNA concentrations were found in CD34(+)KDR(+) cells from 17 patients with chronic B19V-associated cardiomyopathy. B19V replication intermediates could be detected in nearly half of the patients. Furthermore, chronic B19V infection was associated with impaired endothelial regenerative capacity. B19V infection of CACs in vitro resulted in expression of transcripts encoding B19V proteins. The capsid protein VP1 was identified as a novel inducer of apoptosis, as were nonstructural proteins. Inhibition studies identified so-called death receptor signaling with activation of caspase-8 and caspase-10 to be responsible for apoptosis induction. B19V causally impaired endothelial regeneration with spreading of B19V in CACs in an animal model in vivo. We thus conclude that B19V infection and damage to CACs result in dysfunctional endogenous vascular repair, supporting the emergence of primary bone marrow disease with secondary end-organ damage.
Critical taper behaviour and out‐of‐sequence thrusting on orogenic wedges – an example of the Eastern Alpine Molasse Basin
2015-03-24

Abstract We demonstrate that increasing erosion during the kinematic evolution of a thrust wedge will lead to out‐of‐sequence thrusting as a result of backwards critical taper movement. In‐sequence thrusting in the Subalpine German Molasse Basin built a critical‐tapered foreland Coulomb thrust wedge. Later, out‐of‐sequence thrusts dissected all but the frontal duplex stacks. The footwall/hangingwall relation visible on seismic data proves the out‐of‐sequence nature of the latest thrusting stage. Establishing a stable drainage system leads to increased erosion in elevated areas of the thrust wedge, resulting in flattening of the critical wedge. In order to keep its predefined angle, the critical wedge repositions and the tip of the taper moves towards the hinterland. Thus, thrusting will also reposition and move towards the hinterland.
Hierarchy and dynamics of self-referential processing: The non-personal Me1 and the personal Me2 elicited via single words
2015-03-24

Recent electroencephalography (EEG) studies accumulated evidence that support a dynamic view of the self (multiple aspect theory). In this study, we test the specific hypothesis of the multiple aspect theory of the self by using EEG data from the HisMine paradigm. In the HisMine paradigm German pronouns are visually presented in a stream of additional stimuli, while changes in brain activity are determined by means of EEG. At an early cortical processing stage, the presentation of the possessive pronouns "mein" ("my"), "sein" ("his") and "dein" ("your") elicited significantly different brain activities when compared to the non-personal pronoun "ein" ("a"). At a later processing stage, cortical processing of the self-related possessive pronoun ("mein") differed from the processing of all other possessive and the non-personal pronoun. In line with previous observations (and the multiple aspect theory of the self), the early effect (here referred to as Me1) was found at specifically left occipito-parietal electrode locations (e.g. PO9), whereas the later effect (here referred to as Me2) occurred specifically at the left fronto-temporal electrode site, F7. This finding supports the idea that the human self is consisting of multiple aspects. Potential implications are discussed.
Mechanisms of plant cell division
2015-03-25

Plant cells are confined by a network of cellulosic walls that imposes rigid control over the selection of division plane orientations, crucial for morphogenesis and genetically regulated. While in animal cells and yeast, the actin cytoskeleton is instrumental in the execution of cytokinesis, in plant cells the microtubule cytoskeleton is taking the lead in spatially controlling and executing cytokinesis by the formation of two unique, plant‐specific arrays, the preprophase band (PPB) and the phragmoplast. The formation of microtubule arrays in plant cells is contingent on acentrosomal microtubule nucleation. At the onset of mitosis, the PPB defines the plane of cell division where the partitioning cell wall is later constructed by the cytokinetic phragmoplast, imposing a spatio‐temporal relationship between the two processes. Current research progress in the field of plant cell division focuses on identifying and tying the links between early and late events in spatial control of cytokinesis and how microtubule array formation is regulated in plant cells. WIREs Dev Biol 2015, 4:391–405. doi: 10.1002/wdev.186 This article is categorized under: Plant Development &gt; Vegetative Development
Lectin Complement Protein Collectin 11 (CL-K1) and Susceptibility to Urinary Schistosomiasis
2015-03-25

In agreement with findings from our earlier published study, our findings support the observation that CL-K1 and their functional variants may be host factors associated with protection in schistosomiasis and may be a useful marker for further investigations.