julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Ex VivoandIn VivoCD46 Receptor Utilization by Species D Human Adenovirus Serotype 26 (HAdV26)
2021-11-17

The human species D Ad26 is being investigated as a low-seroprevalence vector for oncolytic virotherapy and gene-based vaccination against HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. However, there is debate in the literature about its tropism and receptor utilization, which directly influence its efficiency for certain applications. This work was aimed at determining which receptor(s) this virus uses for infection and its role in virus biology, vaccine efficacy, and, importantly, vaccine safety.
Identity and mobility in linguistic change across the lifespan
2021-11-17

Abstract Identity construction and mobility have been shown to influence dialect performance and play a critical role in language change ( Blommaert 2014 ; Britain 2016 ; Coupland 2001 ; Johnstone 2011 ). To investigate the relative importance of identity and mobility and their role in language change, this paper presents the results of a 35-year panel study with 20 speakers of Swabian German. Twelve linguistic variables, six phonological and six morphosyntactic, reveal how identity and mobility influence speakers’ choice of dialect variants. The findings from the panel study, in comparison with an ongoing trend study, offer new understandings in dialect retention and attrition, revealing how ‘feeling Swabian’ and a ‘sense of place’ play a vital role in our understanding of dialect change across the lifespan.
Distinct and Overlapping Functions of Miscanthus sinensis MYB Transcription Factors SCM1 and MYB103 in Lignin Biosynthesis
2021-11-17

Cell wall recalcitrance is a major constraint for the exploitation of lignocellulosic biomass as a renewable resource for energy and bio-based products. Transcriptional regulators of the lignin biosynthetic pathway represent promising targets for tailoring lignin content and composition in plant secondary cell walls. However, knowledge about the transcriptional regulation of lignin biosynthesis in lignocellulosic feedstocks, such as Miscanthus, is limited. In Miscanthus leaves, MsSCM1 and MsMYB103 are expressed at growth stages associated with lignification. The ectopic expression of MsSCM1 and MsMYB103 in N. benthamiana leaves was sufficient to trigger secondary cell wall deposition with distinct sugar and lignin compositions. Moreover, RNA-seq analysis revealed that the transcriptional responses to MsSCM1 and MsMYB103 overexpression showed an extensive overlap with the response to the NAC master transcription factor MsSND1, but were distinct from each other, underscoring the inherent complexity of secondary cell wall formation. Furthermore, conserved and previously described promoter elements as well as novel and specific motifs could be identified from the target genes of the three transcription factors. Together, MsSCM1 and MsMYB103 represent interesting targets for manipulations of lignin content and composition in Miscanthus towards a tailored biomass.
Gendered occupational aspirations among German youth: Role of parental occupations, gender division of labour, and family structure
2021-11-17

Objective: This study investigates how multiple domains of parental gender role socialisation as well as parent-child relationships and family structure may shape adolescents’ gendered occupational aspirations. Background: Young people with gender-typical aspirations have a higher chance of choosing gender-typical post-secondary education fields and are more likely to work in gender-typical occupations as adults. Gender norms, family structures and parent-child relationships have undergone profound changes in recent decades. We extend the intergenerational transmission literature by considering whether the influence of parental role modelling may vary according to parent-child relationships and family structure. Method: We draw on data from 2,235 adolescents from the German Socio-Economic Panel and apply logistic regressions. Results: Children whose fathers were employed in gender-typical jobs had a greater likelihood of aspiring to a more gender-typical occupation. This relationship was not significant among sons who did not live continuously with both parents since birth, who were generally more likely to aspire to gender-typical occupations. Surprisingly, the gender-typicality of fathers' occupations seemed more influential among daughters whose parents had separated than among those who lived continuously with both parents. Regarding the parental gender division of paid and unpaid work, only mothers' continuous non-employment was associated with daughters being more likely to aspire to a gender-typical occupation. Conclusion: On the whole, our findings suggest a rather weak influence of parental gender role modelling on children’s persistently gendered occupational aspirations in Germany. Yet, our study extends existing family research by pointing to significant variations across family structures.
Concept and basic framework prototype for a flexible and intervention-independent situation recognition system in the OR
2021-11-17

Context-aware systems to support actors in the operating room depending on the status of the intervention require knowledge about the current situation in the intra-operative area. In literature, solutions to achieve situation awareness already exist for specific use cases, but applicability and transferability to other conditions are less addressed. It is assumed that a unified solution that can be adapted to different processes and sensors would allow for greater flexibility, applicability, and thus transferability to different applications. To enable a flexible and intervention-independent system, this work proposes a concept for an adaptable situation recognition system. The system consists of four layers with several modular components for different functionalities. The feasibility is demonstrated via prototypical implementation and functional evaluation of a first basic framework prototype. Further development goal is the stepwise extension of the prototype.
Organic Matter Degradation in Energy-Limited Subsurface Environments—A Bioenergetics-Informed Modeling Approach
2021-11-17

Microbial degradation of organic matter is a key driver of subsurface biogeochemistry. Here, we present a bioenergetics-informed kinetic model for the anaerobic degradation of macromolecular organic matter that accounts for extracellular hydrolysis, fermentation, and respiration. The catabolic energy generated by fermentation and respiration is allocated to biomass growth, production of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, and cellular maintenance. Microbial cells are assumed to exist in active or dormant states with marked differences in maintenance energy requirements. Dormant cells are further assumed to fulfill their maintenance energy requirements by utilizing their own biomass instead of relying on external substrates. When the catabolic Gibbs energy production for a given functional group of microorganisms exceeds the total maintenance energy requirement of the active cells, biomass growth, re-activation of dormant cells, and production of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes are possible. The latter, in turn, allows the microbial community to access more of the available external organic substrates. In the opposite case, active cells decay or become dormant. We apply the model to simulate the anaerobic degradation of cellulose by a hypothetical microbial community consisting of cellulolytic fermenting bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria, under conditions representative of those encountered in water-saturated subsurface environments.
Unfolding of spatial representation at systems level in infant rats
2021-11-17

Abstract Spatial representations enable navigation from early life on. However, the brain regions essential to form spatial representations, like the hippocampus, are considered functionally immature before weaning. Here, we examined the formation of representations of space in rat pups on postnatal day (PD) 16, using a simple habituation paradigm where the pups were exposed to an arena on three occasions, separated by ~140 min. Whereas on the first two occasions the arena was the same, on the third “test” occasion either proximal cues (Prox group), or distal cues (Dist group), or proximal and distal cues (Prox‐Dist group), or no cues (No‐change group) were rearranged. Locomotion (distance traveled) was used as behavioral measure of habituation, and c‐Fos expression to measure regional brain activity at test. Locomotion generally decreased across the first two occasions. At test, it reached a minimum in the No‐change group, indicating familiarity with the spatial conditions. By contrast, the Prox‐Dist group displayed a significant increase in locomotion which was less robust in the Prox group and absent in the Dist group, a pattern suggesting that the pups relied more on proximal than distal cues during spatial exploration. c‐Fos activity in the No‐change group was significantly suppressed in the hippocampus (CA1, CA3, dentate gyrus) but simultaneously enhanced in the prelimbic area (PL) of the medial prefrontal cortex, compared with untreated Home‐cage controls, pointing to a possible involvement of the PL in regulating locomotion in familiar spaces. By contrast, in both Prox‐Dist and Prox groups c‐Fos activity was enhanced in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions, suggesting these regions might be particularly involved in regulating exploration of spatial novelty. Our findings show that functional representations of space at a systems level are formed already in pre‐weanling rats.
Comprehensive Compositional Analysis of the Slit Lamp Bacteriota
2021-11-17

Slit lamps are routinely used to examine large numbers of patients every day due to high throughput. Previous, cultivation-based results suggested slit lamps to be contaminated with bacteria, mostly coagulase-negative staphylococci, followed by micrococci, bacilli, but also Staphylococcus aureus . Our study aimed at obtaining a much more comprehensive, cultivation-independent view of the slit lamp bacteriota and its hygienic relevance, as regularly touched surfaces usually represent fomites, particularly if used by different persons. We performed extensive 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyse the bacteriota, of 46 slit lamps from two tertiary care centers at two sampling sites, respectively. 82 samples yielded enough sequences for downstream analyses and revealed contamination with bacteria of mostly human skin, mucosa and probably eye origin, predominantly cutibacteria, staphylococci and corynebacteria. The taxonomic assignment of 3369 ASVs (amplicon sequence variants) revealed 19 bacterial phyla and 468 genera across all samples. As antibiotic resistances are of major concern, we screened all samples for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) using qPCR, however, no signals above the detection limit were detected. Our study provides first comprehensive insight into the slit lamp microbiota. It underlines that slit lamps carry a highly diverse, skin-like bacterial microbiota and that thorough cleaning and disinfection after use is highly recommendable to prevent eye and skin infections.
A new species of Maomingosuchus from the Eocene of the Na Duong Basin (northern Vietnam) sheds new light on the phylogenetic relationship of tomistomine crocodylians and their dispersal from Europe to Asia
2021-11-17

Maomingosuchus acutirostris sp. nov. is a new tomistomine crocodile from the middle–upper Eocene deposits (late Bartonian–Priabonian age, 39–35 Ma) of the Na Duong Basin in northern Vietnam. M. acutirostris can be differentiated from the type species Maomingosuchus petrolicus by having an acute anterior tip of the premaxilla. Both species differ from another Maomingosuchus from Krabi (Thailand) by differences in the surangular–dentary suture and maxillary alveoli. According to our phylogenetic results, M. acutirostris seems to be the sister species to the group M. petrolicus + Krabi-Maomingosuchus. The close relationship between those three tomistomines is supported in the present phylogenetic analysis by three synapomorphies. In our phylogenetic analysis, Maomingosuchus was retrieved in a basal position forming the sister group to Paratomistoma + Gavialosuchus + Melitosaurus + Tomistoma, including the extant Tomistoma schlegelii. This phylogeny indicates three different dispersal events of Tomistominae from Europe towards eastern Asia: 1) for the stem lineage of Maomingosuchus, no later than the late Eocene; 2) for the stem lineage of Penghusuchus pani + Toyotamaphimeia machikanensis, no later than the early–middle Miocene; and (3) for the stem lineage of T. schlegelii, during the Neogene.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:19B27C1E-0A3F-4425-AA8C-F904277DF327
Fast 3D imaging of giant unilamellar vesicles using reflected light‐sheet microscopy with single molecule sensitivity
2021-11-17

Summary Observation of highly dynamic processes inside living cells at the single molecule level is key for a better understanding of biological systems. However, imaging of single molecules in living cells is usually limited by the spatial and temporal resolution, photobleaching and the signal‐to‐background ratio. To overcome these limitations, light‐sheet microscopes with thin selective plane illumination, for example, in a reflected geometry with a high numerical aperture imaging objective, have been developed. Here, we developed a reflected light‐sheet microscope with active optics for fast, high contrast, two‐colour acquisition of ‐stacks. We demonstrate fast volume scanning by imaging a two‐colour giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) hemisphere. In addition, the high contrast enabled the imaging and tracking of single lipids in the GUV cap. The enhanced reflected scanning light‐sheet microscope enables fast 3D scanning of artificial membrane systems and potentially live cells with single‐molecule sensitivity and thereby could provide quantitative and molecular insight into the operation of cells.
Formation of a Polar Structure in the Metallic Niobium Sulfide Nb4S3
2021-11-17

The synthesis of Nb<sub>4</sub>S<sub>3</sub>, a previously undiscovered binary sulfide, was achieved using Nb<sub>3</sub>Br<sub>7</sub>S as a precursor. Its structure is composed of Nb<sub>6</sub>S triangular prisms arranged in a polar (<i>Imm</i>2) configuration, with sulfur atoms lying in channels along the <i>a</i> axis. Electrical resistivity measurements and density functional theory calculations were used to determine that Nb<sub>4</sub>S<sub>3</sub> is metallic and therefore a polar metal, with metallic bands occupied by electrons with primarily niobium character. The electrons near the Fermi level are so closely associated with the niobium sublattice that the sulfur atoms have positive Born effective charges, indicating that the electrostatic interactions between sulfur atoms are unscreened. Calculations of the dependence of the electron density on the sulfur atomic positions confirm that the metallic electrons do not screen the dipole-dipole interactions between sulfur atoms, which allows polarity and metallicity to coexist in Nb<sub>4</sub>S<sub>3</sub>. These findings suggest that applied electric fields might be able to reverse the polarity of thin films of Nb<sub>4</sub>S<sub>3</sub>.
PandAcuity in paediatrics: a novel clinical measure of visual function based on the panda illusion
2021-11-17

Background/aims To evaluate the PandAcuity test for visual function testing in a paediatric cohort and to examine its agreement with conventional visual acuity (VA) testing. Methods PandAcuity scores were determined in 152 children (77 males) aged between 3 and 15 years after VA testing (LEA TM -test, E-chart, Landolt-C-rings or numbers). The PandAcuity test consisted of illusions made up from silhouettes of animals ‘hidden’ within zig-zag-patterns of decreasing spatial frequencies. Correlation analyses between PandAcuity score and VA were performed. Results 150 children completed the test in at least one eye, 148 in both eyes. The PandAcuity test demonstrated good test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.89) between two runs. VA and PandAcuity score showed a medium to large correlation (Spearman’s ρ=0.52, p&lt;0.0001). 93% of the children’s visual impairment was classified in the same range by both test types. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of predicted visual impairment showed an excellent agreement with the classification based on VA testing (AUC=0.84). Conclusion The PandAcuity test is rapid, simple and well accepted, rendering it a suitable supplement for the clinical assessment of VA in children. Because of its counterintuitive application (a higher number of correctly identified images means worse VA), it can be used to cross-validate conventional acuity tests to assure children’s compliance.
End-point measurement approach to assess quantum coherence in energy fluctuations
2021-11-18

We discuss the role of quantum coherence in the energy fluctuations of open\\nquantum systems. To this aim, we introduce a protocol, to which we refer to as\\nthe end-point-measurement scheme, allowing to define the statistics of energy\\nchanges as a function of energy measurements performed only after the evolution\\nof the initial state. At the price of an additional uncertainty on the initial\\nenergies, this approach prevents the loss of initial quantum coherences and\\nenables the estimation of their effects on energy fluctuations. We demonstrate\\nour findings by running an experiment on the IBM Quantum Experience\\nsuperconducting qubit platform.\\n
Who knows what Mary knew? An experimental study
2021-11-18

This paper reports the results of an experimental philosophy study of intuitions among members of the general US population regarding a version of Frank Jackson's famous 'Mary in the black and white room' thought experiment. A large majority of respondents (82.1%, significantly above chance) reported having the intuition which is critical to the thought experiment, i.e., that Mary does not know what it is like to see red before she actually sees red. The intuition was pervasive across demographic groups.
Prothymosin α and its C-Terminal Immunoreactive DecapeptideShow No Evidence of Acute Toxicity: A Preliminary In Silico, In Vitroand In Vivo Investigation
2021-11-18

Background: Members of the α-thymosin family have long been studied for their immunostimulating properties. Among them, the danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) prothymosin α (proTα) and its C-terminal decapeptide proTα(100–109) have been shown to act as immunomodulators in vitro, due to their ability to promote T helper type 1 (Th1) responses. Recently, we verified these findings in vivo, showing that both proTα and proTα(100-109) enhance antitumor-reactive T cell-mediated responses. Methods: In view of the eventual use of proTα and proTα(100-109) in humans, we investigated their safety profile in silico, in human leukocytes and cancer cell lines in vitro, and in immunocompetent mice in vivo, in comparison to the proTα derivative thymosin alpha 1 (Τα1), a 28-mer peptide extensively studied for its safety in clinical trials. Results: In silico prediction via computational tools showed that all three peptide sequences likely are non-toxic or do not induce allergic regions. In vitro, pro- Tα, proTα(100-109) and Tα1 did not affect the viability of human cancer cell lines and healthy donor-derived leukocytes, did not promote apoptosis or alter cell cycle distribution. Furthermore, mice injected with proTα, proTα(100-109) and Tα1 at doses equivalent to the suggested dose regimen of Tα1 in humans, did not show signs of acute toxicity, whereas proTα and proTα(100-109) increased the levels of proinflammatory and Th1- type cytokines in their peripheral blood. Conclusion: Our preliminary findings suggest that proTα and proTα(100-109), even at high concentrations, are non-toxic in vitro and in an acute toxicity model in vivo; moreover, we show that the two peptides retain their immunomodulatory properties in vivo and, eventually, could be considered for therapeutic use in humans.
Minced Cartilage in Combination with Autologous Bone Grafting for One-Step Osteochondral Defect Reconstruction in an Athlete’s Knee
2021-11-18

A 17-year-old student athlete suffering from stress-related knee pain asked for help. MRI revealed an unstable osteochondral lesion. Because of time pressure due to the patient’s academic exams and his schedule as a basketball player, an autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACT) as the standard surgical treatment plan was not accepted by the patient. This was mainly because of its two-step character three weeks in between surgeries. Therefore, a surgical one-step therapy option as alternative treatment to ACT was needed. The patient received simultaneous autologous cancellous bone grafting and minced cartilage procedure in a sandwich technique. After successful rehabilitation, the patient continued his studies of sports science and his active career as a basketball player successfully. Several different procedures are used for the treatment of cartilage defects. The following factors play a significant role: defect size, location, patient age, and sports ambitions. In the case described here, ACT would have been the conventional, but not the ideal option in the perspective of this individual patient because of the two-step surgery and the longer rehabilitation time. Therefore, the minced cartilage method presented a valid alternative, even though long-term data are still missing and prospective studies comparing this procedure with others are needed in the future.
High-Resolution Direct Push Sensing in Wetland Geoarchaeology—First Traces of Off-Site Construction Activities at the Fossa Carolina
2021-11-18

Wetland environments, with their excellent conservation conditions, provide geoarchaeological archives of past human activities. However, the subsurface soil is difficult to access due to high groundwater tables, unstable sediments, and the high cost of excavation. In this study, we present a ground-based non- and minimal-invasive prospection concept adapted to the conditions of wetlands. We investigated the Fossa Carolina in South Germany, a canal that was intended in 792/793 AD by Charlemagne to bridge the Central European Watershed. Although the resulting Carolingian banks and the fairway with wooden revetments are very imposing, archaeological traces of off-site construction activities have not been identified hitherto. Based on a geophysically surveyed intensive linear magnetic anomaly parallel to the Carolingian canal, we aimed to prove potential off-site traces of Carolingian construction activities. In this context, we built up a high-resolution cross-section using highly depth-accurate direct push sensing and ground-truthing. Our results showed the exact geometry of the canal and the former banks. Thus, the magnetic mass anomaly could be clearly located between the buried organic-rich topsoil and the Carolingian banks. The thermoluminescence dating showed that the position of the magnetic mass anomaly reflected Carolingian activities during the construction phases, specifically due to heat exposure. Moreover, we found hints of the groundwater supply to the 5-metre wide navigable fairway.