julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
The molecular mechanism of on-demand sterol biosynthesis at organelle contact sites
2024-05-10

Abstract Contact-sites are specialized zones of proximity between two organelles, essential for organelle communication and coordination. The formation of contacts between the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER), and other organelles, relies on a unique membrane environment enriched in sterols. However, how these sterol-rich domains are formed and maintained had not been understood. We found that the yeast membrane protein Yet3, the homolog of human BAP31, is localized to multiple ER contact sites. We show that Yet3 interacts with all the enzymes of the post-squalene ergosterol biosynthesis pathway and recruits them to create sterol-rich domains. Increasing sterol levels at ER contacts causes its depletion from the plasma membrane leading to a compensatory reaction and altered cell metabolism. Our data shows that Yet3 provides on-demand sterols at contacts thus shaping organellar structure and function. A molecular understanding of this protein’s functions gives new insights into the role of BAP31 in development and pathology.
The influence of undetected hemolysis on POCT potassium results in the emergency department
2024-05-10

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to evaluate discrepancies in potassium measurements between point-of-care testing (POCT) and central laboratory (CL) methods, focusing on the impact of hemolysis on these measurements and its impact in the clinical practice in the emergency department (ED). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from three European university hospitals: Technische Universitat München (Germany), Hospital Universitario La Paz (Spain), and Erasmus University Medical Center (The Netherlands). The study compared POCT potassium measurements in EDs with CL measurements. Data normalization was performed in categories for potassium levels (kalemia) and hemolysis. The severity of discrepancies between POCT and CL potassium measurements was assessed using the reference change value (RCV). Results The study identified significant discrepancies in potassium between POCT and CL methods. In comparing POCT normo- and mild hypokalemia against CL results, differences of −4.20 % and +4.88 % were noted respectively. The largest variance in the CL was a +4.14 % difference in the mild hyperkalemia category. Additionally, the RCV was calculated to quantify the severity of discrepancies between paired potassium measurements from POCT and CL methods. The overall hemolysis characteristics, as defined by the hemolysis gradient, showed considerable variation between the testing sites, significantly affecting the reliability of potassium measurements in POCT. Conclusions The study highlighted the challenges in achieving consistent potassium measurement results between POCT and CL methods, particularly in the presence of hemolysis. It emphasised the need for integrated hemolysis detection systems in future blood gas analysis devices to minimise discrepancies and ensure accurate POCT results.
Speeding Up and Improving Image Quality in Glioblastoma MRI Protocol by Deep Learning Image Reconstruction
2024-05-10

A fully diagnostic MRI glioma protocol is key to monitoring therapy assessment but is time-consuming and especially challenging in critically ill and uncooperative patients. Artificial intelligence demonstrated promise in reducing scan time and improving image quality simultaneously. The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance, the impact on acquisition acceleration, and the image quality of a deep learning optimized glioma protocol of the brain. Thirty-three patients with histologically confirmed glioblastoma underwent standardized brain tumor imaging according to the glioma consensus recommendations on a 3-Tesla MRI scanner. Conventional and deep learning-reconstructed (DLR) fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, and T2- and T1-weighted contrast-enhanced Turbo spin echo images with an improved in-plane resolution, i.e., super-resolution, were acquired. Two experienced neuroradiologists independently evaluated the image datasets for subjective image quality, diagnostic confidence, tumor conspicuity, noise levels, artifacts, and sharpness. In addition, the tumor volume was measured in the image datasets according to Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) 2.0, as well as compared between both imaging techniques, and various clinical–pathological parameters were determined. The average time saving of DLR sequences was 30% per MRI sequence. Simultaneously, DLR sequences showed superior overall image quality (all p &lt; 0.001), improved tumor conspicuity and image sharpness (all p &lt; 0.001, respectively), and less image noise (all p &lt; 0.001), while maintaining diagnostic confidence (all p &gt; 0.05), compared to conventional images. Regarding RANO 2.0, the volume of non-enhancing non-target lesions (p = 0.963), enhancing target lesions (p = 0.993), and enhancing non-target lesions (p = 0.951) did not differ between reconstruction types. The feasibility of the deep learning-optimized glioma protocol was demonstrated with a 30% reduction in acquisition time on average and an increased in-plane resolution. The evaluated DLR sequences improved subjective image quality and maintained diagnostic accuracy in tumor detection and tumor classification according to RANO 2.0.
Can qualitative non-target data be indicative of PFAS contamination? First evidence by correlation with EOF in environmental samples
2024-05-10

We combined and correlated non-target screening (NTS) features and extractable organic fluorine (EOF) data for PFAS analysis in environmental samples. Soils, sediments, and ashes from different locations (Germany, France, Lithuania) (n=34) were extracted and analyzed via liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and high resolution-continuum source-graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GFMAS). NTS feature prioritization based on the mass to carbon (m/C) and mass defect to carbon (MD/C) ratio was applied to discriminate potential PFAS features from common co-extracted organic matrix. Our results show a high correlation between quantitative EOF data with the prioritized feature number (R2 = 0.87, rPearson = 0.93) as well as with the total peak area of prioritized features (R2 = 0.97, rPearson = 0.98) while commonly applied MD filtering showed no correlation with EOF. The observed highly significant correlations highlight that MD/C-m/C prioritization is associated with a good indication of the overall PFAS burden as evidenced by EOF. Also, semi-quantitative data can be extracted from PFAS-specific NTS as shown for the EOF vs. prioritized peak areas. The correlations indicate that lowly fluorinated compounds were negligible and that the EOF was mostly composed of higher fluorinated substances. We recommend further investigation of the unique complementary EOF vs. NTS combination for PFAS screening.
Giving a Voice to Patients With Smell Disorders Associated With COVID-19: Cross-Sectional Longitudinal Analysis Using Natural Language Processing of Self-Reports
2024-05-10

Background Smell disorders are commonly reported with COVID-19 infection. The smell-related issues associated with COVID-19 may be prolonged, even after the respiratory symptoms are resolved. These smell dysfunctions can range from anosmia (complete loss of smell) or hyposmia (reduced sense of smell) to parosmia (smells perceived differently) or phantosmia (smells perceived without an odor source being present). Similar to the difficulty that people experience when talking about their smell experiences, patients find it difficult to express or label the symptoms they experience, thereby complicating diagnosis. The complexity of these symptoms can be an additional burden for patients and health care providers and thus needs further investigation. Objective This study aims to explore the smell disorder concerns of patients and to provide an overview for each specific smell disorder by using the longitudinal survey conducted in 2020 by the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research, an international research group that has been created ad hoc for studying chemosensory dysfunctions. We aimed to extend the existing knowledge on smell disorders related to COVID-19 by analyzing a large data set of self-reported descriptive comments by using methods from natural language processing. Methods We included self-reported data on the description of changes in smell provided by 1560 participants at 2 timepoints (second survey completed between 23 and 291 days). Text data from participants who still had smell disorders at the second timepoint (long-haulers) were compared with the text data of those who did not (non–long-haulers). Specifically, 3 aims were pursued in this study. The first aim was to classify smell disorders based on the participants’ self-reports. The second aim was to classify the sentiment of each self-report by using a machine learning approach, and the third aim was to find particular food and nonfood keywords that were more salient among long-haulers than those among non–long-haulers. Results We found that parosmia (odds ratio [OR] 1.78, 95% CI 1.35-2.37; P&lt;.001) as well as hyposmia (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.34-2.26; P&lt;.001) were more frequently reported in long-haulers than in non–long-haulers. Furthermore, a significant relationship was found between long-hauler status and sentiment of self-report (P&lt;.001). Finally, we found specific keywords that were more typical for long-haulers than those for non–long-haulers, for example, fire, gas, wine, and vinegar. Conclusions Our work shows consistent findings with those of previous studies, which indicate that self-reports, which can easily be extracted online, may offer valuable information to health care and understanding of smell disorders. At the same time, our study on self-reports provides new insights for future studies investigating smell disorders.
Wake effects and temperature plumes: Coping with non-knowledge in the expansion of wind and geothermal energy
2024-05-10

Energy transitions are knowledge-intensive processes where a multitude of actors are trying to cope with inevitable knowledge gaps, surprises, and uncertainties. In this context, we focus on two techno-physical phenomena that are gaining practical relevance with the expansion of wind and geothermal energy extraction, and are surrounded by significant unknowns: wake effects and temperature plumes. Both phenomena can potentially affect the efficiency of energy production, but the extent of their impact is not yet known. Based on 28 semi-structured interviews with experts in the fields of wind and geothermal energy, we explore how different central actors perceive and interpret non-knowledge of wake effects and temperature plumes, and how they deal with it. We show that there are strategies for either using non-knowledge as a basis for action or simply ignoring it and sweeping knowledge gaps under the rug. Both strategies serve the function of protecting agency and keeping things going.
New proboscidean specimens from the Late Miocene of Romania: the huge-sized deinothere Deinotherium proavum, the rare “Mammut” cf. obliquelophus and the first description of the shovel-tusker Konobelodon from the country
2024-05-10

Abstract In this article, we describe so far unpublished proboscidean specimens from several Late Miocene localities of Romania. A partial mandible and the complete upper/lower cheek tooth rows of a deinothere individual from the site of Gherghești 1 belong to Deinotherium proavum and comprise one of the few examples of entire cheek tooth rows of the same individual of this species. Gherghești 1 is geographically close to Mânzaţi from where the celebrated skeleton of “ Deinotherium gigantissimum ” was discovered at the end of the nineteenth century, and thus further highlights the importance of Romania in the study of this emblematic deinothere. Deinotherium proavum represents the last deinothere species in Europe and corresponds to the terminal stage of the size increase characterizing the evolution of European deinotheres. Two zygodont molars are attributed to the rare “ Mammut ” cf. obliquelophus and add to the scarce record of “ Mammut ” in the Miocene of Eurasia. They document the secure presence of “ Mammut ” in the Miocene of Romania. The small size of the studied molars compared to known specimens of the Pliocene “ Mammut ” borsoni and the weak development of the distal cingulum in the lower third molars may have taxonomic and biostratigraphic importance. Furthermore, the presence of an amebelodontid is documented by a large-sized and dorsoventrally flattened lower tusk fragment that shows tubular dentine in its inner part and is attributed to the tetralophodont shovel-tusker Konobelodon . This specimen marks the first record of the genus in Romania. Finally, the biostratigraphic distribution of the taxa is discussed.
Memetics and the Parallel Architecture
2024-05-10

Abstract The evolution of human communication and culture is among the most significant—and challenging—questions we face in attempting to understand the evolution of our species. This article takes up two frameworks for theorizing about human communication and culture, namely, Jackendoff's Parallel Architecture of the human language faculty, and the cultural evolutionary framework of Memetics. The aim is to show that the two frameworks uniquely complement one another in some theoretically important ways. In particular, the Parallel Architecture's account of the lexicon significantly expands the range of linguistic phenomena that are plausibly covered by Memetics (e.g., from words to constructions and pure rules of syntax). At the same time, taking a “meme's‐eye‐view” of the lexicon retools the Parallel Architecture's treatment of the origins and subsequent cultural evolution of language.
How do Intellectually Curious and Interested People Learn and Attain Knowledge? A Focus on Behavioral Traces of Information Seeking
2024-05-10

Intellectual curiosity and personal interest are both believed to spark information seeking and facilitate learning. In two preregistered studies (Study 1: exploratory lab study, N = 312; Study 2: online conceptual replication study, N = 960), we investigated effects of curiosity and interest on participants’ information seeking as they studied a hypertext on a historical topic. We captured their behavioral traces with log files. We also examined effects of curiosity, interest, and information-seeking behaviors on knowledge attainment. In both studies, latent profile analyses based on behavioral trace data revealed more adaptive information-seeking profiles (e.g., broad and deep-diving information searches, Study 1, or only broad information search, Study 2) and less adaptive (e.g., disengaged) information-seeking profiles. More adaptive profiles were consistently related to better knowledge test performance. Curiosity and interest positively predicted more adaptive information seeking (Study 1) and knowledge test performance (Study 2); however, these effects were inconsistent across study contexts. Furthermore, curiosity and interest did not interact in predicting information seeking and knowledge attainment (Studies 1 and 2). Overall, our work extends the understanding of how intellectually curious and interested individuals learn and attain knowledge and underscores the promise of using behavioral trace data to study interindividual differences.
Differentiation in Cognitive Abilities Beyond g: The Emergence of Domain-Specific Variance in Childhood
2024-05-10

Understanding how the structure of cognitive abilities changes depending on age and ability (age and ability differentiation) has critical implications for cognitive ability assessments and cognitive developmental theories. Most differentiation research has focused on general intelligence; however, as children increasingly invest in specific domains and school-taught subjects, we argue that these investments should rather affect their domain-specific ability structures. Leveraging a representative longitudinal sample of 17,979 U.S. children who were assessed in mathematics, reading, science, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, we found that loadings on a general intelligence factor remained similar, whereas most domain-specific factor loadings increased over time. Hence, age and ability differentiation are conceptually distinct, with the former pertaining to specific abilities and the latter to general intelligence. We find some evidence that domain-specific abilities can compensate for lower general intelligence. Overall, our study motivates a nuanced understanding of children’s cognitive development.
Morphotype-specific calcium signaling in human microglia
2024-05-10

Abstract Key functions of Ca 2+ signaling in rodent microglia include monitoring the brain state or the surrounding neuronal activity and sensing the danger or damage in their vicinity. Microglial Ca 2+ dyshomeostasis is a disease hallmark in many mouse models of neurological disorders but the Ca 2+ signal properties of human microglia remain unknown. Using a newly developed toolbox, we analyzed in situ Ca 2+ signaling of decades-old human cortical microglia. The data revealed marked compartmentalization of Ca 2+ signals, with signal properties differing across the compartments and resident morphotypes. The basal Ca 2+ levels were low in ramified and high in ameboid microglia. The fraction of cells with ongoing Ca 2+ signaling, the fraction and the amplitude of process Ca 2+ signals and the duration of somatic Ca 2+ signals decreased when moving from ramified via hypertrophic to ameboid microglia. In contrast, the size of active compartments, the fraction and amplitude of somatic Ca 2+ signals and the duration of process Ca 2+ signals increased along this pathway.
A diachronic study of human-bear interactions: An overview of ursid exploitation during the Paleolithic of Germany
2024-05-11

In the Palearctic region interactions between hominins and ursids date as far back as the Lower Paleolithic. Archeological evidence from open-air settings and cave environments shows that Paleolithic people and bears shared the same habitats and living spaces. Additionally, anthropogenic marks on bear remains indicate that hominins regarded bears as an occasional source of food and raw material. While scholars have largely focused on solving the conundrum between opportunistic predation and strategic hunting of bears by hominins, little attention has been given to categorizing the anthropogenic modifications on bear remains. In this study we present a comparative overview of the ursid assemblages with anthropogenic modifications from five German sites with ages ranging between the Lower and Upper Paleolithic. Our aim is to assess differences and similarities in the ways hunter-gatherers exploited bears, first by documenting the range of modifications and their location on the bear skeleton, and second by evaluating their significance in relation to subsistence and other cultural behaviors. We discuss our results by presenting a critical evaluation of the finds, that takes into account their geographic and chrono-cultural setting. In this way, we provide a framework for understanding past interactions between hominins and ursids.
A straightforward procedure to build a non-toxic relaxometry phantom with desired T1 and T2 times at 3T
2024-05-11

Abstract Objective To prepare and analyze soy-lecithin-agar gels for non-toxic relaxometry phantoms with tissue-like relaxation times at 3T. Methods Phantoms mimicking the relaxation times of various tissues (gray and white matter, kidney cortex and medulla, spleen, muscle, liver) were built and tested with a clinical 3T whole-body MR scanner. Simple equations were derived to calculate the appropriate concentrations of soy lecithin and agar in aqueous solutions to achieve the desired relaxation times. Phantoms were tested for correspondence between measurements and calculated T1 and T2 values, reproducibility, spatial homogeneity, and temporal stability. T1 and T2 mapping techniques and a 3D T1-weighted sequence with high spatial resolution were applied. Results Except for the liver relaxation phantom, all phantoms were successfully and reproducibly produced. Good agreement was found between the targeted and measured relaxation times. The percentage deviations from the targeted relaxation times were less than 3% for T1 and less than 6.5% for T2. In addition, the phantoms were homogeneous and had little to no air bubbles. However, the phantoms were unstable over time: after a storage period of 4 weeks, mold growth and also changes in relaxation times were detected in almost all phantoms. Conclusion Soy-lecithin-agar gels are a non-toxic material for the construction of relaxometry phantoms with tissue-like relaxation times. They are easy to prepare, inexpensive and allow independent adjustment of T1 and T2. However, there is still work to be done to improve the long-term stability of the phantoms.
The temporal dynamics of task processing and choice in a novel multitasking paradigm
2024-05-11

Abstract This study investigated the temporal dynamics of task performance and voluntary task choice within a multitasking paradigm in which the task-related processing outcomes themselves determined the to-be-performed task. In the novel forced-no-go trials, the stimulus for one task required an overt response, but the stimulus for the other task was associated with a no-go response. Task performance results showed that participants often processed the no-go task’s stimulus before switching to the go-task. Dual-task interference effects and switch costs indicated various forms of multitasking interference, with their underlying causes appearing to overlap, as engagement in parallel processing seemed to be limited by switch-related reconfiguration processes. Intermixing free-choice trials, where both stimuli were associated with overt responses, revealed costs associated with switching between processing modes, providing new evidence that the distinctions between free and forced task goals stem from differences in their internal representations rather than alterations in processing due to different presentations in the environment. Task choice results align with this perspective, demonstrating a preference for repeating a free- over a forced-choice task. Furthermore, these free-choice results illuminate the interplay of cognitive (task-repetition bias) and environmental constraints (first-task bias) in shaping task choices: It appears that task-specific information increases goal activations for both task goals concurrently, with participants favoring central processing of the second- over the first-presented task to optimize their behavior when shorter central processing is required (task repetition). Overall, this study offers new insights into the dynamics of task processing and choice in environments requiring the balance of multiple tasks.