julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Bridging the Gap between Autonomous and Predetermined Paradigms: The Role of Sampling in Evaluative Learning
2021-02-28

While most evaluative learning paradigms remove participants’ autonomy over the information they receive, other research traditions have demonstrated that information sampling has an important role in learning. We investigate the impact of information sampling on a central evaluative learning paradigm: evaluative conditioning. We compare a traditional evaluative conditioning paradigm with a paradigm in which participants have autonomy over the stimulus pairings they receive. Participants in the high-autonomy condition show a strong preference for positively paired CSs. Nevertheless, the strength of evaluative conditioning effects was independent of autonomy. Moreover, high-autonomy participants, but not their low-autonomy counterparts, show effects of the sampling decision on evaluations. Specifically, sampled stimuli become more positive, whereas ignored stimuli become more negative over the course of the learning phase. We also investigate the effects’ dependency on hedonic and epistemic sampling motives. The present research provides a cornerstone for integrating several research traditions within and beyond the evaluative learning literature, providing a foundation for new insights and more comprehensive theories of learning.
DIAMOND+MEGAN: Fast and Easy Taxonomic and Functional Analysis of Short and Long Microbiome Sequences
2021-03-01

Abstract One main approach to computational analysis of microbiome sequences is to first align against a reference database of annotated protein sequences (NCBI‐nr) and then perform taxonomic and functional binning of the sequences based on the resulting alignments. For both short and long reads (or assembled contigs), alignment is performed using DIAMOND, whereas taxonomic and functional binning, followed by inter‐ active exploration and analysis, is performed using MEGAN. We provide two step‐by‐step descriptions of this approach: © 2021 The Authors. This article was corrected on 20 July 2022. See the end of the full text for details. Basic Protocol 1 : Taxonomic and functional analysis of short read microbiome sequences Support Protocol 1 : Preprocessing Basic Protocol 2 : taxonomic and functional analysis of assembled long read microbiome sequences Support Protocol 2 : Taxonomic binning and CheckM
Effective exposure of chemicals in in vitro cell systems: A review of chemical distribution models
2021-03-01

Nominal effect concentrations from in vitro toxicity assays may lead to inaccurate estimations of in vivo toxic doses because the nominal concentration poorly reflects the concentration at the molecular target in cells in vitro, which is responsible for initiating effects and can be referred to as the biologically effective dose. Chemicals can differentially distribute between in vitro assay compartments, including serum constituents in exposure medium, microtitre plate plastic, headspace and extracellular matrices. The partitioning of test chemicals to these extracellular compartments reduces the concentration at the molecular target. Free concentrations in medium and cell-associated concentrations are considered better proxies of the biologically effective dose. This paper reviews the mechanisms by which test chemicals distribute between in vitro assay compartments, and also lists the physicochemical properties driving the extent of this distribution. The mechanisms and physicochemical properties driving the distribution of test chemical in vitro help explain the makeup of mass balance models that estimate free concentrations and cell-associated concentrations in in vitro toxicity assays. A thorough understanding of the distribution processes and assumptions underlying these mass balance models helps define chemical and biological applicability domains of individual models, as well as provide a perspective on how to improve model predictivity and quantitative in vitro-in vivo extrapolations.
The COVID‐19 crisis and policy responses by continental European welfare states
2021-03-01

Abstract Social protection in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands share Bismarckian roots. Over time, these welfare states were however in constant flux and incorporated to a greater or lesser extend elements of both the Anglo‐Saxon and Nordic models. While the Netherlands has from the beginning deviated from the Bismarckian model, in recent years this welfare state has undergone important reforms that have made it increasingly evolve into a “Bismarck cum Beveridge” model. Germany and Belgium also witnessed a dual transformation, with retrenched earnings‐related benefits for long‐term unemployed and an increasing number of atypically employed people on the one hand and expanded social security to the so‐called “new social risks” on the other. It is against this changing institutional background that we can understand the similarities and differences in the extent to which these three continental welfare states used traditional social insurance systems to buffer the social and economic consequences of confinement. First, all three countries strengthened to varying degrees social protection systems for the active age population. So conceived, the policy responses were a response to the dual transformation of social protection that took place in recent decades without, however, changing its course. Second, the extent to which continental welfare states made use of existing social insurance schemes seems to be related to the extent to which these welfare states have moved in the Anglo‐Saxon direction.
Circular Orbit Structure and Thin Accretion Disks around Kerr Black Holes with Scalar Hair
2021-03-01

Abstract In this paper, we first investigate the equatorial circular orbit structure of Kerr black holes with scalar hair (KBHsSH) and highlight their most prominent features, which are quite distinct from the exterior region of ordinary bald Kerr black holes, i.e., peculiarities that arise from the combined bound system of a hole with an off-center, self-gravitating distribution of scalar matter. Some of these traits are incompatible with the thin-disk approach; thus, we identify and map out various regions in parameter space. All of the solutions for which the stable circular orbital velocity (and angular momentum) curve is continuous are used for building thin and optically thick disks around them, from which we extract the radiant energy fluxes, luminosities, and efficiencies. We compare the results in batches with the same spin parameter j but different normalized charges, and the profiles are richly diverse. Because of the existence of a conserved scalar charge, Q , these solutions are nonunique in the ( M , J ) parameter space. Furthermore, Q cannot be extracted asymptotically from the metric functions. Nevertheless, by constraining the parameters through different observations, the luminosity profile could in turn be used to constrain the Noether charge and characterize the spacetime, should KBHsSH exist.
Exploiting Object-of-Interest Information to Understand Attention in VR Classrooms
2021-03-01

Recent developments in computer graphics and hardware technology enable easy access to virtual reality headsets along with integrated eye trackers, leading to mass usage of such devices. The immersive experience provided by virtual reality and the possibility to control environmental factors in virtual setups may soon help to create realistic digital alternatives to conventional classrooms. The importance of such settings has become especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing many schools and universities to provide the digital teaching. Researchers foresee that such transformations will continue in the future with virtual worlds becoming an integral part of education. Until now, however, students' behaviors in immersive virtual environments have not been investigated in depth. In this work, we study students' attention by exploiting object-of-interests using eye tracking in different classroom manipulations. More specifically, we varied sitting positions of students, visualization styles of virtual avatars, and hand-raising percentages of peer-learners. Our empirical evidence shows that such manipulations play an important role in students' attention towards virtual peer-learners, instructors, and lecture material. This research may contribute to understanding of how visual attention relates to social dynamics in the virtual classroom, including significant considerations for the design of virtual learning spaces.
Impact of the Returning Radiation on the Analysis of the Reflection Spectra of Black Holes
2021-03-01

Abstract A fraction of the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the surface of a geometrically thin and optically thick accretion disk of a black hole returns to the disk because of the strong light bending in the vicinity of the compact object (returning radiation). While such radiation clearly affects the observed spectrum of the source, it is often neglected in theoretical models. In the present paper, we study the impact of the returning radiation on relativistic reflection spectra. Assuming neutral material in the disk, we estimate the systematic uncertainties on the measurement of the properties of the system when we fit the data with a theoretical model that neglects the returning radiation. Our NICER simulations show that the inclination angle of the disk and the black hole spin parameter tend to be overestimated for low viewing angles, while no clear bias is observed for high viewing angles. The iron abundance of the disk is never overestimated. In the most extreme cases (in particular, for maximally rotating black holes), the returning radiation flattens the radial emissivity beyond a few gravitational radii. In such cases, it also produces residuals that cannot be compensated for by adjusting the parameters of models that neglect the returning radiation. This may be an important issue for the interpretation of data from future X-ray missions (e.g., Athena). When we simulate some observations with NuSTAR and fit data above 10 keV, we find that some conclusions that are valid for the NICER simulations are no longer true (e.g., we can obtain a high iron abundance).
Raman sideband cooling in optical tweezer arrays for Rydberg dressing
2021-03-01

Single neutral atoms trapped in optical tweezers and laser-coupled to Rydberg states provide a fast and flexible platform to generate configurable atomic arrays for quantum simulation. The platform is especially suited to study quantum spin systems in various geometries. However, for experiments requiring continuous trapping, inhomogeneous light shifts induced by the trapping potential and temperature broadening impose severe limitations. Here we show how Raman sideband cooling allows one to overcome those limitations, thus, preparing the stage for Rydberg dressing in tweezer arrays.
Testing Evolution of LFQPOs with Mass Accretion Rate in GRS 1915+105 with Insight-HXMT
2021-03-01

Abstract Using the Insight-HXMT observations of GRS 1915+105 when it exhibits low-frequency quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs), we measure the evolution of the QPO frequency along with disk inner radius and mass accretion rate. We find a tight positive correlation between the QPO frequency and mass accretion rate. Our results extend the finding of previous work with AstroSat to a larger range of accretion rates with independent instruments and observations. Treating the QPO frequency of GRS 1915+105 as the relativistic dynamic frequency of a truncated disk, we are able to confirm the high spin nature of the black hole in GRS 1915+105. We also address the potential of our finding to test general relativity in the future.
Isoginkgetin derivative IP2 enhances the adaptive immune response against tumor antigens
2021-03-01

Abstract The success of cancer immunotherapy relies on the induction of an immunoprotective response targeting tumor antigens (TAs) presented on MHC-I molecules. We demonstrated that the splicing inhibitor isoginkgetin and its water-soluble and non-toxic derivative IP2 act at the production stage of the pioneer translation products (PTPs). We showed that IP2 increases PTP-derived antigen presentation in cancer cells in vitro and impairs tumor growth in vivo. IP2 action is long-lasting and dependent on the CD8 + T cell response against TAs. We observed that the antigen repertoire displayed on MHC-I molecules at the surface of MCA205 fibrosarcoma is modified upon treatment with IP2. In particular, IP2 enhances the presentation of an exon-derived epitope from the tumor suppressor nischarin. The combination of IP2 with a peptide vaccine targeting the nischarin-derived epitope showed a synergistic antitumor effect in vivo. These findings identify the spliceosome as a druggable target for the development of epitope-based immunotherapies.
Photon surfaces with equipotential time slices
2021-03-01

Photon surfaces are timelike totally umbilic hypersurfaces of Lorentzian spacetimes. In the first part of this paper, we locally characterize all possible photon surfaces in a class of static spherically symmetric spacetimes that includes (exterior) Schwarzschild, Reissner–Nordström, and Schwarzschild–anti de Sitter in n + 1 dimensions. In the second part, we prove that any static, vacuum, and “asymptotically isotropic” n + 1-dimensional spacetime that possesses what we call an “equipotential” and “outward directed” photon surface is isometric to the Schwarzschild spacetime of the same (necessarily positive) mass using a uniqueness result obtained by the first author.
First German Guideline on Diagnostics and Therapy of Clinically Non-Functioning Pituitary Tumors
2021-03-01

Abstract Although non-functioning pituitary tumors are frequent, diagnostic and therapeutic concepts are not well standardized. We here present the first German multidisciplinary guideline on this topic. The single most important message is to manage the patients by a multidisciplinary team (consisting at least of an endocrinologist, a neurosurgeon, and a (neuro-) radiologist). The initial diagnostic work-up comprises a detailed characterization of both biochemical (focusing on hormonal excess or deficiency states) and morphological aspects (with magnetic resonance imaging of the sellar region). An ophthalmological examination is only needed in presence of symptoms or large tumors affecting the visual system. Asymptomatic, hormonally inactive tumors allow for a 'wait and scan' strategy. In contrast, surgical treatment by an experienced pituitary surgeon is standard of care in case of (impending) visual impairment. Therapeutic options for incompletely resected or recurrent tumors include re-operation, radiotherapy, and observation; the individual treatment plan should be developed multidisciplinary. Irrespective of the therapeutic approach applied, patients require long-term follow-up. Patient with larger pituitary tumors or former surgery/radiotherapy should be regularly counseled regarding potential symptoms of hormonal deficiency states.
Retrograde polish doughnuts around boson stars
2021-03-01

Abstract We investigate polish doughnuts with a uniform constant specific angular momentum distribution in the space-times of rotating boson stars. In such space-times thick tori can exhibit unique features not present in Kerr space-times. For instance, in the context of retrograde tori, they may possess two centers connected or not by a cusp. Rotating boson stars also feature a static ring, neither present in Kerr space-times. This static ring consists of static orbits, where particles are at rest with respect to a zero angular momentum observer at infinity. Here we show that the presence of a static ring allows for an associated static surface of a retrograde thick torus, where inside the static surface the fluid moves in prograde direction. We classify the retrograde Polish doughnuts and present several specific examples.
Surgical Management of Sporadic Peripheral Nerve Schwannomas in Adults: Indications and Outcome in a Single Center Cohort
2021-03-01

Most sporadic peripheral nerve sheath tumors in adults are schwannomas. These tumors usually present with significant pain but can also cause neurological deficits. Symptomatology is diverse, and successful surgical interventions demand interdisciplinarity. We retrospectively reviewed 414 patients treated between 2006 and 2017 for peripheral nerve sheath tumors. We analyzed clinical signs, symptoms, histology, and neurological function in the cohort of adult patients with schwannomas without a neurocutaneous syndrome. In 144 patients, 147 surgical interventions were performed. Mean follow-up was 3.1 years. The indication for surgery was pain (66.0%), neurological deficits (23.8%), significant tumor growth (8.8%), and suspected malignancy (1.4%). Complete tumor resection was achieved on 136/147 occasions (92.5%). The most common location of the tumors was intraspinal (49.0%), within the cervical neurovascular bundles (19.7%), and lower extremities (10.9%). Pain and neurological deficits improved significantly (p ≤ 0.003) after 131/147 interventions (89.1%). One patient had a persistent decrease in motor function after surgery. Complete resection was possible in 67% of recurrent tumors, compared to 94% of primary tumors. There was a significantly lower chance of complete resection for schwannomas of the cervical neurovascular bundle as compared to other locations. The surgical outcome of sporadic schwannoma surgery within the peripheral nervous system is very favorable in experienced peripheral nerve surgery centers. Surgery is safe and effective and needs a multidisciplinary setting. Early surgical resection in adult patients with peripheral nerve sheath tumors with significant growth, pain, neurological deficit, or suspected malignancy is thus recommended.
X-Ray Pulsar XTE J1858+034: Discovery of the Cyclotron Line and the Revised Optical Identification
2021-03-01

Abstract We present the results of a detailed investigation of the poorly studied X-ray pulsar (XRP) XTE J1858+034 based on the data obtained with the NuSTAR observatory during the outburst of the source in 2019. The spectral analysis resulted in the discovery of a cyclotron absorption feature in the source spectrum at ∼48 keV in both the pulse phase-averaged and resolved spectra. Accurate X-ray localization of the source using the NuSTAR and Chandra observatories allowed us to accurately determine the position of the X-ray source and identify the optical companion of the pulsar. The analysis of the counterpart properties suggested that the system is likely a symbiotic binary hosting an XRP and a late-type companion star of the K-M classes rather than a Be X-ray binary as previously suggested.
Selenium isotope evidence for pulsed flow of oxidative slab fluids
2021-03-01

Isotope systematics of the redox sensitive and chalcophile element selenium (Se) were investigated on exhumed parts of subducted oceanic lithosphere to provide new constraints on slab dehydration conditions during subduction. The samples c,, show increasing delta(82/76)Se(NIST3149 )with higher abundances of fluid mobile elements, comprising a larger range (-1.89 to +0.48 parts per thousand) than that of mantle (-0.13 +/- 0.12 parts per thousand) and altered ocean crust (-0.35 to -0.07 parts per thousand). Our data point to pronounced, local scale redox variations within the subducting crust, wherein oxidative fluids dissolve sulfides and mobilise oxidised Se species. Subsequently recrystallising sulfides preferentially incorporate isotopically lighter, reduced Se, which shifts evolving fluids and late stage sulfides to higher delta Se-82/76(NIST3149). Redistribution of Se by repeated cydes of sulfide reworking within the subducted crust can be reconciled with episodes of oxidised fluid pulses from underlying slab mantle in modem subduction zones.
A Broadband X-Ray View of the Precessing Accretion Disk and Pre-eclipse Dip in the Pulsar Her X-1 with NuSTAR and XMM-Newton
2021-03-01

Abstract We present a broadband X-ray timing study of the variations in pulse behavior with the superorbital cycle in the low-mass X-ray binary Her X-1. This source shows a 35 day superorbital modulation in X-ray flux that is likely caused by occultation by a warped, precessing accretion disk. Our data set consists of four joint XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations of Her X-1 which sample a complete superorbital cycle. We focus our analysis on the first and fourth observations, which occur during the bright “main-on” phase, because these observations have strongly detected pulsations. We added an archival XMM-Newton observation during the “short-on” phase of the superorbital cycle because our observations at that phase are lower in signal to noise. We find that the energy-resolved pulse profiles show the same shape at similar superorbital phases, and the profiles are consistent with expectations from a precessing disk. We demonstrate that a simple precessing accretion disk model is sufficient to reproduce the observed pulse profiles. The results of this model suggest that the similarities in the observed pulse profiles are due to reprocessing by a precessing disk that has returned to its original precession phase. We determine that the broadband spectrum is well fit by an absorbed power law with a soft blackbody component and show that the spectral continuum also exhibits a dependence on the superorbital cycle. We also present a brief analysis of the energy-resolved light curves of a pre-eclipse dip, which shows soft X-ray absorption and hard X-ray variability during the dip.
Case Report: Combined CDK4/6 and MEK Inhibition in Refractory CDKN2A and NRAS Mutant Melanoma
2021-03-01

There are only limited treatment options for metastatic NRAS mutant melanoma patients with resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Besides activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway, they often have additional disturbances in cell cycle regulation. However, unlike BRAF mutant melanoma, no targeted therapy has yet been approved for NRAS mutant melanoma so far. Here we present a NRAS mutant melanoma patient with response to combined binimetinib and ribociclib therapy following characterization of the molecular defects of the tumor by panel sequencing. Next generation sequencing (708 cancer genes) of a soft tissue metastasis revealed a homozygous deletion of CDKN2A in addition to the previously known NRAS mutation, as well as amplification of CCNE1 and CDK6. Immunohistochemical staining of the altered cell cycle genes confirmed loss of p16, reduced expression of p21 and high expression of CDK6 and cyclin D1. As the patient had been progressive on combined immunotherapy, targeted therapy with combined MEK and CDK4/6 inhibition was initiated as recommended by the molecular tumor board. Response to treatment was monitored with PET/CT and liquid biopsy, serum LDH, and S100. In addition, a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) was used to prove the efficacy of the two drugs in combination. Furthermore, senescence-associated beta-galactosidase staining showed that more cells were senescent under the combination treatment of binimetinib and ribociclib. Our case demonstrates how an individualized, molecular-based therapeutic approach could be found based on next-generation sequencing results. Furthermore our report highlights the fruitful and efficient collaboration of dermatooncologists, human geneticists, molecular pathologists, biochemists, radiologists, and nuclear physicians. Further studies are urgently needed to expand the very limited therapeutic landscape of NRAS mutated melanoma.