julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Interaction with Soil Bacteria Affects the Growth and Amino Acid Content of Piriformospora indica
2020-01-28

Exploration of the effect of soil bacteria on growth and metabolism of beneficial root endophytic fungi is relevant to promote favorable associations between microorganisms of the plant rhizosphere. Hence, the interaction between the plant-growth-promoting fungus Piriformospora indica and different soil bacteria was investigated. The parameters studied were fungal growth and its amino acid composition during the interaction. Fungus and bacteria were confronted in dual cultures in Petri dishes, either through agar or separated by a Perspex wall that only allowed the bacterial volatiles to be effective. Fungal growth was stimulated by Azotobacter chroococcum, whereas Streptomyces anulatus AcH 1003 inhibited it and Streptomyces sp. Nov AcH 505 had no effect. To analyze amino acid concentration data, targeted metabolomics was implemented under supervised analysis according to fungal-bacteria interaction and time. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model clearly discriminated P. indica–A. chroococcum and P. indica–S. anulatus interactions, according to the respective score plot in comparison to the control. The most observable responses were in the glutamine and alanine size groups: While Streptomyces AcH 1003 increased the amount of glutamine, A. chroococcum decreased it. The fungal growth and the increase of alanine content might be associated with the assimilation of nitrogen in the presence of glucose as a carbon source. The N-fixing bacterium A. chroococcum should stimulate fungal amino acid metabolism via glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase (GS-GOGAT). The data pointed to a stimulated glycolytic activity in the fungus observed by the accumulation of alanine, possibly via alanine aminotransferase. The responses toward the growth-inhibiting Streptomyces AcH 1003 suggest an (oxidative) stress response of the fungus.
ASC oligomer favor caspase-1CARDdomain recruitment after intracellular potassium efflux
2020-01-28

Abstract Signaling through the inflammasome is important for the inflammatory response. Low concentrations of intracellular K + are associated with the specific oligomerization and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a type of inflammasome involved in sterile inflammation. Subsequent to NLRP3 oligomerization, ASC protein binds and form oligomeric filaments culminating in large protein complexes named ASC specks. ASC specks are also initiated from different inflammasome scaffolds, as AIM2, NLRC4 or Pyrin. ASC oligomers induce the recruitment of caspase-1 through interactions between their respective caspase activation and recruitment domains (CARD), and favoring its activation. So far ASC oligomerization and caspase-1 activation are considered as a K + -independent process. Here we found that ASC oligomers change their structure upon low intracellular K + independently of NLRP3 and allow the ASC CARD domain to be more accessible for the recruitment of pro-caspase-1 CARD domain. Therefore, conditions that decrease intracellular K + not only drive NLRP3 responses, but also enhance the recruitment of pro-caspase-1 by ASC specks formed by different inflammasomes, indicating that intracellular K + homeostasis is a key regulatory step for inflammasome regulation.
Unravelling histories: researching uneasy heritage associations in Oran, Algeria
2020-01-28

The proliferation of heritage associations is a relatively new phenomenon in Algeria. In this article, an ethnographic study of a heritage association in Oran (2016/17) serves as a means to explore how shifting social relations shaped the way heritage is thought about, talked about and done within and beyond the associative sector in this country. The fieldwork was not always easy, partly due to diverse understandings about what heritage and research looked like. Reflecting on these tensions, this study is situated within the broader context of the international political economy of heritage and knowledge-making around the Mediterranean basin.
RNA ImmunoGenic Assay: Simple method for detecting immunogenicity of in vitro transcribed mRNA
2020-01-28

In vitro transcribed (IVT) mRNA therapies is a promising approach for the effective and safe treatment of various diseases. However, IVT-mRNA triggers immune responses due to recognition by human RNA sensors, but incorporation of chemically modified nucleosides have been shown to reduce such responses. Nonetheless, an assay reflecting the complexity of the human immune system is still needed. Here, we present a simple and fast ex vivo method called “RNA Immunogenic Assay” for measuring the immunogenicity of IVT-mRNA in human whole blood. Chemically modified and unmodified mRNA were complexed with a transfection reagent (TransIT), and co-incubated in human whole blood and specific cytokines were quantified (TNF-α, INF-α, IL-6, and IL-12p70) using ELISAs. The qPCR analysis was conducted to unveil the activation of specific immune pathway. Our findings demonstrated that the complete replacement of uridine with pseudouridine reduced TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12p70 levels and did not elevate the expression of genes involved in immune response against RNA including IRF7/3, EIF2A, & RNASEL. In addition, we observed that the transcript length was not found to be a confounding factor in RNA immunogenicity generation and our assay provide the feasibility to dissect donor specific immune response against mRNA therapeutics.
Spiral arms and instability within the AFGL 4176 mm1 disc
2020-01-29

We present high-resolution (30 mas or 130 au at 4.2 kpc) Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations at 1.2 mm of the disc around the forming O-type star AFGL 4176 mm1. The disc (AFGL 4176 mm1-main) has a radius of ∼1000 au and contains significant structure, most notably a spiral arm on its redshifted side. We fitted the observed spiral with logarithmic and Archimedean spiral models. We find that both models can describe its structure, but the Archimedean spiral with a varying pitch angle fits its morphology marginally better. As well as signatures of rotation across the disc, we observe gas arcs in CH 3 CN that connect to other millimetre continuum sources in the field, supporting the picture of interactions within a small cluster around AFGL 4176 mm1-main. Using local thermodynamic equilibrium modelling of the CH 3 CN K-ladder, we determine the temperature and velocity field across the disc, and thus produce a map of the Toomre stability parameter. Our results indicate that the outer disc is gravitationally unstable and has already fragmented or is likely to fragment in the future, possibly producing further companions. These observations provide evidence that disc fragmentation is one possible pathway towards explaining the high fraction of multiple systems around high-mass stars.
Opportunities and Challenges for Paleoaltimetry in “Small” Orogens: Insights From the European Alps
2020-01-29

Abstract Many stable isotope paleoaltimetry studies have focused on paleoelevation reconstructions of orogenic plateaus such as the Tibetan or Andean Plateaus. We address the opportunities and challenges of applying stable isotope paleoaltimetry to “smaller” orogens. We do this using a high‐resolution isotope tracking general circulation model (ECHAM5‐wiso) and explore the precipitation δ 18 O (δ 18 O p ) signal of Cenozoic paleoclimate and topographic change in the European Alps. Results predict a maximum δ 18 O p change of 4–5‰ (relative to present day) during topographic development of the Alps. This signal of topographic change has the same magnitude as changes in δ 18 O p values resulting from Pliocene and Last Glacial Maximum global climatic change. Despite the similar magnitude of the isotopic signals resulting from topographic and paleoclimate changes, their spatial patterns across central Europe differ. Our results suggest that an integration of paleoclimate modeling, multiproxy approaches, and low‐elevation reference proxy records distal from an orogen improve topographic reconstructions.
Longitudinal prevalence and determinants of pain in multiple sclerosis: results from the German National Multiple Sclerosis Cohort study
2020-01-29

Abstract Pain is frequent in multiple sclerosis (MS) and includes different types, with neuropathic pain (NP) being most closely related to MS pathology. However, prevalence estimates vary largely, and causal relationships between pain and biopsychosocial factors in MS are largely unknown. Longitudinal studies might help to clarify the prevalence and determinants of pain in MS. To this end, we analyzed data from 410 patients with newly diagnosed clinically isolated syndrome or relapsing-remitting MS participating in the prospective multicenter German National MS Cohort Study (NationMS) at baseline and after 4 years. Pain was assessed by self-report using the PainDETECT Questionnaire. Neuropsychiatric assessment included tests for fatigue, depression, and cognition. In addition, sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained. Prevalence of pain of any type was 40% and 36% at baseline and after 4 years, respectively, whereas prevalence of NP was 2% and 5%. Pain of any type and NP were both strongly linked to fatigue, depression, and disability. This link was even stronger after 4 years than at baseline. Moreover, changes in pain, depression, and fatigue were highly correlated without any of these symptoms preceding the others. Taken together, pain of any type seems to be much more frequent than NP in early nonprogressive MS. Moreover, the close relationship between pain, fatigue, and depression in MS should be considered for treatment decisions and future research on a possible common pathophysiology.
The role of beliefs regarding the uncertainty of knowledge and mental effort as indicated by pupil dilation in evaluating scientific controversies
2020-01-29

Laypeople are increasingly confronted with scientific controversies, as science concerns many aspects of everyday life. In the present study, we investigated how epistemic beliefs regarding the uncertainty of knowledge (i.e. uncertainty beliefs) and invested mental effort during task processing contribute to how individuals evaluate scientific controversies. Forty-four undergraduate university students completed a questionnaire targeting their uncertainty beliefs and a week later worked on a test that required the evaluation of five scientific controversies. Eye-tracking technology was used to measure participants' pupil dilation while reading the controversies as an indicator of individuals' invested mental effort. Results revealed that both uncertainty beliefs and mental effort were positive predictors of individuals' test performance (i.e. their proficient evaluation of the controversies). Furthermore, uncertainty beliefs predicted mental effort. Finally, a mediation analysis revealed that mental effort partially explained the relation between uncertainty beliefs and test performance. We discuss implications of how individuals' epistemic beliefs regarding the uncertainty of knowledge influence the evaluation of conflicting scientific information through mental effort, offering both theoretical clarification and practical recommendations.
Controlling the dynamical scale factor in a trapped atom Sagnac interferometer
2020-01-29

Sagnac interferometers with massive particles promise unique advantages in achieving high precision measurements of rotation rates over their optical counterparts. Recent proposals and experiments are exploring non-ballistic Sagnac interferometers where trapped atoms are transported along a closed path. This is achieved by using superpositions of internal quantum states and their control with state-dependent potentials. We address emergent questions regarding the dynamical behavior of Bose-Einstein condensates in such an interferometer and its impact on rotation sensitivity. We investigate complex dependencies on atomic interactions as well as trap geometries, rotation rates, and speed of operation. We find that temporal transport profiles obtained from a simple optimization strategy for non-interacting particles remain surprisingly robust also in the presence of interactions over a large range of realistic parameters. High sensitivities can be achieved for short interrogation times far from the adiabatic regime. This highlights a route to building fast and robust guided ring Sagnac interferometers with fully trapped atoms.
Learning to Integrate an Artificial Sensory Device: Early Bayesian Integration and Conscious Perception
2020-01-29

Abstract The present study examines how artificial tactile stimulation from a novel non-invasive sensory device is learned and integrated with information from another sensory system. Participants were trained to identify the direction of visual dot motion stimuli with a low, medium, and high signal-to-noise ratio. In bimodal trials, this visual direction information was paired with reliable symbolic tactile information. Over several training blocks, discrimination performance in unimodal tactile test trials and subjects’ confidence in their decision improved, indicating that participants were able to associate the visual and tactile information consciously and thus learned the meaning of the symbolic tactile cues. Formal analysis of the results in bimodal trials showed that both modalities are being integrated already in the early learning phases. Our modeling results revealed that this integration is consistent with a Bayesian model, which is an optimal integration of sensory information. Furthermore, we showed that a confidence-based Bayesian integration explains the observed behavioral data better than the classical variance-based Bayesian integration. Thus, the present study demonstrates that humans can consciously learn and integrate an artificial sensory device that delivers symbolic tactile information. This finding connects the field of multisensory integration research to the development of sensory substitution systems.
Dynamics of plasma biomarkers in Down syndrome: the relative levels of Aβ42 decrease with age, whereas NT1 tau and NfL increase
2020-01-29

Abstract Background Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic cause of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), but diagnosis of AD in DS is challenging due to the intellectual disability which accompanies DS. When disease-modifying agents for AD are approved, reliable biomarkers will be required to identify when and how long people with DS should undergo treatment. Three cardinal neuropathological features characterize AD, and AD in DS – Aβ amyloid plaques, tau neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal loss. Here, we quantified plasma biomarkers of all 3 neuropathological features in a large cohort of people with DS aged from 3 months to 68 years. Methods Using ultra-sensitive single molecule array (Simoa) assays, we measured 3 analytes (Aβ42, NfL, and tau) in plasmas of 100 individuals with DS and 100 age- and sex-matched controls. Tau was measured using an assay (NT1) which detects forms of tau containing at least residues 6-198, and the stability of the 3 analytes was established using plasma from ten healthy volunteers collected at 6 intervals over a five day period. Results High Aβ42 and NT1 tau, and low NfL, were observed in infants. Across all ages, Aβ42 levels were higher in DS than controls. Levels of Aβ42 decreased with age in both DS and controls, but this decrease was greater in DS than controls and became prominent in the third decade of life. NT1 tau fell in adolescents and young adults, but increased in older individuals with DS. NfL levels were low in infants, children, adolescents and young adults, but thereafter increased in DS compared to controls. Conclusions High levels of Aβ42 and tau in both young controls and DS suggest these proteins are produced by normal physiological processes, whereas, the changes seen in later life are consistent with emergence of pathological alterations. Our plasma biomarker results are in good agreement with prior neuropathology studies and indicate that the third and fourth decades (i.e. 20 to 40 years of age) of life are pivotal periods during which AD processes manifest in DS. Application of the assays used here to longitudinal studies of individuals with DS aged 20 to 50 years of age, should further validate the use of these biomarkers, and in time may allow identification and monitoring of people with DS best suited for treatment with emerging AD therapies.
Post-Saccadic Face Processing Is Modulated by Pre-Saccadic Preview: Evidence from Fixation-Related Potentials
2020-01-30

Humans actively sample their environment with saccadic eye movements to bring relevant information into high-acuity foveal vision. Despite being lower in resolution, peripheral information is also available before each saccade. How the pre-saccadic extrafoveal preview of a visual object influences its post-saccadic processing is still an unanswered question. The current study investigated this question by simultaneously recording behavior and fixation-related brain potentials while human subjects made saccades to face stimuli. We manipulated the relationship between pre-saccadic “previews” and post-saccadic images to explicitly isolate the influences of the former. Subjects performed a gender discrimination task on a newly foveated face under three preview conditions: scrambled face, incongruent face (different identity from the foveated face), and congruent face (same identity). As expected, reaction times were faster after a congruent-face preview compared with a scrambled-face preview. Importantly, intact face previews (either incongruent or congruent) resulted in a massive reduction of post-saccadic neural responses. Specifically, we analyzed the classic face-selective N170 component at occipitotemporal electroencephalogram electrodes, which was still present in our experiments with active looking. However, the post-saccadic N170 was strongly attenuated following intact-face previews compared with the scrambled condition. This large and long-lasting decrease in evoked activity is consistent with a trans-saccadic mechanism of prediction that influences category-specific neural processing at the start of a new fixation. These findings constrain theories of visual stability and show that the extrafoveal preview methodology can be a useful tool to investigate its underlying mechanisms. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neural correlates of object recognition have traditionally been studied by flashing stimuli to the central visual field. This procedure differs in fundamental ways from natural vision, where viewers actively sample the environment with eye movements and also obtain a low-resolution preview of soon-to-be-fixated objects. Here we show that the N170, a classic electrophysiological marker of the structural encoding of faces, also occurs during a more natural viewing condition but is strongly reduced due to extrafoveal preprocessing (preview benefit). Our results therefore highlight the importance of peripheral vision during trans-saccadic processing in building a coherent and stable representation of the world around us.
Double‐tuned 31P/1H human head array with high performance at both frequencies for spectroscopic imaging at 9.4T
2020-01-30

Purpose To develop a robust design of a human head double‐tuned 31 P/ 1 H array, which provides good performance at both 31 P and 1 H frequencies for MR spectroscopic imaging at 9.4T. Methods Increasing the number of surface loops in a human head array improves the peripheral signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), while the central SNR doesn’t substantially change. High peripheral SNR can contaminate MR spectroscopic imaging data at both 1 H and 31 P frequency. To minimize this effect, we limited the number of elements in the 31 P array to 10, i.e., 8 transceiver surface loops circumscribing the head and 2 receive “vertical” loops placed at the superior location. The 1 H‐portion of the array also consists of 10 elements, i.e., 8 transceiver surface loops circumscribing the head and 2 transceiver “vertical” loops at the superior location of the head. Both the 31 P array and 1 H array are placed in a single layer at the same distance to the head, which provides high loading and, thus, a good performance for both arrays. Results Transmit efficiency of the 1 H‐portion of the double‐tuned array was very similar to that of the single‐tuned arrays of similar size. Also, addition of the cross‐loops substantially improved the brain coverage. Conclusion We developed a novel 31 P/ 1 H double‐tuned array for MR spectroscopic imaging of a human brain at 9.4T. Placing both 31 P and 1 H loops in a single layer provides for high transmit efficiency at both frequencies without compromising SNR near the brain center at the 31 P‐frequency. Addition of the cross‐loops at the superior location improves the brain coverage.
Third party interventions in coach-athlete conflict: Can sport psychology practitioners offer the necessary support?
2020-01-30

The relationship athletes develop with their coaches is instrumental for improved sport performances and wellbeing. Sport psychologists have been encouraged to facilitate the development of effective coach-athlete relationships and may also play a vital part in dealing with disruptions, such as interpersonal conflict. With this in mind, the present study aimed to explore sport psychologists' roles in preventing and managing coach-athlete conflict, as well as to examine potential challenges in doing so. Data were collected via sixteen semi-structured interviews with experienced sport psychology practitioners. A thematic analysis resulted in two overarching themes. The first theme encapsulated roles of sport psychology practitioners in managing coach-athlete conflict. The six identified subthemes included such roles as educating sport participants, facilitating dyadic interactions, or protecting individual conflict parties. The second overarching theme covered challenges perceived by sport psychology practitioners when providing support to coaches and athletes. The five subthemes included, for example, environmental and professional concerns. Based on this study, practical recommendations for the education of sport psychologists are drawn. These may include training in conflict prevention, mediation or even organizational change. Applied sport psychologists should furthermore be better prepared to cope with and manage power differences between themselves and others as well as between the various members of sport organizations (e.g., coaches, athletes, manager). Lay summary: The relationship between coaches and athletes is crucial for sport performance and individual wellbeing. Thus, the presented study explored how sport psychology practitioners may facilitate this relationship during times of interpersonal difficulties and conflict by providing information, practicing interpersonal skills and mediating between conflict partners.