julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Plume-lithosphere interactions in rifted margin tectonic settings: Inferences from thermo-mechanical modelling
2018-04-01

We present results from 2D and 3D thermo-mechanical studies of plume-lithosphere interactions in a rifted margin setting and compare inferences of these models with the Northern Atlantic volcanic rifted margin province. We first present a series of 2D models with three different initial locations of the plume: under the oceanic part of the rifted margin system; under the area affected by lithospheric thinning by passive rifting and under continental lithosphere which has not been affected by extension prior to plume emplacement. The style of final plume distribution appears to be controlled by its initial position with respect to different lithospheric segments and rheology of the mantle in the continent-ocean transitional zone rather than by other parameters such as external forcing and rheological structure of the mantle plume. The initial size of the mantle plume controls, to a large extent, the degree of plume head asymmetry. For a strong rheology of the overlaying transitional lithosphere, the effect of plume emplacement is mainly restricted to deep lithospheric levels. In contrast, a weak transitional mantle leads to plume-induced continental break-up when the plume head contributes to the formation of new oceanic lithosphere with asymmetrical propagation of hot plume material towards the continental segment. A common feature of most 2D models is that initially a hot plume weakens the overlying lithosphere, whereas at a later stage frozen mantle plume material is embedded into the lower part of the lithosphere, forming dense and high-velocity bodies. We extend our 2D numerical modelling study to three dimensions and investigate the first-order controls of continental break-up and plume emplacement. We demonstrate that the observed complex Iceland plume geometry with up to 400 km southern propagation can be reproduced numerically in 3D and explained by pre-imposed zones of lithospheric thinning along transform faults.
Genetic overlap between endometriosis and endometrial cancer: evidence from cross‐disease genetic correlation and GWAS meta‐analyses
2018-04-02

Abstract Epidemiological, biological, and molecular data suggest links between endometriosis and endometrial cancer, with recent epidemiological studies providing evidence for an association between a previous diagnosis of endometriosis and risk of endometrial cancer. We used genetic data as an alternative approach to investigate shared biological etiology of these two diseases. Genetic correlation analysis of summary level statistics from genomewide association studies (GWAS) using LD Score regression revealed moderate but significant genetic correlation ( r g = 0.23, P = 9.3 × 10 −3 ), and SNP effect concordance analysis provided evidence for significant SNP pleiotropy ( P = 6.0 × 10 −3 ) and concordance in effect direction ( P = 2.0 × 10 −3 ) between the two diseases. Cross‐disease GWAS meta‐analysis highlighted 13 distinct loci associated at P ≤ 10 −5 with both endometriosis and endometrial cancer, with one locus (SNP rs2475335) located within PTPRD associated at a genomewide significant level ( P = 4.9 × 10 −8 , OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.07–1.15). PTPRD acts in the STAT3 pathway, which has been implicated in both endometriosis and endometrial cancer. This study demonstrates the value of cross‐disease genetic analysis to support epidemiological observations and to identify biological pathways of relevance to multiple diseases.
Iron azaphthalocyanines with axial ligands
2018-04-02

The syntheses of the iron azaphthalocyanines Tetra(2,3-pyrido)porphyrazinato-iron, T(2,3-Py)PFe (1), Tetra(3,4-pyrido)porphyrazinato-iron, T(3,4-Py)PFe (2), Tetrapyrazoporphyrazinato-iron, TPzPFe (3), Tetratertbutyltetrapyrazoporphyrazinato-iron tbu[Formula: see text]TPzPFe (4) is reported. They react with the monodentate pyridine, substituted pyridines, piperidine (pip) and various isontriles to form the corresponding bis-axially substituted porphyrazinato-iron compounds McFeL[Formula: see text]. Bidentate ligands. [Formula: see text] pyrazine (pyz) or diisocyanobenzene (dib), form the polymeric adducts, [Formula: see text] [T(2,3-Py)pyz][Formula: see text] or [T(2,3 Py)PFedib][Formula: see text]. The spectroscopic data ([Formula: see text]H-NMR, IR, UV-vis, Mössbauer) are reported and compared with the analogous phthalocyaninato-iron compounds.
A molecular framework to study periderm formation in Arabidopsis
2018-04-03

Summary During secondary growth in most eudicots and gymnosperms, the periderm replaces the epidermis as the frontier tissue protecting the vasculature from biotic and abiotic stresses. Despite its importance, the mechanisms underlying periderm establishment and formation are largely unknown. The herbaceous Arabidopsis thaliana undergoes secondary growth, including periderm formation in the root and hypocotyl. Thus, we focused on these two organs to establish a framework to study periderm development in a model organism. We identified a set of characteristic developmental stages describing periderm growth from the first cell division in the pericycle to the shedding of the cortex and epidermis. We highlight that two independent mechanisms are involved in the loosening of the outer tissues as the endodermis undergoes programmed cell death, whereas the epidermis and the cortex are abscised. Moreover, the phellem of Arabidopsis, as in trees, is suberized, lignified and peels off. In addition, putative regulators from oak and potato are also expressed in the Arabidopsis periderm. Collectively, the periderm of Arabidopsis shares many characteristics/features of woody and tuberous periderms, rendering Arabidopsis thaliana an attractive model for cork biology.
Applications of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) in Studying Cognitive Development: The Case of Mathematics and Language
2018-04-03

In this review, we aim to highlight the application of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) as a useful neuroimaging technique for the investigation of cognitive development. We focus on brain activation changes during the development of mathematics and language skills in schoolchildren. We discuss how technical limitations of common neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have resulted in our limited understanding of neural changes during development, while fNIRS would be a suitable and child-friendly method to examine cognitive development. Moreover, this technique enables us to go to schools to collect large samples of data from children in ecologically valid settings. Furthermore, we report findings of fNIRS studies in the fields of mathematics and language, followed by a discussion of the outlook of fNIRS in these fields. We suggest fNIRS as an additional technique to track brain activation changes in the field of educational neuroscience.
Neutron star solutions with curvature induced scalarization in the extended Gauss-Bonnet scalar-tensor theories
2018-04-03

In the present paper we study models of neutron stars in a class of extended\\nscalar-tensor Gauss-Bonnet (ESTGB) theories for which the scalar degree of\\nfreedom is exited only in the strong curvature regime. We show that in the\\nframework of the ESTGB theories under consideration there exist new neutron\\nstar solutions which are formed via spontaneous scalarization of the general\\nrelativistic neutron stars. In contrast to the spontaneous scalarization in the\\nstandard scalar-tensor theories which is induced by the presence of matter, in\\nour case the scalarization is induced by the spacetime curvature.\\n
Toxic Cyanobacteria in Svalbard: Chemical Diversity of Microcystins Detected Using a Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Precursor Ion Screening Method
2018-04-03

Cyanobacteria synthesize a large variety of secondary metabolites including toxins. Microcystins (MCs) with hepato- and neurotoxic potential are well studied in bloom-forming planktonic species of temperate and tropical regions. Cyanobacterial biofilms thriving in the polar regions have recently emerged as a rich source for cyanobacterial secondary metabolites including previously undescribed congeners of microcystin. However, detection and detailed identification of these compounds is difficult due to unusual sample matrices and structural congeners produced. We here report a time-efficient liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) precursor ion screening method that facilitates microcystin detection and identification. We applied this method to detect six different MC congeners in 8 out of 26 microbial mat samples of the Svalbard Archipelago in the Arctic. The congeners, of which [Asp3, ADMAdda5, Dhb7] MC-LR was most abundant, were similar to those reported in other polar habitats. Microcystins were also determined using an Adda-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Adda-ELISA). Nostoc sp. was identified as a putative toxin producer using molecular methods that targeted 16S rRNA genes and genes involved in microcystin production. The mcy genes detected showed highest similarities to other Arctic or Antarctic sequences. The LC-MS precursor ion screening method could be useful for microcystin detection in unusual matrices such as benthic biofilms or lichen.
Towards a revised stratigraphy for the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic boundary at La Güelga (Narciandi, Asturias, Spain). Soil micromorphology and new radiocarbon data
2018-04-03

The archaeological sequence of the Palaeolithic site of La Güelga apparently shows an interstratification of Aurignacian between the Mousterian and Châtelperronian layers, a sequence which disagrees with the stratigraphic model for the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in SW-Europe. We analyzed the witness section of the interior sector in archaeological zone D using micromorphology and collected new radiocarbon dates for the Aurignacian and presumably Châtelperronian levels in order to provide detailed sediment descriptions of the site and scrutinize the presumed interstratification. Thin sections from Mousterian levels 8 and 9 show microstratification, signs of trampling and preferential sub-horizontal orientation of elongated particles. These features are less strongly developed in the Aurignacian deposit of levels 5 and 6 and are lacking in the presumably Châtelperronian ones of levels 1 and 2. The deposits of the latter show other features of reworked slope deposits such as a randomized distribution of limestone clasts. Radiocarbon dating on bone samples from level 2 places this layer to between ~41.5 and 45 ka cal BP, hence older than Aurignacian level 5, dated to between ~35.5 and 41.5 ka cal BP. Comparative dating of bones with and without ultrafiltration pretreatment conducted in two different laboratories yielded results in excellent agreement. Overall, the micromorphological observations and new radiocarbon ages strongly suggest that the few finds of presumably Châtelperronian affinity and sediments of levels 1 and 2 were transported by slope processes into the shelter.
Evidence of Quarrying at the Iron Age Site of Torre d’en Galmés, Menorca, Spain
2018-04-03

The island of Menorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) contains numerous megalithic structures (e.g., watchtowers, sanctuaries) and private buildings (e.g., domestic spaces, storage areas). Until recently, archaeological research has concentrated on architecture (and associated material remains), but research on the raw materials (source, method of quarrying and their social implications) in constructing these monuments has been very sparse. This paper summarizes some initial results of our recent excavations at Torre d’en Galmés, which show that the quarrying of limestone was widespread: within buildings, in open spaces between buildings, and beyond the limits of the main occupation of the site. Inhabitants exploited joints and bedding planes in the Miocene limestone that covers the southern half of the island, ignoring softer marls, which have been quarried for construction only since the Roman conquest. The sizes and shapes of the quarried blocks can be used to reflect on social aspects, since quarrying of small blocks within buildings could have been whereas the extraction, transport, and construction of large standing uprights from outside the limits of the site would have required a greater communal effort.
PIMACS (Polarimeter and improved modular anti-coincidence system): an effective instrument concept for x-, gamma-ray monitoring, and polarimetry measurements on the International Space Station
2018-04-03

This paper, “PIMACS (Polarimeter and improved modular anti-coincidence system): an effective instrument concept for x-, gamma-ray monitoring, and polarimetry measurements on the International Space Station," was presented as part of International Conference on Space Optics—ICSO 1997, held in Toulouse, France.
Pulmonary infection of cystic fibrosis mice with Staphylococcus aureus requires expression of α-toxin
2018-04-04

Abstract Pulmonary infections of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) occur very early in the disease. The molecular details that cause infection-susceptibility of CF patients to and mediate infection with S. aureus are poorly characterized. Therefore, we aimed to identify the role of α-toxin, a major S. aureus toxin, for pulmonary infection of CF mice. Infection with S. aureus JE2 resulted in severe pneumonia in CF mice, while wildtype mice were almost unaffected. Deficiency of α-toxin in JE2-Δhla reduced the pathogenicity of S. aureus in CF mice. However, CF mice were still more susceptible to the mutant S. aureus strain than wildtype mice. The S. aureus JE2 induced a marked increase of ceramide and a downregulation of sphingosine and acid ceramidase expression in bronchi of CF mice. Deletion of α-toxin reduced these changes after infection of CF mice. Similar changes were observed in wildtype mice, but at much lower levels. Our data indicate that expression of α-toxin is a major factor causing S. aureus infections in CF mice. Wildtype S. aureus induces a marked increase of ceramide and a reduction of sphingosine and acid ceramidase expression in bronchial epithelial cells of wildtype and CF mice, changes that determine infection susceptibility.
Risk Assessment after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Luminal Breast Cancer Using a Clinicomolecular Predictor
2018-04-04

Abstract Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate a modified EPclin test (mEPclin), a combination of EndoPredict (EP) score, post-neoadjuvant pathologic tumor size and nodal status, for predicting the risk of distance recurrence after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in patients with residual estrogen receptor (ER)–positive/HER2-negative breast cancer. We also compared the prognostic power of the mEPclin with that of the CPS-EG score. Experimental Design: A total of 428 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor samples from GeparTrio and GeparQuattro studies were evaluated for mRNA expression of eight cancer-related and three reference genes. The mEPclin score was computed using a modified algorithm and predefined cut-off values were used to classify each patient at low or high risk. Primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS). Results: A higher continuous mEPclin score was significantly associated with increased risk of relapse [HR, 2.16; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.86–2.51; P &amp;lt; 0.001] and death (HR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.90–2.75; P &amp;lt; 0.001). Similarly, patients classified at high risk by dichotomous mEPclin showed significantly poorer DFS and overall survival compared with those at low risk. In contrast with CPS-EG, the mEPclin remained significantly prognostic for DFS in multivariate analysis (HR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.73–2.63; P &amp;lt; 0.001). Combining CPS-EG and other clinicopathological variables with mEPclin yielded a significant improvement of the prognostic power for DFS versus without mEPclin (c-indices: 0.748 vs. 0.660; P &amp;lt; 0.001). Conclusions: The mEPclin score independently predicted the risk of distance recurrence and provided additional prognostic information to the CPS-EG score to assess more accurately the prognosis after NACT in the luminal non-pCR patient population. Therefore, this approach can be used to select patients for additional post-neoadjuvant therapies. Clin Cancer Res; 24(14); 3358–65. ©2018 AACR.
Resolving intramolecular-distortion changes induced by the partial fluorination of pentacene adsorbed on Cu(111)
2018-04-04

We experimentally quantify the molecular bending of a partially fluorinated pentacene (PEN) compound, namely 2,3,9,10-tetrafluoropentacene (F4PEN), adsorbed on Cu(111). By means of the x-ray standing wave (XSW) technique, we directly measure the adsorption distance of three inequivalent carbon sites, the fluorine atoms as well as the total and backbone carbon average adsorption distances. The precise positioning of different sites within the carbon core allows us to resolve two adsorption behaviors, namely a PEN-like strong coupling between the backbone and the substrate, and a repulsive interaction involving the fluorinated short molecular edges, which are above the central benzene ring. This finding is further supported by additional electronic and in-plane-structure measurements, thus showing that the selective fluorination of a PEN molecule has only a local conformational effect and it is not sufficient to modify its interface properties. Yet, in the multilayer regime, the electronic and growth properties of the film differ completely from those of PEN and its perfluorinated derivative.
Humoral Immune Response After Intravitreal But Not After Subretinal AAV8 in Primates and Patients
2018-04-05

No significant induction of ADA occurred in NHP when mimicking the clinical scenario of subretinal delivery with a clinical-grade rAAV8 and concomitant immunosuppression. Likewise, clinical data showed no humoral immune response in patients. In contrast, intravitreal delivery was associated with a substantial humoral immune response. Subretinal delivery might be superior to an intravitreal application regarding immunologic aspects.
Low to No Effect: Application of tRNS During Two-Digit Addition
2018-04-05

Transcranial electric stimulation such as transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have been used to investigate structure-function relationships in numerical cognition. Recently, tRNS was suggested to be more effective than tDCS. However, so far there is no evidence on the differential impact of tDCS and tRNS on numerical cognition using the same experimental paradigm. In the present study, we used a two-digit addition paradigm for which significant-albeit small-effects of tDCS were observed previously to evaluate the impact of parietal and frontal tRNS on specific numerical effects. While previous studies reported a modulation of numerical effects of this task through tDCS applied to parietal areas, we did not observe any effect of parietal tRNS on performance in two-digit addition. These findings suggest that tRNS seemed to influence concurrent mental arithmetic less than tDCS at least when applied over the IPS. These generally small to absent effects of tES on actual arithmetic performance in the current addition paradigm are in line with the results of a recent meta-analysis indicating that influences of tES may be more pronounced in training paradigms.
Efficacy of Albendazole on Gastro-Intestinal Strongyles of Cattle in Ngaoundere (Adamawa-Cameroon)
2018-04-05

The present study aimed at identifying the gastro-intestinal Strongyles of cattle and to evaluate the effect of albendazole on their population dynamics throughout the year.Three cattle farms located in the village of Velambai were used for the study.175 animals were screened through coprological examination to assess their infection rate (IR) with gastro-intestinal nematodes.50 Goudali were monitored from April 2015 to March 2016.Of these animals selected, 25 of them received albendazole on day 0 (D0) and constituted the treated group while the other 25 received nothing and stood for the non-treated group.Faeces were examined using the McMaster method to evaluate the efficacy of treatment and to monitor changes in faecal shedding of Strongyles.Faeces from animals were cultured to recover the infective L3 larval stage of Strongyles by the Baermann method.The survey revealed that Strongyles, Strongyloides and Toxocara were the main gastro-intestinal helminths infecting cattle with IRs of 64.5%, 15% and 24.1% respectively.Deworming at the beginning of the rainy season reduced the shedding of helminth eggs (EPG < 400) throughout the season.Percentage reduction in the number of eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) from Strongyles was 68% at day 30.Stool culture revealed the presence of four types of Strongyles with varying abundance depending on the genus (Trichostrongylus, Haemonchus, Cooperia and Oesophagostomum), animal group and month.The genera Trichostrongylus and Haemonchus were dominant throughout the year.Haemonchus spp were significantly sensitive to albendazole between D30 to D90.On D120, albendazole lost its effect with the genus Haemonchus which resulted in the re-infection of the animals, whereas this effect was rather late for the genus Oesophagostomum (from D270).
Can One Determine the Neutrino Mass by Electron Capture?
2018-04-05

There are three different methods used to search the neutrino mass: - The electron antineutrino mass can probably best be determined by the Triton decay. - The neutrinoless Double Beta Decay yields information, if the neutrino is a Dirac or a Majorana particle. It can also determine the Majorana neutrino mass. - Electron capture of an atomic bound electron by a proton in a nucleus bound electron plus proton to neutron plus electron-neutrino can give the mass of the electron neutrino. This contribution summarizes our theoretical work on the possibility to determine the electron neutrino mass by electron capture. One expects the largest influence of the neutrino mass on this decay for a small Q = 2.8 keV for electron capture in Holmium. The energy of the Q value is distributed to the emitted neutrino and the excitation of the Dy atom. Thus the energy difference between the Q value and the upper end of the deexcitation spectrum is the electron neutrino mass. The excitation spectrum of Dy is calculate by one-, two- and three-electron hole excitations, and by the shake-off process. The electron wave functions are calculated selfconsistently by the Dirac-Hartree-Fock approach for the bound and the continuum states. To extract the neutrino mass from the spectrum one must adjust simultaneously the neutrino mass, the Q value, the position, the relative strength and the width of the highest resonance. This fit is only possible, if the background is reduced relative to the present situation. In case of a drastically reduced background a fit of the Q-value and the neutrino mass only seems also to be possible. The analysis presented here shows, that the determination of the electron neutrino mass by electron capture is difficult, but seems not to be impossible.