julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Minero-Petrographic Features and Physico-Mechanical Properties of the Macigno Sandstone in the Vellano Area (Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy)
2024-06-25

The sandstones belonging to the terrigenous deposits of the Macigno Formation (Late Oligocene - Early Miocene) were widely used as building stones in Tuscany (Italy) for the wide distribution of their outcrops and the good qualities of the extracted stone. This research reports the petrographic and mineralogical data, and the physical and mechanical test values collected t o evaluate the main technical properties of the Macigno sandstones from the Vellano area, with the purpose of comparing the quality of the stones extracted in this area with those from other quarries in north - western Tuscany. The results, obtained analysing 21 samples from the Vellano quarry and its surroundings, show that sandstones cropping out here are characterized by medium to medium - fine sand - sized grains made up of quartz, K - feldspar, plagioclases, phyllosilicates, lithic fragments, and accessory. Clayey materials and calcite are present as matrix and cement, respectively. The clay fraction is made up of mica - like minerals, chlorite, chlorite/smectite interlayers and, in some samples, corrensite and kaolinite. From the physical and mechanical point of view the analysed samples show low porosity and high flexural and compressive strengths. Compared to the other Macigno sandstone samples from north - western Tuscany, the best samples of Vellano stone show rather comparable mechanical resistance than those quarried at Matraia in Lucca province, which today is another active quarry of sure interest for the good quality of the extracted material.
Associations between transdiagnostic psychological processes and global symptom severity among outpatients with various mental disorders: A cross-sectional study
2024-06-25

Abstract Objective Knowledge about transdiagnostic factors associated with global symptom severity among patients diagnosed with various mental disorders remains limited. This study examined the cross-sectional associations between transdiagnostic psychological processes (emotional regulation, emotional intelligence, sleep quality, perceived stress, fear of the coronavirus, repetitive negative thinking), amount of physical activity, and sedentary behavior with global symptom severity, while controlling for sociodemographic data (age, gender, employment status, relationship status, educational level). Methods Data from 401 outpatients, aged 42.08 years on average (SD = 13.26; 71.3% female), diagnosed with depressive disorders, non-organic primary insomnia, agoraphobia, panic disorder, and/or posttraumatic stress disorder were analyzed. Data was collected from 10 different study sites between March 2021 and May 2022 for cross-sectional analysis. The influence of predictors of global symptom severity was determined using multiple regression. Global symptom severity was measured using the Global Severity Index, derived from the Brief Symptom Inventory-18. Predictors were measured using validated scales and physical activity was additionally assessed via accelerometer-based sensors. Results The proposed model explained 40.3% of variance on the Global Severity Index. Higher levels of repetitive negative thinking, fear of coronavirus, perceived stress, worse sleep quality as well as greater difficulties with emotional regulation and emotional intelligence were significantly associated with higher global symptom severity in our clinical outpatient sample; however, no associations were found for physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Conclusion Transdiagnostic psychological processes were significantly associated with global symptom severity. Additional prospective longitudinal studies with transdiagnostic samples are necessary to explore possible causal relationships. Key Practitioner Message Repetitive negative thinking, perceived stress, sleep quality, and emotional regulation can be considered distinct and individual transdiagnostic psychological processes associated with global symptom severity among outpatients diagnosed with various mental disorders. Treatment approaches aiming at improving transdiagnostic predictors of various mental disorders might be an efficacious target in reducing global symptom severity. Among outpatients (75% already receiving psychological or pharmacological treatment) diagnosed with depressive disorders, non-organic primary insomnia, agoraphobia, panic disorder, and/or PTSD, sociodemographic factors appear not to be predictive for global symptom severity.
Proximal microclimate: Moving beyond spatiotemporal resolution improves ecological predictions
2024-06-26

Abstract Aim The scale of environmental data is often defined by their extent (spatial area, temporal duration) and resolution (grain size, temporal interval). Although describing climate data scale via these terms is appropriate for most meteorological applications, for ecology and biogeography, climate data of the same spatiotemporal resolution and extent may differ in their relevance to an organism. Here, we propose that climate proximity, or how well climate data represent the actual conditions that an organism is exposed to, is more important for ecological realism than the spatiotemporal resolution of the climate data. Location Temperature comparison in nine countries across four continents; ecological case studies in Alberta (Canada), Sabah (Malaysia) and North Carolina/Tennessee (USA). Time Period 1960–2018. Major Taxa Studied Case studies with flies, mosquitoes and salamanders, but concepts relevant to all life on earth. Methods We compare the accuracy of two macroclimate data sources (ERA5 and WorldClim) and a novel microclimate model ( microclimf ) in predicting soil temperatures. We then use ERA5, WorldClim and microclimf to drive ecological models in three case studies: temporal (fly phenology), spatial (mosquito thermal suitability) and spatiotemporal (salamander range shifts) ecological responses. Results For predicting soil temperatures, microclimf had 24.9% and 16.4% lower absolute bias than ERA5 and WorldClim respectively. Across the case studies, we find that increasing proximity (from macroclimate to microclimate) yields a 247% improvement in performance of ecological models on average, compared to 18% and 9% improvements from increasing spatial resolution 20‐fold, and temporal resolution 30‐fold respectively. Main Conclusions We propose that increasing climate proximity, even if at the sacrifice of finer climate spatiotemporal resolution, may improve ecological predictions. We emphasize biophysically informed approaches, rather than generic formulations, when quantifying ecoclimatic relationships. Redefining the scale of climate through the lens of the organism itself helps reveal mechanisms underlying how climate shapes ecological systems.
Effective and Successful Quantification of Leukemia-Specific Immune Cells in AML Patients’ Blood or Culture, Focusing on Intracellular Cytokine and Degranulation Assays
2024-06-26

Novel (immune) therapies are needed to stabilize remissions or the disease in AML. Leukemia derived dendritic cells (DCleu) can be generated ex vivo from AML patients’ blasts in whole blood using approved drugs (GM-CSF and PGE-1 (Kit M)). After T cell enriched, mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) with Kit M pretreated (vs. untreated WB), anti-leukemically directed immune cells of the adaptive and innate immune systems were already shown to be significantly increased. We evaluated (1) the use of leukemia-specific assays [intracellular cytokine production of INFy, TNFa (INCYT), and degranulation detected by CD107a (DEG)] for a detailed quantification of leukemia-specific cells and (2), in addition, the correlation with functional cytotoxicity and patients’ clinical data in Kit M-treated vs. not pretreated settings. We collected whole blood (WB) samples from 26 AML patients at first diagnosis, during persisting disease, or at relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), and from 18 healthy volunteers. WB samples were treated with or without Kit M to generate DC/DCleu. After MLC with Kit M-treated vs. untreated WB antigen-specific/anti-leukemic effects were assessed through INCYT, DEG, and a cytotoxicity fluorolysis assay. The quantification of cell subtypes was performed via flow cytometry. Our study showed: (1) low frequencies of leukemia-specific cells (subtypes) detectable in AML patients’ blood. (2) Significantly higher frequencies of (mature) DCleu generable without induction of blast proliferation in Kit M-treated vs. untreated samples. (3) Significant increase in frequencies of immunoreactive cells (e.g., non-naive T cells, Tprol) as well as in INCYT/DEG ASSAYS leukemia-specific adaptive—(e.g., B, T(memory)) or innate immune cells (e.g., NK, CIK) after MLC with Kit M-treated vs. untreated WB. The results of the intracellular production of INFy and TNFa were comparable. The cytotoxicity fluorolysis assay revealed significantly enhanced blast lysis in Kit M-treated vs. untreated WB. Significant correlations could be shown between induced leukemia-specific cells from several lines and improved blast lysis. We successfully detected and quantified immunoreactive cells at a single-cell level using the functional assays (DEG, INCYT, and CTX). We could quantify leukemia-specific subtypes in uncultured WB as well as after MLC and evaluate the impact of Kit M pretreated (DC/DCleu-containing) WB on the provision of leukemia-specific immune cells. Kit M pretreatment (vs. no pretreatment) was shown to significantly increase leukemia-specific IFNy and TNFa producing, degranulating cells and to improve blast-cytotoxicity after MLC. In vivo treatment of AML patients with Kit M may lead to anti-leukemic effects and contribute to stabilizing the disease or remissions. INCYT and DEG assays qualify to quantify potentially leukemia-specific cells on a single cell level and to predict the clinical course of patients under treatment.
Adaptive Changes in Bacterial and Archaeal Community Structures and Functions Occur under Primordial Conditions
2024-06-26

The microorganisms responsible for driving the Anammox and Sammox processes may have ancient origins and remain poorly understood. In this research, we enriched the microorganisms from paddy soils and marine sediments under Anammox and Sammox conditions to investigate the shifts in their structure and functions. The community structure showed significant differences between enrichment cultures of paddy soils and marine sediments under the Anammox and Sammox conditions. Among samples from paddy soils, Proteobacteria, Nitrospirota, Verrucomicrobiota, Gemmatimonadata, and Euryarchaeota accounted for a larger proportion under Anammox culture conditions, while Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Chloroflexi, Planctomycetota, Acidobacteriota, Crenarchaeota, and Nanoarchaeota accounted for a larger proportion under Sammox culture conditions. Among samples from marine sediments, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Euryarchaeota accounted for a larger proportion in the Anammox culture conditions, while Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, Crenarchaeota, and Nanoarchaeota accounted for a larger proportion in Sammox culture conditions. Genes associated with assimilatory sulfate reduction, nitrate reduction, and denitrification pathways were more abundant under Anammox culture conditions, whereas genes related to dissimilatory sulfate reduction and nitrification pathways were more prevalent under Sammox culture conditions. These findings provide valuable insights into the ecological conditions and microbial species of the primordial era and may aid in the searching for extraterrestrial life.
Unraveling the mechanism of assimilatory nitrate reduction and methane oxidation by Methylobacter sp. YHQ through dual N-O isotope analysis and kinetic modeling
2024-06-26

Abstract Assimilatory nitrate reduction and methane (CH 4 ) oxidation by bacteria play important roles in carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) biogeochemical cycles. Here, an investigation of enzymatic assimilatory nitrate reduction and CH 4 oxidation by Methylobacter sp. YHQ from the wetlands is presented, specifically concentrating on N and oxygen (O) isotope fractionation with various initial nitrate and oxygen concentrations. The N enrichment factors ( 15 ε assimilation ) increased from 4.2 ± 0.7‰ to 6.9 ±1.3‰ and the O isotope enrichment factors ( 18 ε assimilation ) increased from 2.7 ± 0.9‰ to 4.7 ± 0.8‰ during nitrate assimilation when initial nitrate concentrations increased from 0.9 mM to 2 mM. Similar 18 ε and 15 ε values were observed at different oxygen concentrations. The values of 18 ε and 15 ε provided vital parameters for the assessment of assimilatory nitrate reduction via the Rayleigh equation approach. The ratios of O and N isotope enrichment factors ( 18 ε : 15 ε ) assimilation ranged from 0.64 ± 0.15 to 0.74 ± 0.18 during nitrate assimilation by Methylobacter sp. YHQ with Nas, which were different from ( 18 ε : 15 ε ) assimilation for assimilatory eukaryotic nitrate reductase (eukNR) from literature data. Thus, N and O isotope fractionation could be useful tools to distinguish eukNR from Nas during nitrate assimilation. Additionally, the rates of CH 4 oxidation and nitrate reduction were evaluated with a reaction-based kinetic model, and it quantitatively described the enzymatic reactions of nitrate assimilation. Combining dual N-O isotope analysis with kinetic modeling provides new insights into the microbially driven C-N interactions. Graphical Abstract
Motor Intentions Decoded from fMRI Signals
2024-06-26

Motor intention is a high-level brain function related to planning for movement. Although studies have shown that motor intentions can be decoded from brain signals before movement execution, it is unclear whether intentions relating to mental imagery of movement can be decoded. Here, we investigated whether differences in spatial and temporal patterns of brain activation were elicited by intentions to perform different types of motor imagery and whether the patterns could be used by a multivariate pattern classifier to detect such differential intentions. The results showed that it is possible to decode intentions before the onset of different types of motor imagery from functional MR signals obtained from fronto-parietal brain regions, such as the premotor cortex and posterior parietal cortex, while controlling for eye movements and for muscular activity of the hands. These results highlight the critical role played by the aforementioned brain regions in covert motor intentions. Moreover, they have substantial implications for rehabilitating patients with motor disabilities.
You are How You Eat: Foraging Behavior as a Potential Novel Marker of Rat Affective State
2024-06-26

Abstract Effective and safe foraging requires animals to behave according to the expectations they have about the rewards, threats, and costs in their environment. Since these factors are thought to be reflected in the animals’ affective states, we can use foraging behavior as a window into those states. In this study, rats completed a foraging task in which they had repeatedly to decide whether to continue to harvest a food source despite increasing time costs, or to forgo food to switch to a different food source. Rats completed this task across two experiments using manipulations designed to induce both positive and negative, and shorter- and longer- term changes in affective state: removal and return of enrichment (Experiment 1), implementation and reversal of an unpredictable housing treatment (Experiment 1), and delivery of rewards (tickling or sucrose) and punishers (air-puff or back-handling) immediately prior to testing (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, rats completed fewer trials and were more prone to switching between troughs when housed in standard, compared to enriched, housing conditions. In Experiment 2, rats completed more trials following pre-test tickling compared to pre-test sucrose delivery. However, we also found that they were prone to disengaging from the task, suggesting they were really choosing between three options: ‘harvest’, ‘switch’, or ‘not work’. This limits the straightforward interpretation of the results. At present, foraging behavior within the context of this task cannot reliably be used as an indicator of an affective state in animals.
Non-enantioselective, enantioselective, and two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry for the study of stereochemical disposition of oxylipins in cGMP-regulated hemin-treated platelets
2024-06-26

Oxylipins are important low abundant signaling molecules in living organisms. In platelets they play a primary role in platelet activation and aggregation in the course of thrombotic events. In vivo, they are enzymatically synthesized by cyclooxygenases, lipoxygenases, or cytochrome P450 isoenzmes, resulting in diverse polyunsaturated fatty acid (FA) metabolites including hydroxy-, epoxy-, oxo-FAs, and endoperoxides with pro-thrombotic or anti-thrombotic effects. In a recent study, it was reported that hemin induces platelet death which was accompanied by enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (measured by flow cytometry) and lipid peroxidation (as determined by proxy using flow cytometry with BODIPY-C11 as sensor). Lipidomic studies further indicated significant changes of the platelet lipidome upon ex vivo hemin treatment, amongst others oxylipins were increased. The effect could be (at least partly) reversed by riociguat/diethylamine NONOate diethylammonium salt (DEA/NO) which modulates the soluble guanylate cyclase(sGC)-cGMP-cGMP-dependent protein kinase I(cGKI) signaling axis. In the original work, oxylipins were measured by a non-enantioselective UHPLC-tandem-MS assay which may not give the full picture whether oxylipin elevation is due to ROS or by enzymatic processes. We present here the study of the stereochemical disposition of hemin-induced platelet lipidome alterations using Chiralpak IA-U column with amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) chiral selector immobilized on 1.6 μm silica particles. It was found that the major platelet oxylipins 12-HETE, 12-HEPE and 14-HDoHE (from 12-LOX) and 12-HHT (from COX-1) were present in S-configuration indicating their enzymatic formation. On the other hand, both R and S enantiomers of 9- and 13-HODE, 11- and 15-HETE were detected, possibly due to enzyme promiscuity rather than non-specific oxidation (by ROS or autoxidation), as confirmed by multi-loop based two-dimensional LC-MS using selective comprehensive mode with achiral RPLC in the 1st dimension and chiral LC in the 2nd using a multiple heart-cutting interface. For 12-HETrE, a peak at the retention time of the R-enantiomer was ruled out as isobaric interference by 2D-LC-MS. In particular, arachidonic acid derivates 12(S)-HHT, 11(R)-HETE and 15(S)-HETE were found to be sensitive to hemin and cGMP modulation.
State-dependency of dynamic and thermodynamic contributions to effective precipitation changes
2024-06-26

Reliable projections of the future hydrological cycle are needed for designing adaptation and mitigation measures under global warming. However, uncertainties in the projected sign and magnitude of effective precipitation changes (precipitation minus evaporation, P-E) remain high. Here, we examine the state-dependency of circulation, temperature, and relative humidity contributions to P-E changes in simulations of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), mid-Holocene, and abrupt quadrupling of the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration. To this purpose, we apply a moisture budget decomposition and a thermodynamic scaling approximation to CMIP6/PMIP4 simulations with the Earth system model MPI-ESM1.2. We find that the importance of thermodynamic and dynamic contributions to P-E changes and the patterns of dynamic contributions depend strongly on the underlying forcing. Greenhouse gas forcing leads to a stronger thermodynamic than dynamic response. The LGM ice sheets yield a large dynamic contribution with zonally heterogeneous patterns. Orbital forcing induces a predominantly dynamic response with a hemispherically anti-symmetric structure. We also identify state invariant features: the importance of temperature and relative humidity contributions to specific humidity changes is consistent across states, and the wet-get-wetter-dry-get-drier paradigm proposed for global warming holds in almost all regions dominated by thermodynamic contributions. By definition, the P-E budget is closed in the global mean. We find that, additionally, the respective thermodynamic, dynamic, and transient eddy contributions vanish in the global mean. Moreover for increasing length scales, the spatial variability of these contributions decays with similar rates. We suggest repeating our analysis for more models and states which could help constraining hydroclimate projections.
Not taught in medical school but needed for the clinical job – leadership, communication and career management skills for final year medical students
2024-06-26

<title>Abstract</title> Background: Starting the first job as a young physician is a demanding challenge. Certain skills are important to master this transformation that go beyond the theoretical knowledge and practical skills taught in medical school. Competencies such as communication, leadership and career management skills are important to develop as a young physician but are usually not sufficiently taught in medical school in a structured and comprehensive way. Methods: We performed an online survey among final year medical students regarding how they perceive their current competency level in communication, leadership and career management skills. We also assessed how they rate the importance to acquire these competencies and the current emphasis during their medical school education regarding these topics. Results: Of 450 final year medical students 80 took part in the voluntary survey and 75 complete datasets were returned (16.7%). The majority of respondents rated different communication skills, leadership skills and career management skills as important or very important for their later clinical work. However, most students felt to be poorly or very poorly prepared by the current medical school curriculum, especially for certain leadership and career management skills. Overall, 90.7% of participants expressed interest in an additional educational course that covers subjects of communication, leadership and career management skills during the later stage of medical school, preferably as a hybrid in-person session that also offers synchronous online participation. Conclusions: Final year medical students in Germany express the need to address communication, leadership and career management skills in the medical curriculum to be better prepared for the demands of residency and their further course as physicians.