julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of Bioeconomy and the Desire for Governmental Action: Regional Actors’ Connotations of Wood-Based Bioeconomy in Germany
2020-11-24

The term bioeconomy denotes political strategies that affect all areas of life and economy and require broad social support. Nevertheless, the term has not yet pervaded the everyday lives of many people. It is yet unclear what effects these concepts generate in the form of associations and what conflicts and political demands could be associated with them. Using an ethnographic approach, different actors from the forest and wood field of action were interviewed in two study regions in Germany, who are already, consciously or unconsciously, engaged in bioeconomy at a regional level. Different perceptions and interpretations of bioeconomies can be identified, which are often linked to political demands. These can be clustered into two groups. The first group refers to the forest as a place of primary production and demands an adaptation of forest management. The second group refers to wood as the most important raw material of bioeconomy and demands planning security necessary for change. The paper shows that, from the perspective of the interviewees, government action can contribute to the definition of concepts by sending clear signals and thus overcome the limited reach of strategy papers.
Stable visualization of connected components in dynamic graphs
2020-11-24

One of the primary goals of many systems for the visual analysis of dynamically changing networks is to maintain the stability of the drawing throughout the sequence of graph changes. We investigate the scenario where the changes are determined by a stream of events, each being either an edge addition or an edge removal. The visualization must be updated immediately after each new event is received. Our main goal is to provide the user with an intuitive visualization that highlights the different connected components of the graph while preserving the user’s mental map after each event. The drawing stability is measured in terms of changes in the orthogonal relationships between vertices of two consecutive drawings. We describe two different visualization models, one for the 1-dimensional space and the other for the 2-dimensional space. In both models the connected components are drawn inside rectangular regions. To validate our approach, we report the results of an experimental analysis that compares the drawing stability of the online algorithm with that of an offline algorithm that knows in advance the whole sequence of events. We also present a case study of our online algorithm on a collaboration network.
Taphonomy of Clypeaster humilis and Echinodiscus auritus (Echinoidea, Clypeasteroida) from the Red Sea
2020-11-24

Clypeasteroid preservation in the fossil record is often characterized by well preserved specimens occurring together with highly disintegrated fragments of the same species. The taphonomic processes leading to the differential preservation of clypeasteroids in the Northern Bay of Safaga, (Red Sea, Egypt) were investigated by observing the decay of Clypeaster humilis and Echinodiscus auritus . Dead echinoid specimens of these species were placed in wire cages in two sites on and within the sediment. All specimens lost their spines within 4 days. Breakage of the skeletons was differential, if present being followed by subsequent rapid disarticulation into test fragments. Complete tests of E. auritus found in the field range from freshly predated specimens to highly abraded, encrusted forms. The studied taphonomic features include predation, decay, spine as well as plate disarticulation, fragmentation, encrustation, bioerosion, corrosion and abrasion.
Radiography in high mass X-ray binaries
2020-11-24

In high mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs), an accreting compact object orbits a high mass star which loses mass through a dense and inhomogeneous wind. Using the compact object as an X-ray backlight, the time variability of the absorbing column density in the wind can be exploited in order to shed light on the micro-structure of the wind and obtain unbiased stellar mass loss rates for high mass stars. We explore the impact of clumpiness on the variability of the column density with a simplified wind model. In particular, we focus on the standard deviation of the column density and the characteristic duration of enhanced absorption episodes, and compare them with analytical predictions based on the porosity length. We identified the favorable systems and orbital phases to determine the wind micro-structure. The coherence time scale of the column density is shown to be the self-crossing time of a clump in front of the compact object. We provide a recipe to get accurate measurements of the size and of the mass of the clumps, purely based on the observable time variability of the column density. The coherence time scale grants direct access to the size of the clumps while their mass can be deduced separately from the amplitude of the variability. If it is due to unaccreted passing-by clumps, the high column density variations in some HMXBs requires high mass clumps to reproduce the observed peak-to-peak amplitude and coherence time scales. These clump properties are hardly compatible with the ones derived from first principles. Alternatively, other components could contribute to the variability of the column density: larger orbital scale structures produced by a mechanism still to be identified, or a dense environment in the immediate vicinity of the accretor such as an accretion disk, an outflow or a spherical shell around the magnetosphere of the accreting neutron star.
Report on 2010.07838v1
2020-11-24

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.
Contribution of macromolecules to brain 1H MR spectra: Experts' consensus recommendations
2020-11-25

Proton MR spectra of the brain, especially those measured at short and intermediate echo times, contain signals from mobile macromolecules (MM). A description of the main MM is provided in this consensus paper. These broad peaks of MM underlie the narrower peaks of metabolites and often complicate their quantification but they also may have potential importance as biomarkers in specific diseases. Thus, separation of broad MM signals from low molecular weight metabolites enables accurate determination of metabolite concentrations and is of primary interest in many studies. Other studies attempt to understand the origin of the MM spectrum, to decompose it into individual spectral regions or peaks and to use the components of the MM spectrum as markers of various physiological or pathological conditions in biomedical research or clinical practice. The aim of this consensus paper is to provide an overview and some recommendations on how to handle the MM signals in different types of studies together with a list of open issues in the field, which are all summarized at the end of the paper.
Long-Term, Serum-Free Cultivation of Organotypic Mouse Retina Explants with Intact Retinal Pigment Epithelium
2020-11-25

In ophthalmic research, there is a strong need for in vitro models of the neuroretina. Here, we present a detailed protocol for organotypic culturing of the mouse neuroretina with intact retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Depending on the research question, retinas can be isolated from wild-type animals or from disease models, to study, for instance, diabetic retinopathy or hereditary retinal degeneration. Eyes from early postnatal day 2-9 animals are enucleated under aseptic conditions. They are partially digested in proteinase K to allow for a detachment of the choroid from the RPE. Under the stereoscope, a small incision is made in the cornea creating two edges from where the choroid and sclera can be gently peeled off from the RPE and neuroretina. The lens is then removed, and the eyecup is cut in four points to give it a four-wedged shape resembling a clover leaf. The tissue is finally transferred in a hanging drop into a cell culture insert holding a polycarbonate culturing membrane. The cultures are then maintained in R16 medium, without serum or antibiotics, under entirely defined conditions, with a medium change every second day. The procedure described enables the isolation of the retina and the preservation of its normal physiological and histotypic context for culturing periods of at least 2 weeks. These features make organotypic retinal explant cultures an excellent model with high predictive value, for studies into retinal development, disease mechanisms, and electrophysiology, while also enabling pharmacological screening.
Psychological Burden in Meningioma Patients under a Wait-and-Watch Strategy and after Complete Resection Is High—Results of a Prospective Single Center Study
2020-11-25

The diagnosis of intracranial meningiomas as incidental findings is increasing by growing availability of MRI diagnostics. However, the psychological distress of patients with incidental meningiomas under a wait-and-watch strategy is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to compare the psychosocial situation of meningioma patients under wait-and-watch to patients after complete resection to bridge this gap. The inclusion criteria for the prospective monocenter study were either an incidental meningioma under a wait-and-watch strategy or no neurologic deficits after complete resection. Sociodemographic, clinical, and health-related quality of life and clinical data were assessed. Psychosocial factors were measured by the Distress Thermometer (DT), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), and the Short Form (SF-36). A total of 62 patients were included (n = 51 female, mean age 61 (SD 13) years). According to HADS, the prevalence of anxiety was 45% in the postoperative and 42% in the wait-and-watch group (p = 0.60), and depression was 61% and 87%, respectively (p = 0.005). In total, 43% of patients under wait-and-watch and 37% of patients in the postoperative group scored ≥6 on the DT scale. SF-36 scores were similar in all categories except general health (p = 0.005) and physical component aggregate score (43.7 (13.6) vs. 50.5 (9.5), (p = 0.03), both lower in the wait-and-watch group. Multivariate analysis revealed the wait-and-watch strategy was associated with a 4.26-fold higher risk of a pathological depression score based on HADS (p = 0.03). This study demonstrates a high prevalence of psychological distress in meningioma patients. Further evaluation is necessary to identify the patients in need of psychooncological support.
Dynamics and large deviation transitions of the XOR-Fredrickson-Andersen kinetically constrained model
2020-11-25

We study a one-dimensional classical stochastic kinetically constrained model (KCM) inspired by Rydberg atoms in their "facilitated" regime, where sites can flip only if a single of their nearest neighbors is excited. We call this model "XOR-FA" to distinguish it from the standard Fredrickson-Andersen (FA) model. We describe the dynamics of the XOR-FA model, including its relation to simple exclusion processes in its domain wall representation. The interesting relaxation dynamics of the XOR-FA is related to the prominence of large dynamical fluctuations that lead to phase transitions between active and inactive dynamical phases as in other KCMs. By means of numerical tensor network methods we study in detail such transitions in the dynamical large deviation regime.
Dibaryons: Molecular versus compact hexaquarks *
2020-11-25

Abstract Hexaquarks constitute a natural extension of complex quark systems, just as tetra- and pentaquarks do. To this end, the current status of in both experiment and theory is reviewed. Recent high-precision measurements in the nucleon-nucleon channel and analyses thereof have established as an indisputable resonance in the long-sought dibaryon channel. Important features of this state are its narrow width and deep binding relative to the threshold. Its decay branchings favor theoretical calculations predicting a compact hexaquark nature of this state. We review the current status of experimental and theoretical studies on as well as new physics aspects it may bring in future. In addition, we review the situation at the and thresholds, where evidence for a number of resonances of presumably molecular nature has been found – similar to the situation in charmed and beauty sectors. Finally, we briefly discuss the situation of dibaryon searches in the flavored quark sectors.
Citation classics in general medical journals: assessing the quality of evidence; a systematic review.
2020-11-25

This systematic review provides an overview of the most cited articles, published in general medical journals. The number of citations provides an indication of the quality of evidence. However, researchers and clinicians should use standardized assessment tools rather than solely rely on the number of citations in order to judge the quality of published articles.
Chimpanzees’ (Pan troglodytes) problem-solving skills are influenced by housing facility and captive care duration
2020-11-25

Although a large body of primate cognition research is done in captive institutions, little is known about how much individuals from different facilities vary in their experiences and cognitive skills. Here we present the results of an experimental study investigating how physical cognitive skills vary between chimpanzees in relation to captive settings and their time in captivity. We tested 59 chimpanzees housed at two different captive facilities (a rehabilitation center (sanctuary) and a zoo) in three problem-solving tasks. Our results showed that chimpanzees at the two housing facilities significantly differed in overall task performance. On average, the sanctuary chimpanzees outperformed the chimpanzees housed at the zoo in the detour reaching task and the honey trap task. However, the zoo chimpanzees performed slightly better on average in the learning task. We propose that, for this particular sample, the documented differences result from a combination of factors, such as prior experience with cognitive testing, motivation levels and varying degrees of human exposure. Within the sanctuary sample, we found that chimpanzees who arrived at an earlier age at the sanctuary and had therefore spent a larger percentage of their lives in a captive environment, were better problem-solvers than those that arrived at a later age to the sanctuary. Thus, rehabilitation and time in captivity contributed to improved physical cognitive skills in sanctuary chimpanzees. Our results highlight the importance of studying intraspecific variation and the effect that previous experience and living conditions might have on physical cognitive skills in non-human apes. Accordingly, we should be cautious when extrapolating findings of cognitive studies from one population to the species as a whole.
Organ Cultures for Retinal Diseases
2020-11-25

The successful development of novel therapies is closely linked with understanding the underlying pathomechanisms of a disease. To do so, model systems that reflect human diseases and allow for the evaluation of new therapeutic approaches are needed. Yet, preclinical animal studies often have limited success in predicting human physiology, pathology, and therapeutic responses. Moreover, animal testing is facing increasing ethical and bureaucratic hurdles, while human cell cultures are limited in their ability to represent in vivo situations due to the lack of the tissue microenvironment, which may alter cellular responses. To overcome these struggles, organ cultures, especially those of complex organs such as the retina, can be used to study physiological reactions to substances or stressors. Human and animal organ cultures are now well established and recognized. This mini-review discusses how retinal organ cultures can be used to preserve tissue architecture more realistically and therefore better represent disease-related changes. It also shows how molecular biological, biochemical, and histological techniques can be combined to investigate how anatomical localization may alter cellular responses. Examples for the use of retinal organ cultures, including models to study age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), central artery occlusion (CRAO), and glaucoma are presented, and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. We conclude that organ cultures significantly improve our understanding of complex retinal diseases and may advance treatment testing without the need for animal testing.
MPTP-induced degeneration: interference with glutamatergic toxicity
2020-11-25

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterised by the progressive degeneration of nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons resulting in the major symptoms of akinesia and rigidity. Although the primary cause of PD is still not known some features make this disorder a model for neurodegenerative diseases in general. It has been known for some time that symptomatic PD can be attributed to insults with symptoms occurring many years later such as post-encephalitic PD or PD following manganese poisoning. More recently, MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) has been identified as a neurotoxin selective for melanin-containing dopaminergic neurons in humans and non-human primates. The specificity of this neurotoxin and the striking clinical similarities to idiopathic PD, seen in primates, make MPTP-induced parkinsonism the most useful animal model of a neurological disease. There are numerous theoretical possibilities to interfere with both MPTP-induced neurotoxicity and the symptomatology of PD. In recent years excitatory amino acids have gained considerable interest since they can cause excitotoxic lesion of neurons under a number of pathological conditions (Olney et al., 1989; Choi, 1988). Here we summarise the present data and provide new experimental evidence indicating that MPTP-induced degeneration of dopaminergic neurons does involve glutamate-mediated toxicity. It is concluded that glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity results in the destruction of DAergic somata in the substantia nigra. Non-competitive or competitive NMDA antagonists protect nigral neurons from MPTP-induced degeneration whereas their striatal terminals still seem to degenerate.
Synthesis and Degradation of Polyphosphate: Isotope Effects in Enzyme- and Bacteria-Catalyzed Reactions
2020-11-25

Polyphosphate (poly-P) is a chain of phosphate moieties linked through high-energy phosphoanhydride bond, and it plays an important role in regulatory functions in prokaryotic cells. Isotope effects of bacterial synthesis and degradation of poly-P may provide important insights into the roles of poly-P in environmental phosphorus (P) cycling. In this research, we investigated the enzymatic degradation of poly-P by cell-free enzyme solutions and bacterial cells (Escherichia coli JM103 and Pseudomonas putida KT2440) and analyzed phosphate oxygen isotope ratios (δ18OP), enzyme activity, and dynamics of orthophosphate (Pi) and poly-P. Cell-free enzyme reaction results show that both acid and alkaline phosphatase enzymes are capable of catalyzing poly-P degradation, albeit with different efficiencies of &gt;70 and &lt;18%, respectively. Isotope fractionation factors during enzymatic degradation of poly-P were slightly positive [+0.59 (±5.51) to +3.99 (±15.86)‰] for acid and alkaline phosphatase, respectively, which is rather uncommon in phosphatase enzyme-catalyzed degradation of many other organic P compounds. Poly-P is synthesized during the exponential growth phase of E. coli, causing an isotope fractionation of −5.65 (±1.02)‰ leading to the enrichment of isotope in the residual Pi in the growth media. Degradation of poly-P occurred at the late stationary phase, with lighter isotope values of Pi in the growth media. These results imply that the specific isotopes, fractionation, and P dynamics during poly-P synthesis and degradation could serve as proxies to interpret poly-P dynamics in the environment.
Retention Forces of Prosthetic Clasps over a Simulated Wearing Period of Six Years In-Vitro: Direct Metal Laser Melting Versus Dental Casting
2020-11-25

This study determinates the persistence of retention force in Akers-clasps for removable partial dentures made from Co-Cr alloy. Therefore, standardized computer-aided designed (CAD) clasp #1 specimens were made by direct metal laser melting (DMLM, n = 10) and by lost-wax dental casting (DC) of computer-aided manufactured (CAM) replicas (n = 10, DC) from two comparable Co-Cr alloys. The retention force was tested after manufacturing for 9000 cycles of setting and removal from a molar tooth crown analog made from zirconia; simulating in-vitro a duration of six years in service. The first and last 360 cycles (T0 and T1, 3 months each) of all specimens were selected for comparison of retention forces between the materials. A constant decrease of 6% from the initial retention force (T0 = 4.86 N, SD = 0.077; T1 = 4.57 N, SD = 0.037) was detected at the DC specimens, and an increase of 4% in DMLM specimens (T0 = 5.69 N, SD = 0.078; T1 = 5.92 N, SD = 0.077); all differences were statistically significant (p &lt; 0.0001). Even if these deviations are not of clinical relevance, further studies and applications should investigate the fatigue behavior of laser melted Co-Cr-alloys for dental application.
Long-Term, Serum-Free Cultivation of Organotypic Mouse Retina Explants with Intact Retinal Pigment Epithelium
2020-11-25

In ophthalmic research, there is a strong need for in vitro models of the neuroretina. Here, we present a detailed protocol for organotypic culturing of the mouse neuroretina with intact retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Depending on the research question, retinas can be isolated from wild-type animals or from disease models, to study, for instance, diabetic retinopathy or hereditary retinal degeneration. Eyes from early postnatal day 2–9 animals are enucleated under aseptic conditions. They are partially digested in proteinase K to allow for a detachment of the choroid from the RPE. Under the stereoscope, a small incision is made in the cornea creating two edges from where the choroid and sclera can be gently peeled off from the RPE and neuroretina. The lens is then removed, and the eyecup is cut in four points to give it a four-wedged shape resembling a clover leaf. The tissue is finally transferred in a hanging drop into a cell culture insert holding a polycarbonate culturing membrane. The cultures are then maintained in R16 medium, without serum or antibiotics, under entirely defined conditions, with a medium change every second day. The procedure described enables the isolation of the retina and the preservation of its normal physiological and histotypic context for culturing periods of at least 2 weeks. These features make organotypic retinal explant cultures an excellent model with high predictive value, for studies into retinal development, disease mechanisms, and electrophysiology, while also enabling pharmacological screening.