julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
The influence of peripheral glucose on sleep brain oscillations
2025-06-07

Abstract Study Objectives Previous research indicates a coupling of sleep-associated brain activity to peripheral glucose levels, such that ripple activity, a sign of increased hippocampal memory processing, is followed within 10 min by a dip in peripheral glucose levels. Whether there is respective negative feedback to the brain of peripheral glucose levels, or associated metabolic signaling, during sleep is not clear. Methods We tested the effects of systemic glucose administration as well as the effects of fasting (for 6 h vs. ad libitum feeding) on sleep and oscillatory signatures of memory processing during sleep, i.e. hippocampal ripples, cortical spindles and slow oscillations (SOs), using electroencephalography (EEG) from skull and local field potential recordings (LFP) from CA1 in male rats. Continuous monitoring of interstitial glucose concentrations in a subset of animals allowed the assessment of the temporal relationship between glucose fluctuations and oscillatory events. Results Hippocampal ripples and sleep spindles were accompanied by a transient decrease in peripheral glucose concentration. Neither glucose injection nor prior fasting influenced the macro-architecture of sleep during the subsequent 6 hours. Glucose injection (vs. water) increased spindle density. Prior fasting, compared with ad libitum feeding, increased numbers of ripples, spindles, SOs and of co-occurring SO-spindle events. Fasting also influenced SO-spindle phase-amplitude coupling, such that spindles occurred later during the SO upstate in fasted animals compared to those with ad libitum food access. Conclusions Our findings indicate a relatively tight-paced glucose-to-brain feedback loop during sleep that may affect memory processing in thalamocortical and hippocampal networks.
Angiomatous, Predominantly Cystic Meningiomas: A Case Report and Literature Review of a Unique Group of Meningiomas
2025-06-07

Meningiomas are the most common intracranial benign tumors. Among them, cystic angiomatous meningiomas are very rare entities, making preoperative differentiation with other tumors challenging. We present a case of parasagittal angiomatous meningioma with a large associated cyst that mimicked a hemangioblastoma on preoperative imaging. It was treated surgically. We also performed a literature review and identified a total of 10 articles in the English language, describing a few similar cases of cystic angiomatous meningiomas. Conclusions: This report of a rare case of cystic angiomatous meningioma with a unique cystic presentation on preoperative imaging adds to the scarce body of literature on the topic. Surgery is ultimately the key method to make a diagnosis and to decompress the brain parenchyma in these patients.
Continuous temperature monitoring in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: insights into temperature patterns and variability
2025-06-08

Elevated temperature and early temperature variability within the first 24 hours are associated with worse functional outcomes in ICH patients, highlighting the importance of targeted thermoregulation strategies.
Agent-based simulations reveal the possibility of multiple rapid northern routes for the second Neanderthal dispersal from Western to Eastern Eurasia
2025-06-09

Genetic and archaeological evidence imply a second major movement of Neanderthals from Western to Central and Eastern Eurasia sometime in the Late Pleistocene. The genetic data suggest a date of 120−80 ka for the dispersal and the archaeological record provides an earliest date of arrival in the Altai by ca. 60 ka. Because the number of archaeological sites linking the two regions is very small, the exact route taken and its timing have been the matter of considerable debate. In particular, climate change in this period modified landscapes considerably, changing the cost of moving in different directions. Here, we apply agent-based least-cost path simulations for the first time to Neanderthals, showing that they most likely took a northern route through the Urals and southern Siberia under all climate scenarios. Agents leaving either the southern or the northern Caucasus Mountains reach the Altai in less than 2000 years during two time windows when the climate was mild, in MIS 5e (the Last Interglacial) and in MIS 3. The latter coincides with the dated presence of Neanderthals at Chagyrskaya and Okladnikov Caves in the Altai. The results of this modeling approach demonstrate a remarkable east-west geographic connectivity of northern Eurasia via river corridors despite the presumed barriers of the Ural Mountains and major north-south flowing rivers. Our results highlight the unique strengths of agent-based simulations to reconstruct pathways for ancient migrations.
Susceptibility toward cefiderocol and sulbactam-durlobactam in extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii detected from ICU admission screening in Hanoi, Vietnam, 2023
2025-06-09

ABSTRACT Infections due to carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) pose significant clinical challenges due to limited treatment options. In this study, we investigated the molecular epidemiology, resistance profiles, and genomic characteristics of CRAB isolates from intensive care unit (ICU) admission screenings in Vietnam, focusing on susceptibility to the novel agents cefiderocol and sulbactam-durlobactam. Between 1 July and 31 October 2023, extended antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) and whole-genome sequencing were performed on CRAB isolates obtained through ICU admission and weekly screenings at the 108 Military Central Hospital in Hanoi. CRAB colonization was detected in 31 of 691 ICU patients (4.5%), with 30 isolates classified as multidrug-resistant/extensively drug-resistant and an ST pas 164 isolate resistant to all substances tested except for sulbactam-durlobactam. All isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, imipenem, and meropenem, with high resistance rates to amikacin (96.8%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (96.8%). Cefiderocol resistance was found in four ST pas 164 isolates and one ST pas 338-1LV (16.1%), displaying alterations in pirA and piuA genes, while sulbactam-durlobactam non-susceptibility (61.3%) was observed in isolates carrying PBP3 alterations. Molecular characterization revealed high-risk clades, with ST pas 2 as the most prevalent, followed by the emerging ST pas 164 and ST pas 16 clones, which showed significant resistance and virulence potential. CRAB prevalence among ICU patients and the emergence of highly resistant clones show the need for surveillance and alternative therapeutic options. The presence of cefiderocol resistance and the high rate of sulbactam-durlobactam non-susceptibility in CRAB isolates without prior exposure raise concerns about the spread of resistance in asymptomatic carriers. AST should be performed before using novel antibiotic agents. IMPORTANCE Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is a highly drug-resistant bacterium that poses a serious threat in hospitals, especially to patients in intensive care units (ICUs). This study examined CRAB bacteria found in ICU patients in Vietnam, focusing on their resistance to antibiotics, including new antibiotics such as cefiderocol and sulbactam-durlobactam. The results showed that CRAB in Vietnam is resistant to almost all the antibiotics tested, making infections extremely difficult to treat. Alarmingly, some bacteria were resistant to cefiderocol and sulbactam-durlobactam even in patients who had never received these drugs, suggesting that resistance is spreading quietly. This highlights the urgent need for ongoing surveillance, early detection, and careful use of antibiotics to prevent the spread of untreatable infections.
“The DESCRIBE-ALS-FTD study: a prospective multicenter observational study of the ALS-FTD spectrum”
2025-06-09

<i>Background:</i> Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) exhibit significant clinical, genetic and neuropathological abnormalities, and are regarded as belonging to a common disease spectrum, referred to as the ALS-FTD spectrum disorders. Our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of these diseases has advanced significantly, including molecular neuropathology, genetics and molecular pathophysiology. The heterogeneity of these diseases poses significant challenges to translational research and drug development, particularly in sporadic cases. Consequently, there is an urgent need to improve patient stratification for the successful execution of future clinical trials. <i>Methods/Results:</i> We here describe the study design of the DESCRIBE-ALS/FTD study which aims to address this research gap by undertaking a systematic sampling of patients from the ALS FTD spectrum, encompassing all possible disease variants. The main objective of the study is to systematically document detailed cross-sectional phenotyping and the temporal progression of motor and neuropsychological abnormalities that occur in both ALS and FTD. Additionally, it seeks to systematically correlate these abnormalities with genetics and potentially predictive biomarkers including longitudinal biomaterial sampling, brain imaging and brain banking. Furthermore, first-degree relatives of patients with disease-causing gene variants undergo the same assessments to also sample presymptomatic risk gene carriers. <i>Conclusion:</i> With this prospective registry study we aim to generate datasets which will help researchers identifying different disease traits in people with sporadic and genetic ALS and FTD and to develop biomarkers to identify preclinical and prodromal disease stages.
Species-wide gene editing of a flowering regulator reveals hidden phenotypic variation
2025-06-09

Genes do not act in isolation, and the effects of a specific variant at one locus can often be greatly modified by polymorphic variants at other loci. A good example is FLOWERING LOCUS C ( FLC ), which has been inferred to explain much of the flowering time variation in Arabidopsis thaliana . We use a set of 62 flc species-wide mutants to document pleiotropic, genotype-dependent effects for FLC on flowering as well as several other traits. Time to flowering was greatly reduced in all mutants, with the remaining variation explained mainly by allelic variation at the FLC target FT . Analysis of FT sequence variation suggested that extremely early combinations of FLC and FT alleles should exist in the wild, which we confirmed by targeted collections. Our study provides a proof of concept on how pan-genetic analysis of hub genes can reveal the true extent of genetic networks in a species.
Comparison of QM Methods for the Evaluation of Halogen−π Interactions for Large-Scale Data Generation
2025-06-09

Halogen-π interactions play a pivotal role in molecular recognition processes, drug design, and therapeutic strategies, providing unique opportunities for enhancing and fine-tuning the binding affinity and specificity of pharmaceutical agents. The present study systematically benchmarks various combinations of quantum mechanical (QM) methods and basis sets to characterize halogen-π interactions in model systems. We evaluate both density functional theory (DFT) methods and wave function-based post-HF methods in terms of accuracy to reference calculations at the CCSD(T)/CBS level of theory and runtime efficiency. By balancing these crucial aspects, we aim to identify an optimal configuration suitable for high-throughput applications. Our results indicate that MP2 using the reasonably large TZVPP basis set is in excellent agreement with reference calculations, striking a balance between accuracy and computational efficiency. This allows us to generate large, reliable data sets, which will serve as a basis to develop and train machine-learning models capable of accurately capturing the strength of halogen-π interactions, thereby providing a robust data-driven foundation for medicinal chemistry analysis.
Mini social cognition and emotional assessment : Diagnostic performance and neural correlates in behavioural‐variant frontotemporal dementia
2025-06-09

Abstract We aimed at validating the Mini Social Cognition and Emotional Assessment (Mini‐SEA) in a German cohort of mildly impaired behavioural‐variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) patients and healthy controls. The Mini‐SEA comprises the Facial Emotion Recognition Test (FERT) and the Faux Pas Test (FPT) measuring Theory of Mind (ToM) abilities in social norm‐related real‐life stories. We examined the diagnostic performance of the Mini‐SEA alongside other neuropsychological assessments and investigated its structural neural correlates. We included 32 bvFTD patients and 54 controls in logistic regression models with forward‐stepwise selection containing demographics, standard neuropsychological battery (CERAD‐NAB+) and the Mini‐SEA scores to identify the most relevant variables. Demographic, neuropsychological and daily‐life activity associations were explored. Voxel‐based morphometry analysis was conducted in a subsample (14 bvFTD and 14 controls) on regions previously linked to emotion processing and ToM functions. The Mini‐SEA yielded a very good performance, being in the best‐fitting model with a high odds ratio alongside the executive‐language and memory measures. Specifically, the FERT indicated the strongest effect in the group differentiation. Mini‐SEA showed significant associations with executive‐language tests and daily‐life activities. In canonical emotion processing brain regions, we found associations of the Mini‐SEA composite and the FERT with grey matter volumes in the left insula and lentiform nucleus of putamen. Within ToM regions, associations were found for the Mini‐SEA composite and the FPT in cerebellar regions. The German Mini‐SEA discriminates well between mildly impaired bvFTD patients and controls. We also demonstrated its significant value for neuropsychological assessment and neuro‐behavioural associations in regions underlying emotion processing and ToM.
Long‐Term Visual Gist Abstraction Independent of Post‐Encoding Sleep
2025-06-09

ABSTRACT Current theories of memory processing postulate a slow transformation from episodic to abstract, gist‐like memories. We previously demonstrated that sleep shortly after learning improves gist abstraction in healthy volunteers across a one‐year retention interval using a visual version of the Deese‐Roediger‐McDermott (DRM) paradigm. Here, we investigate the temporal evolution of this effect by testing recognition performance on a similar DRM task immediately after encoding, as well as 1 week and 1 year later. Moreover, we address the role of feature overlap during encoding, using stimulus sets that are either closely related to or more distant from their common prototype. Behavioural data were obtained from N = 16 healthy volunteers in a within‐subjects design, where different sets of shapes were learned in separate experimental sessions, followed by consolidation during day‐time wakefulness or nocturnal sleep, respectively. Our results indicate high levels of (false) recognition of non‐encoded prototypes for all measurement points, including after 1 year. However, in contrast to our previous findings, gist memory was not affected by whether participants slept or stayed awake during the first 12 h after encoding. Comparisons across experiments indicate that the divergent results are due to changes in task demands rendering item and gist memory traces less distinct in the present study. Our results confirm the behavioural persistence of visual gist abstraction across extended intervals. At the same time, they highlight that sleep effects on this process are highly dependent on task demands.
Copper-mediated radiochemistry: historical impact, current trends, and future possibilities
2025-06-10

Modern approaches to copper-mediated radiolabeling have proven an important addition to the radiochemical toolbox. Radiopharmaceuticals prepared using this methodology have been translated from preclinical PET studies into clinical trials, and it has been adapted for radionuclides beyond fluorine-18, enabling theranostic applications. The methodology is also beginning to benefit from AI-assisted radiochemistry development. This perspective discusses the history, state-of-the-art, and potential future impact of copper-mediated radiochemistry on radiopharmaceutical development.
Capturing the Complex: An Intraindividual Temporal Network Analysis of Learning Resource Regulation
2025-06-10

Understanding a learner’s resources as a system of interacting components, the success of a learning process is determined by the effectiveness of their interactions. Theoretical assumptions and empirical findings clearly show the importance of resource availability in learning systems but do not sufficiently consider the individuality or the temporal and situational aspects of resource regulation. Therefore, the current study addresses the complex interplay between learning resources (educational and learning capitals) in an individual learner (N = 1) by utilizing multivariate time series data of a 50-day vocabulary learning process with daily assessments of learning resource availability, performance, learning duration, and stress. We draw on methods of psychometric network analysis, modeling all variables in simultaneous interaction and allowing predictions between all variables from measuring point to measuring point (temporal dynamics). Specifically, using a Graphical Vector Autoregressive (graphicalVAR) model, yielding a contemporaneous and a temporal dynamics network model, we identified pivotal resources in regulating the student’s learning processes and outcomes, including resources with strong connections to other variables, intermediary resources, and resources maintaining the system’s homeostasis. This innovative approach has possible applications as a diagnostic tool that lays the foundation for tailored interventions.
Disease severity across psychiatric disorders is linked to pro-inflammatory cytokines
2025-06-10

The observed differences in serum protein expression suggest that disease severity is associated with the convergence of immune system dysregulation and neurodevelopmental alterations, particularly involving pathways related to inflammation and brain plasticity. The identification of pro-inflammatory proteins among the differentially expressed markers underscores the potential role of systemic inflammation in the pathophysiology of SMD. These results highlight the importance of considering illness severity as a core dimension in psychiatric research and clinical practice and suggest that targeting immune-related mechanisms may offer promising new therapeutic avenues for patients with SMD.
Encephalitis Unraveled: The Unlikely Encounter of Sickle Cell Disease and Cerebral Malaria in a Teenager
2025-06-10

Sickle-cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited blood disorders in which a mutation in the β-globin (HBB) gene causes red blood cells to produce abnormal hemoglobin, known as Hb S. SCD is characterized by an autosomal-recessive pattern of inheritance, implying that for a child to manifest the condition, they must inherit an Hb S allele from both parents (HbSS) or one Hb S allele and another β-globin variant, such as Hb C or β-thalassemia (HbSC, HbS/β-thal). It has been observed that (heterozygote) carriers of one copy of the sickle-cell trait (HbAS) are typically healthy and can even gain partial protection from severe malaria. The term “severe and complicated malaria” is delineated based on specific clinical and laboratory characteristics in the presence of Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia. The prevalent forms of severe malaria among African children include cerebral malaria, respiratory distress, and severe malaria anemia. Cerebral malaria is a rare complication of malaria infection and is associated with a high mortality rate.
Analyzing Platelet Subpopulations by Multi-color Flow Cytometry
2025-06-10

Platelets, or thrombocytes, are small anucleated blood cells that play a crucial role in hemostasis and thrombosis. Defects in platelet functions can cause bleeding or thrombotic events in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, it is important to characterize platelets phenotypically to be able to assign platelet subpopulations to platelet function. Stimulation of human platelets with platelet agonists and activators induces morphological and physiological changes in platelets, accompanied by changes in the surface receptor population. This leads to functionally diverse platelet subpopulations. Classically defined platelet subpopulations are resting, aggregatory, procoagulant, and apoptotic platelets. To characterize the effect of agonists on platelet subtypes, we established an assay using multi-color flow cytometry consisting of 10 different antibodies and dyes (anti-CD62P, anti-CD63, anti-CD61, anti-CD41, anti-CD42b, anti-IntegrinαIIbβ3 (clone: PAC-1), anti-CXCR4, anti-ACKR3, Annexin V, Zombie NIR). Isolated human platelets were incubated with platelet agonists and stained with specific fluorophore-conjugated antibodies and dyes. Afterwards, they were measured by flow cytometry. This allows us to define agonist-specific subtypes within the classic four subpopulations. In conclusion, the combination of activation markers (anti-CD62P, anti-CD63, anti-IntegrinαIIbβ3 (clone: PAC-1)), inflammatory markers (anti-CXCR4, anti-ACKR3) and apoptotic markers (Annexin V, Zombie NIR) that compose the 10-color flow cytometry panel described in this manuscript opens up the possibility to define further platelet subtypes that could be linked to specific platelet function. This method can be applied in basic research on platelet function and physiology, as well as in defining new platelet subtypes in disease models and patient studies.
A multilab investigation into the N2pc as an indicator of attentional selectivity: Direct replication of Eimer (1996)
2025-06-11

The N2pc is widely employed as an electrophysiological marker of an attention allocation. This interpretation was largely driven by the observation of an N2pc elicited by an isolated relevant target object, which was reported as Experiment 2 in Eimer (1996). All subsequent refined interpretations of the N2pc had to take this crucial finding into account. Despite its central role for neurocognitive attention research, there have been no direct replications and only few conceptual replications of this seminal work. Within the context of #EEGManyLabs, an international community-driven effort to replicate the most influential EEG studies ever published, the present study was selected due to its strong impact on the study of selective attention. We revisit the idea of the N2pc being an indicator of attentional selectivity by delivering a high powered direct replication of Eimer's work through analysis of 779 datasets acquired from 22 labs across 14 countries. Our results robustly replicate the N2pc to form stimuli, but a direct replication of the N2pc to color stimuli technically failed. We believe that this pattern not only sheds further light on the functional significance of the N2pc as an electrophysiological marker of attentional selectivity, but also highlights a methodological problem with selecting analysis windows a priori. By contrast, the consistency of observed ERP patterns across labs and analysis pipelines is stunning, and this consistency is preserved even in datasets that were rejected for (ocular) artifacts, attesting to the robustness of the ERP technique and the feasibility of large-scale multilab EEG (replication) studies.