julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
An image-computable psychophysical spatial vision model
2017-10-20

A large part of classical visual psychophysics was concerned with the fundamental question of how pattern information is initially encoded in the human visual system. From these studies a relatively standard model of early spatial vision emerged, based on spatial frequency and orientation-specific channels followed by an accelerating nonlinearity and divisive normalization: contrast gain-control. Here we implement such a model in an image-computable way, allowing it to take arbitrary luminance images as input. Testing our implementation on classical psychophysical data, we find that it explains contrast detection data including the ModelFest data, contrast discrimination data, and oblique masking data, using a single set of parameters. Leveraging the advantage of an image-computable model, we test our model against a recent dataset using natural images as masks. We find that the model explains these data reasonably well, too. To explain data obtained at different presentation durations, our model requires different parameters to achieve an acceptable fit. In addition, we show that contrast gain-control with the fitted parameters results in a very sparse encoding of luminance information, in line with notions from efficient coding. Translating the standard early spatial vision model to be image-computable resulted in two further insights: First, the nonlinear processing requires a denser sampling of spatial frequency and orientation than optimal coding suggests. Second, the normalization needs to be fairly local in space to fit the data obtained with natural image masks. Finally, our image-computable model can serve as tool in future quantitative analyses: It allows optimized stimuli to be used to test the model and variants of it, with potential applications as an image-quality metric. In addition, it may serve as a building block for models of higher level processing.
Association between chemerin, omentin-1 and risk of heart failure in the population-based EPIC-Potsdam study
2017-10-20

Abstract The adipokines chemerin and omentin-1 have been suggested to influence cardiovascular function. The study aimed to investigate the longitudinal association between chemerin, omentin-1 concentrations and risk of incident heart failure (HF), respectively. We conducted a case-cohort study nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Potsdam cohort (n = 27548) including a randomly drawn subsample and all incident HF cases during a mean follow-up of 8.2 ± 1.5 years. A total of 212 incident HF cases and 2168 individuals free of HF cases were included in the study. After multivariable adjustment for established cardiovascular risk factors chemerin was strongly associated with risk of HF (HR per doubling chemerin: 4.91; 95%-CI: 2.57–9.39; p &lt; 0.0001). Omentin-1 was not significantly related to HF risk in the overall study population. However, the association between omentin-1 and HF risk was modified by prevalent coronary heart disease (CHD), showing that the shape of the association was linear in participants without prevalent CHD (HR doubling omentin-1: 2.11; 95%-CI: 1.36–3.27; p linear = 0.0009) and U-shaped in participants with pre-existing CHD (p non-linear = 0.006). Our study provides first evidence for a strong positive association between chemerin and risk of HF. The association between the adipokine omentin-1 and risk of HF may differ according to pre-existing CHD.
Quality of life in the GLARIUS trial randomizing bevacizumab/irinotecan versus temozolomide in newly diagnosed, MGMT-nonmethylated glioblastoma
2017-10-20

GLARIUS did not find indications for a BEV-induced detrimental effect on QoL in first-line therapy of MGMT-nonmethylated GBM patients. Moreover, GLARIUS provided some indirect corroborative data supporting the notion that BEV may have beneficial effects upon QoL in relapsed GBM.
Low FoxG1 and high Olig‐2 labelling indices define a prognostically favourable subset in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)‐mutant gliomas
2017-10-20

Aims Previous data suggest that expression of transcription factors FoxG1 and Olig‐2 can separate hotspot histone H3 family member 3A (H3F3A)‐mutant tumours in paediatric glioma. We evaluated their prognostic potential and feasibility for identifying H3F3A‐mutant tumours among IDH‐mutant/wild‐type gliomas. Methods Immunohistochemistry of FoxG1/Olig‐2 and α‐thalassaemia/mental‐retardation‐syndrome‐X‐linked gene (ATRX) in 471 cases of diffuse gliomas and molecular determination of IDH, H3F3A, MGMT and 1p/19 codeletion status. Results Mean percentage of FoxG1‐positive tumour cells increased from 17% in WHO grade II to over 21% in grade III to 37% in grade IV tumours, whereas mean Olig‐2 indices decreased from 29% to 28% to 17% respectively. FoxG1 indices were similar in astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumours, whereas Olig‐2 indices were increased in oligodendrogliomas compared to astrocytic tumours ( n = 451, P &lt; 0.0001). FoxG1‐positive nuclei were significantly reduced in IDH and H3F3A K27‐mutant tumours, whereas Olig‐2‐positive nuclei were significantly reduced in IDH‐wild‐type and H3F3A G34‐mutant tumours. Among IDH‐mutant tumours, mean Olig‐2 index was significantly higher in 1p/19q codeleted tumours (mean: 43%) compared to IDH‐mutant tumours with ATRX loss (mean: 23%, P &lt; 0.0001). A significantly better outcome was first suggested for FoxG1 low tumours ( n = 212, log rank P = 0.0132) and Olig‐2 high tumours ( n = 203, log‐rank P = 0.0011) based on classification and regression tree determined cutoffs, but this was not confirmed by multivariate analysis including IDH mutation, WHO grade, ATRX status and age. Conclusions While the combined FoxG1/Olig‐2 profile may discriminate H3F3A K27‐ and G34‐mutant tumours and define a prognostically favourable subset in IDH‐mutant gliomas, our data show that labelling indices of these transcription factors overlap with adult IDH‐mutant and wild‐type tumour classes.
Phase behavior and bulk structural properties of a microphase former with anisotropic competing interactions: A density functional theory study
2017-10-20

Using classical density functional theory, we investigate systems exhibiting interactions where a short-range anisotropic attractive force competes with a long-range spherically symmetric repulsive force. The former is modelled within Wertheim's first-order perturbation theory for patchy particles, and the repulsive part is assumed to be a Yukawa potential which is taken into account via a mean-field approximation. From previous studies of systems with spherically symmetric competing interactions, it is well known that such systems can exhibit stable bulk cluster phases (microphase separation) provided that the repulsion is sufficiently weak compared to the attraction. For the present model system, we find rich phase diagrams including both reentrant clustering and liquid-gas binodals. In particular, the model predicts inhomogeneous bulk phases at extremely low packing fractions, which cannot be observed in systems with isotropic competing interactions.
Strong positive biodiversity–productivity relationships in a subtropical forest experiment
2017-10-20

Forest ecosystems contribute substantially to global terrestrial primary productivity and climate regulation, but, in contrast to grasslands, experimental evidence for a positive biodiversity-productivity relationship in highly diverse forests is still lacking 1 . Here, we provide such evidence from a large forest biodiversity experiment with a novel design 2 in subtropical China. Productivity (stand-level tree basal area, aboveground volume and carbon and their annual increment) increased linearly with the logarithm of tree species richness. Additive partitioning 3 showed that increasing positive complementarity effects combined with weakening negative selection effects caused a strengthening of the relationship over time. In 2-species mixed stands, complementary effects increased with functional distance and selection effects with vertical crown dissimilarity between species. Understorey shrubs reduced stand-level tree productivity, but this effect of competition was attenuated by shrub species richness, indicating that a diverse understorey may facilitate overall ecosystem functioning. Identical biodiversity-productivity relationships were found in plots of different size, suggesting that extrapolation to larger scales is possible. Our results highlight the potential of multi-species afforestation strategies to simultaneously contribute to mitigation of climate change and biodiversity restoration.
Dealing with Space and Place in Standard Survey Data
2017-10-20

Heterogeneity of local conditions and spatial dependencies are typical aspects of sociological phenomena. However, large-scale empirical data is often rather limited with regard to the spatial references that are (publicly) available to researchers. We describe several aspects of the problem and assess possibilities and potential errors associated with limited information. Our examples are returns to education and gender-based and migration-related wage gaps as popular research topics. We base our analyses upon widely used survey data from Germany, the GSOEP, which contains geographical information on various levels of aggregation. Our particular interest is in the decisions that have to be made with regard to problems of space and place in standard surveys, available options and consequences. We conclude with a number of practical suggestions for data users.
The many faces of evil: philosophical and theological conversations on the experience of evil
2017-10-20

In this article, a way of analysing the pluriformity and mutability of the experience of evil is developed. Against the background of a relational account of the possibility and the actuality of evil, it is argued that evil cannot be accounted for in a decontextualized manner, but can only be interpreted in the context of a particular (religious) understanding of reality. In the context of Christian faith and practice, a suggestion for understanding evil as contradiction against God's creative agency, as rejection of God's transforming agency in Christ and resistance to God's perfecting agency in the Holy Spirit is put forward. The thesis that evil in its many forms can only be understood from the perspective of its overcoming is developed with reference to Luther's On the Bondage of the Will.
Overnight memory consolidation facilitates rather than interferes with new learning of similar materials - a study probing NMDA-receptors
2017-10-20

Abstract Whereas sleep-dependent consolidation and its neurochemical underpinnings have been strongly researched, less is known about how consolidation during sleep affects subsequent learning. Since sleep enhances memory, it can be expected to pro-actively interfere with learning after sleep, in particular of similar materials. This pro-active interference should be enhanced by substances that benefit consolidation during sleep, such as D-cycloserine. We tested this hypothesis in two groups (Sleep, Wake) of young healthy participants receiving on one occasion D-cycloserine (175 mg) and on another occasion placebo, according to a double-blind balanced cross-over design. Treatment was administered after participants had learned a set of word-pairs (A-B list) and before nocturnal retention periods of sleep vs. wakefulness. After D-cycloserine blood plasma levels had dropped to negligible amounts, i.e., the next day in the evening, participants learned, in three sequential runs, new sets of word-pairs. One list – to enhance interference – consisted of the same cue words as the original set paired with a new target word (A-C list) and the other of completely new cue words (D-E set). Unexpectedly, during post-retention learning the A-C interference list was generally better learned than the completely new D-E list, which suggests that consolidation of previously encoded similar material enhances memory integration rather than pro-active interference. Consistent with this view, new learning of word-pairs was better after sleep than wakefulness. Similarly, D-cycloserine generally enhanced learning of new word-pairs, compared to placebo. This effect being independent of sleep or wakefulness, leads us to speculate that D-cycloserine, in addition to enhancing sleep-dependent consolidation, might mediate a time-dependent process of active forgetting.
Controlled iris radiance in a diurnal fish looking at prey
2017-10-20

1. Summary Active sensing using light, or active photolocation, is only known from deep sea and nocturnal fish with chemiluminescent “search” lights. Bright irides in diurnal fish species have recently been proposed as a potential analogue. Here, we contribute to this discussion by testing whether iris radiance is actively modulated. The focus is on behaviourally controlled iris reflections, called “ocular sparks”. The triplefin Tripterygion delaisi can alternate between red and blue ocular sparks, allowing us to test the prediction that spark frequency and hue depend on background hue and prey presence. In a first experiment, we found that blue ocular sparks were significantly more often “on” against red backgrounds, and red ocular sparks against blue backgrounds, particularly when copepods were present. A second experiment tested whether hungry fish showed more ocular sparks, which was not the case. Again, background hue resulted in differential use of ocular spark types. We conclude that iris radiance through ocular sparks in T. delaisi is not a side effect of eye movement, but adaptively modulated in response to the context under which prey are detected. We discuss the possible alternative functions of ocular sparks, including an as yet speculative role in active photolocation.
Investigating Body Image Disturbance in Anorexia Nervosa Using Novel Biometric Figure Rating Scales: A Pilot Study
2017-10-22

Abstract This study uses novel biometric figure rating scales (FRS) spanning body mass index (BMI) 13.8 to 32.2 kg/m 2 and BMI 18 to 42 kg/m 2 . The aims of the study were (i) to compare FRS body weight dissatisfaction and perceptual distortion of women with anorexia nervosa (AN) to a community sample; (ii) how FRS parameters are associated with questionnaire body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms and appearance comparison habits; and (iii) whether the weight spectrum of the FRS matters. Women with AN ( n = 24) and a community sample of women ( n = 104) selected their current and ideal body on the FRS and completed additional questionnaires. Women with AN accurately picked the body that aligned best with their actual weight in both FRS. Controls underestimated their BMI in the FRS 14–32 and were accurate in the FRS 18–42. In both FRS, women with AN desired a body close to their actual BMI and controls desired a thinner body. Our observations suggest that body image disturbance in AN is unlikely to be characterized by a visual perceptual disturbance, but rather by an idealization of underweight in conjunction with high body dissatisfaction. The weight spectrum of FRS can influence the accuracy of BMI estimation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Objections still fail: a response to Faria
2017-10-22

In her reply to my critical assessment of objections to the Weatherall report’s justification of non-human primate (NHP) research, Catia Faria focuses on three objections which she entitles ‘the disanalogy’, ‘the utilitarian calculus’ and ‘species overlap’. Faria finds my assessment unconvincing, butI argue that the objections still fail.
Systemic regulation of bilirubin homeostasis
2017-10-23

Neurotoxic bilirubin is the end product of heme catabolism in mammals. Bilirubin is solely conjugated by uridine diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1, which is a membrane-bound enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of glucuronic acid. Due to low function of hepatic and intestinal uridine diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 during the neonatal period, human neonates develop mild to severe physiological hyperbilirubinemia. Accumulation of bilirubin in the brain leads to the onset of irreversible brain damage, termed kernicterus. Breastfeeding is one of the most significant factors that increase the risk of developing kernicterus in infants. Why does this most natural way of feeding increase the risk of brain damage or even death? This question leads to the hypothesis that breast milk-induced hyperbilirubinemia might bring certain benefits that outweigh those risks. While bilirubin is neurotoxic and cytotoxic, this compound is also a potent antioxidant. There are studies showing improved clinical conditions in patients with hyperbilirubinemia. Accumulating evidence also shows that genetic polymorphisms linked to hyperbilirubinemia are beneficial against various diseases. In this review article, we first introduce the production, metabolism, and transport of bilirubin. We then discuss the potential benefits of neonatal and adult hyperbilirubinemia. Finally, epigenetic factors as well as metabolomic information associated with hyperbilirubinemia are described. This review article advances the understanding of the physiological importance of the paradoxical compound bilirubin. (Hepatology 2018;67:1609-1619).
Barycenter technique and the Riemann mapping problem of Cherrier–Escobar
2017-10-23

We solve in the affirmative the remaining cases of the Riemann mapping problem of Cherrier–Escobar [35][38] first raised by Cherrier [35] in 1984. Indeed, performing a suitable scheme of the barycenter technique of Bahri–Coron [14] via the Almaraz–Chen’s bubbles [3][34], we completely solve all the cases left open after the work of Chen [34]. Hence, combining our work with the ones of Almaraz [2], Chen [34], Cherrier [35], Escobar [38][40] and Marques [55][56], we have that every compact Riemannian manifold with boundary, of dimension greater or equal than three, and with finite Sobolev quotient, carries a conformal scalar flat metric with constant mean curvature on the boundary.
Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography in patients with MRI contraindications
2017-10-23

Background Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) is a novel breast imaging technique providing comparable diagnostic accuracy to breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Purpose To show that CESM in patients with MRI contraindications is feasible, accurate, and useful as a problem-solving tool, and to highlight its limitations. Material and Methods A total of 118 patients with MRI contraindications were examined by CESM. Histology was obtained in 94 lesions and used as gold standard for diagnostic accuracy calculations. Imaging data were reviewed retrospectively for feasibility, accuracy, and technical problems. The diagnostic yield of CESM as a problem-solving tool and for therapy response evaluation was reviewed separately. Results CESM was more accurate than mammography (MG) for lesion categorization (r = 0.731, P &lt; 0.0001 vs. r = 0.279, P = 0.006) and for lesion size estimation (r = 0.738 vs. r = 0.689, P &lt; 0.0001). Negative predictive value of CESM was significantly higher than of MG (85.71% vs. 30.77%, P &lt; 0.0001). When used for problem-solving, CESM changed patient management in 2/8 (25%) cases. Superposition artifacts and timing problems affected diagnostic utility in 3/118 (2.5%) patients. Conclusion CESM is a feasible and accurate alternative for patients with MRI contraindications, but it is necessary to be aware of the method’s technical limitations.
A recessive ataxia diagnosis algorithm for the next generation sequencing era
2017-10-23

Objective Differential diagnosis of autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias can be challenging. A ranking algorithm named RADIAL that predicts the molecular diagnosis based on the clinical phenotype of a patient has been developed to guide genetic testing and to align genetic findings with the clinical context. Methods An algorithm that follows clinical practice, including patient history, clinical, magnetic resonance imaging, electromyography, and biomarker features, was developed following a review of the literature on 67 autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias and personal clinical experience. Frequency and specificity of each feature were defined for each autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia, and corresponding prediction scores were assigned. Clinical and paraclinical features of patients are entered into the algorithm, and a patient's total score for each autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia is calculated, producing a ranking of possible diagnoses. Sensitivity and specificity of the algorithm were assessed by blinded analysis of a multinational cohort of 834 patients with molecularly confirmed autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia. The performance of the algorithm was assessed versus a blinded panel of autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia experts. Results The correct diagnosis was ranked within the top 3 highest‐scoring diagnoses at a sensitivity and specificity of &gt;90% for 84% and 91% of the evaluated genes, respectively. Mean sensitivity and specificity of the top 3 highest‐scoring diagnoses were 92% and 95%, respectively. The algorithm outperformed the panel of ataxia experts ( p = 0.001). Interpretation Our algorithm is highly sensitive and specific, accurately predicting the underlying molecular diagnoses of autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias, thereby guiding targeted sequencing or facilitating interpretation of next‐generation sequencing data. Ann Neurol 2017;82:892–899
Excessive bodybuilding as pathology? A first neurophysiological classification
2017-10-23

<b>Objectives:</b> Excessive bodybuilding as a pathological syndrome has been classified based on two different theories: bodybuilding as dependency or as muscle dysmorphic disorder (MDD). This study is a first attempt to find psychophysiological data supporting one of these classifications.<b>Methods:</b> Twenty-four participants (bodybuilders vs healthy controls) were presented with pictures of bodies, exercise equipment or general reward stimuli in a control or experimental condition, and were measured with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Higher activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) while watching bodies and training equipment in the experimental condition (muscular bodies and bodybuilding-typical equipment) would be an indicator for the addiction theory. Higher activation in motion-related areas would be an indicator for the MDD theory.<b>Results:</b> We found no task-related differences between the groups in the DLPFC and OFC, but a significantly higher activation in bodybuilders in the primary somatosensory cortex (PSC) and left-hemispheric supplementary motor area (SMA) while watching body pictures (across conditions) as compared to the control group.<b>Conclusions:</b> These neurophysiological results could be interpreted as a first evidence for the MDD theory of excessive bodybuilding.