julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous nonlinear scalarization of Kerr black holes
2022-11-14

As it became well known in the past years, Einstein-scalar-Gauss-Bonnet (EsGB) theories evade no-hair theorems and allow for scalarized compact objects including black holes (BHs). The coupling function that defines the theory is the main character in the process and nature of scalarization. With the right choice, the theory becomes an extension of general relativity (GR) in the sense any solution to the GR field equations remains a solution in the EsGB theory, but it can destabilize if a certain threshold value of the spacetime curvature is exceeded. Thus BHs can spontaneously scalarize. The most studied driving mechanism to this phenomenon is a tachyonic instability due to an effective negative squared mass for the scalar field. However, even when the coupling is chosen such that this mass is zero, higher order terms with respect to the scalar field can lead to what is coined nonlinear scalarization. In this paper we investigate how Kerr BHs spontaneously scalarize by evolving the scalar field on a fixed background via solving the nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation. We consider two different coupling functions with higher order terms, one that yields a nonzero effective mass and another that does not. We sweep through the Kerr parameter space in its mass and spin and obtain the scalar charge by the end of the evolution when the field settles in an equilibrium stationary state. When there is no tachyonic instability present, there is no probe limit in which the BH scalarizes with zero charge, i.e., there is a gap between bald and hairy BHs and they only connect when the mass goes to zero together with the charge.
Assessing fatigue and sleep in chronic diseases using physiological signals from wearables: A pilot study
2022-11-14

Problems with fatigue and sleep are highly prevalent in patients with chronic diseases and often rated among the most disabling symptoms, impairing their activities of daily living and the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Currently, they are evaluated primarily via Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs), which can suffer from recall biases and have limited sensitivity to temporal variations. Objective measurements from wearable sensors allow to reliably quantify disease state, changes in the HRQoL, and evaluate therapeutic outcomes. This work investigates the feasibility of capturing continuous physiological signals from an electrocardiography-based wearable device for remote monitoring of fatigue and sleep and quantifies the relationship of objective digital measures to self-reported fatigue and sleep disturbances. 136 individuals were followed for a total of 1,297 recording days in a longitudinal multi-site study conducted in free-living settings and registered with the German Clinical Trial Registry (DRKS00021693). Participants comprised healthy individuals ( N = 39) and patients with neurodegenerative disorders (NDD, N = 31) and immune mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID, N = 66). Objective physiological measures correlated with fatigue and sleep PROs, while demonstrating reasonable signal quality. Furthermore, analysis of heart rate recovery estimated during activities of daily living showed significant differences between healthy and patient groups. This work underscores the promise and sensitivity of novel digital measures from multimodal sensor time-series to differentiate chronic patients from healthy individuals and monitor their HRQoL. The presented work provides clinicians with realistic insights of continuous at home patient monitoring and its practical value in quantitative assessment of fatigue and sleep, an area of unmet need.
Atrial Fibrillation Risk Assessment after Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source
2022-11-14

Objective Approximately 20% of strokes are embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS). Undetected atrial fibrillation (AF) remains an important cause. Yet, oral anticoagulation in unselected ESUS patients failed in secondary stroke prevention. Guidance on effective AF detection is lacking. Here, we introduce a novel, non‐invasive AF risk assessment after ESUS. Methods Catch‐Up ESUS is an investigator‐initiated, observational cohort study conducted between 2018 and 2019 at the Munich University Hospital. Besides clinical characteristics, patients received ≥72 h digital electrocardiogram recordings to generate the rhythm irregularity burden. Uni‐ and multivariable regression models predicted the primary endpoint of incident AF, ascertained by standardized follow‐up including implantable cardiac monitors. Predictors included the novel rhythm irregularity burden constructed from digital electrocardiogram recordings. We independently validated our model in ESUS patients from the University Hospital Tübingen, Germany. Results A total of 297 ESUS patients were followed for 15.6 ± 7.6 months. Incident AF (46 patients, 15.4%) occurred after a median of 105 days (25th to 75th percentile 31–33 days). Secondary outcomes were recurrent stroke in 7.7% and death in 6.1%. Multivariable‐adjusted analyses identified the rhythm irregularity burden as the strongest AF‐predictor (hazard ratio 3.12, 95% confidence interval 1.62–5.80, p &lt; 0001) while accounting for the known risk factors age, CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc‐Score, and NT‐proBNP. Independent validation confirmed the rhythm irregularity burden as the most significant AF‐predictor (hazard ratio 2.20, 95% confidence interval 1.45–3.33, p &lt; 0001). Interpretation The novel, non‐invasive, electrocardiogram‐based rhythm irregularity burden may help adjudicating AF risk after ESUS, and subsequently guide AF‐detection after ESUS. Clinical trials need to clarify if high‐AF risk patients benefit from tailored secondary stroke prevention. ANN NEUROL 2023;93:479–488
How educational institutions reveal students’ personally identifiable information on Facebook
2022-11-14

Schools and school districts use social media for a variety of reasons, but alongside the benefits of schools' social media use come potential risks to students' privacy. Using a novel dataset of around 18 million Facebook posts by schools and districts in the United States, we explore the extent to which personally identifiable information of students may be revealed. We find that around 4.9 million posts depict one or more students' faces, and approximately 726,000 posts also identify the full name of one or more students. We also examine which Facebook page characteristics and structural factors might be associated with posts that depict or identify students. We find that districts with a higher student poverty rate and districts that share a greater number of posts were more likely to depict students. We discuss these findings and recommendations for educational leaders and researchers through the lens of data ethics.
Grasping follows Weber's law: How to use response variability as a proxy for JND
2022-11-14

Weber's law is a fundamental psychophysical principle. It states that the just noticeable difference (JND) between stimuli increases with stimulus magnitude; consequently, larger stimuli should be estimated with larger variability. However, visually guided grasping seems to violate this expectation: When repeatedly grasping large objects, the variability is similar to that when grasping small objects. Based on this result, it was often concluded that grasping violated Weber's law. This astonishing finding generated a flurry of research, with contradictory results and potentially far-reaching implications for theorizing about the functional architecture of the brain. We show that previous studies ignored nonlinearities in the scaling of the grasping response. These nonlinearities result from, for example, the finger span being limited such that the opening of the fingers reaches a ceiling for large objects. We describe how to mathematically take these nonlinearities into account and apply this approach to our own data, as well as to the data of three influential studies on this topic. In all four datasets, we found that-when appropriately estimated-JNDs increase with object size, as expected by Weber's law. We conclude that grasping obeys Weber's law, as do essentially all sensory dimensions.
Excitatory-inhibitory branching process: A parsimonious view of cortical asynchronous states, excitability, and criticality
2022-11-14

We acknowledge the Spanish Ministry and Agencia&#13;\\nEstatal de investigación (AEI) through Project of&#13;\\nI + D+i Ref. PID2020-113681GB-I00, financed by&#13;\\nMICIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and FEDER “A way&#13;\\nto make Europe,” as well as the Consejería de Conocimiento,&#13;\\nInvestigación Universidad, Junta de Andalucía and&#13;\\nEuropean Regional Development Fund, Project references&#13;\\nA-FQM-175-UGR18 and P20-00173, for financial support.&#13;\\nR.C.L. acknowledges funding from the Spanish Ministry&#13;\\nand AEI, Grant No. FPU19/03887. This work was partially&#13;\\nsupported by a Sofja Kovalevskaja Award from the Alexander&#13;\\nvon Humboldt Foundation, endowed by the German Federal&#13;\\nMinistry of Education and Research (V.B.). We also thank&#13;\\nH. C. Piuvezam, J. Pretel, G. B. Morales, P. Moretti, O.&#13;\\nVinogradov, and E. Giannakakis for valuable discussions.
Toward a New Paradigm of North–South and South–South Partnerships for Pandemic Preparedness: Lessons Learned from COVID-19 and Other Outbreaks
2022-11-14

ABSTRACT. COVID-19 underscores the need to reimagine North–South partnerships and redefine best practices for building public health and research capacity to address emergent health threats and pandemic preparedness in low- and-middle income countries (LMICs). Historically, outbreak and emergency responses have failed to ensure that the Global South has the autonomy and capacity to respond to public health threats in a timely and equitable manner. The COVID-19 response, however, has demonstrated that innovations and solutions in the Global South can not only fill resource and capacity gaps in LMICs but can also provide solutions to challenges globally. These innovations offer valuable lessons about strengthening local manufacturing capacity to produce essential diagnostic, treatment, and prevention tools; implementing high-quality research studies; expanding laboratory and research capacity; and promoting effective cooperation and governance. We discuss specific examples of capacity-building from Rwanda, South Africa, and Senegal. To fulfill promises made to the Global South during the COVID-19 pandemic, restore and resume health service delivery, and effectively prevent and respond to the next health threat, we need to prioritize equitable access to local manufacturing of basic health tools while building health systems capacities in the Global South.
Paleomagnetic Evidence for a Paleoproterozoic Rotational Assembly of the North Australian Craton in the Leadup to Supercontinent Formation
2022-11-14

Abstract The kinematics of the Paleoproterozoic assembly of Earth's first supercontinent, Nuna, are still debated. We present new paleomagnetic results from two Paleoproterozoic rock formations in the North Australia Craton (NAC) that exemplify cratonic assembly processes in the leadup to Nuna formation. Our new paleomagnetic data for the 1,825 Ma Plum Tree Creek Volcanics of the proto‐NAC and the layered mafic‐ultramafic 1,855 Ma Toby intrusion of the Kimberley Craton suggest their amalgamation just prior to ca. 1.8 Ga through a scissor‐like ocean closure to form the NAC, in accord with geological records. Comparing these new results with extant poles from Australia and other major cratons suggests similarly minor relative plate motions between ca. 1.9 and 1.65 Ga during craton and supercontinent formation. A global reconstruction suggests that these events could be related to a major slab‐suction event leading to Nuna formation.
Same but different? A qualitative analysis of the influence of COVID-19 on law enforcement and organized crime in Germany
2022-11-14

Abstract Criminological research on COVID-19 and its repercussions on crimes, criminals and law enforcement agencies is still in its infancy. This paper fills that void with regard to the influence of COVID-19 on organized crime and the work of law enforcement agencies’ investigations of organized crime in Germany by presenting empirical findings from a nationwide qualitative interview study. Through the methodological combination of Grounded Theory and Situational Analysis, we find three central narratives (us vs. them, nationalization vs. internationalization, conservatism vs. innovation) that were provided by law enforcement personnel in terms of the way in which COVID-19 influenced both organized crime groups and their work in the investigation thereof. Following a reflexive approach, the implications of COVID-19 on the research process itself are also discussed.
Investigating the MIS2 Microlithic Assemblage of Umbeli Belli Rockshelter and Its Place Within the Chrono-cultural Sequence of the LSA Along the East Coast of Southern Africa
2022-11-14

Abstract South Africa is arguably one of the most studied regions in Stone Age research. There are, however, considerable differences in research intensity with respect to different regions and time periods. While KwaZulu-Natal is an epicenter for Middle Stone Age (MSA) research, the Late Pleistocene LSA record is largely understudied in this region. Here we present a lithic assemblage from the site Umbeli Belli near Scottburgh dated to 17.8 ± 1.5ka BP. The lithic analysis of the GH 3 assemblages revealed both gradual and abrupt changes within this stratigraphic horizon, indicating relatively short-term changes in material cultural traditions. A comparison with other Robberg sites in the wider surroundings highlights the regional variability of the Robberg techno-complex and indicates potential directions for future research.
Association between abstraction level and time: Are future and past more abstract than the present?
2022-11-14

Construal Level Theory (Trope &amp;amp; Liberman, 2010) suggests that objects or events are represented differently depending on their psychological distance from ourselves. Specifically, objects and events should be represented more abstractly the farther they are removed from direct experience through distance in the spatial, temporal, social or hypotheticality domains. Bar-Anan, Liberman, and Trope (2006) reported a key finding supporting this assumed association of the various distance dimensions and abstraction level. In their study, participants responded faster in an Implicit Association Task when temporally near and concrete concepts, as well as temporally far and abstract concepts, were mapped to the same rather than different response keys. In the present study, we replicated this basic finding when employing temporal adverbs relating to present vs. future time, and nouns referring to concrete vs. abstract concepts (Experiment 1), but not when temporal adverbs relating to the past were employed as instances of the large temporal distance category (Experiment 2). We propose that the uncertainty associated with the future, as opposed to the past, might play an important role in this temporal asymmetry by increasing psychological distance.
Tackling the subsampling problem to infer collective properties from limited data
2022-11-15

Complex systems are fascinating because their rich macroscopic properties emerge from the interaction of many simple parts. Understanding the building principles of these emergent phenomena in nature requires assessing natural complex systems experimentally. However, despite the development of large-scale data-acquisition techniques, experimental observations are often limited to a tiny fraction of the system. This spatial subsampling is particularly severe in neuroscience, where only a tiny fraction of millions or even billions of neurons can be individually recorded. Spatial subsampling may lead to significant systematic biases when inferring the collective properties of the entire system naively from a subsampled part. To overcome such biases, powerful mathematical tools have been developed in the past. In this perspective, we overview some issues arising from subsampling and review recently developed approaches to tackle the subsampling problem. These approaches enable one to assess, e.g., graph structures, collective dynamics of animals, neural network activity, or the spread of disease correctly from observing only a tiny fraction of the system. However, our current approaches are still far from having solved the subsampling problem in general, and hence we conclude by outlining what we believe are the main open challenges. Solving these challenges alongside the development of large-scale recording techniques will enable further fundamental insights into the working of complex and living systems.
DeepCEST 7 T: Fast and homogeneous mapping of 7 T CEST MRI parameters and their uncertainty quantification
2022-11-15

Purpose In this work, we investigated the ability of neural networks to rapidly and robustly predict Lorentzian parameters of multi‐pool CEST MRI spectra at 7 T with corresponding uncertainty maps to make them quickly and easily available for routine clinical use. Methods We developed a deepCEST 7 T approach that generates CEST contrasts from just 1 scan with robustness against B 1 inhomogeneities. The input data for a neural feed‐forward network consisted of 7 T in vivo uncorrected Z ‐spectra of a single B 1 level, and a B 1 map. The 7 T raw data were acquired using a 3D snapshot gradient echo multiple interleaved mode saturation CEST sequence. These inputs were mapped voxel‐wise to target data consisting of Lorentzian amplitudes generated conventionally by 5‐pool Lorentzian fitting of normalized, denoised, B 0 ‐ and B 1 ‐corrected Z ‐spectra. The deepCEST network was trained with Gaussian negative log‐likelihood loss, providing an uncertainty quantification in addition to the Lorentzian amplitudes. Results The deepCEST 7 T network provides fast and accurate prediction of all Lorentzian parameters also when only a single B 1 level is used. The prediction was highly accurate with respect to the Lorentzian fit amplitudes, and both healthy tissues and hyperintensities in tumor areas are predicted with a low uncertainty. In corrupted cases, high uncertainty indicated wrong predictions reliably. Conclusion The proposed deepCEST 7 T approach reduces scan time by 50% to now 6:42 min, but still delivers both B 0 ‐ and B 1 ‐corrected homogeneous CEST contrasts along with an uncertainty map, which can increase diagnostic confidence. Multiple accurate 7 T CEST contrasts are delivered within seconds.
Halogen (F, Cl, Br, and I) concentrations of the upper continental crust through time as recorded in ancient glacial diamictite composites
2022-11-15

The continental crust is an important reservoir for incompatible elements, including the halogen elements (F, Cl, Br, and I), but their concentrations remain poorly known, thus hindering better understanding of the role of the crust in Earth's halogen cycle. We present halogen data (F, Cl, Br, and I) for twenty-four well-characterized glacial diamictite composites that derive from the upper continental crust (UCC) and were deposited during discrete glacial events at ∼2.9 Ga, ∼2.4–2.2 Ga, 0.75–0.58 Ga, and ∼0.30 Ga. A good correlation between Cl and the highly soluble Na (R2 = 0.70), together with low and scattered Cl concentrations in the diamictites (2–279 ppm), indicates significant Cl loss during chemical weathering of the continents. The other halogens (F, Br, and I), however, are not strongly affected by chemical weathering as revealed by their correlations with less soluble elements like K, P, Nd, and Lu, which may be due to their retention in secondary minerals and/or organic matter. Increasing concentrations of F in the composites through time may reflect the evolving composition of the UCC. Using the median values of the Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic diamictite composites, halogen concentrations of the present-day weathered UCC are estimated to be: 575 ± 87 ppm F, 29 ± 20 ppm Cl, 0.65 ± 0.14 ppm Br, and 0.05 ± 0.01 ppm I (errors quoted at the median absolute deviation). Linear correlations between halogens and other elements provide estimates for minimum halogen concentrations of the present-day crystalline UCC: 394 ± 67 ppm F, 83 ± 24 ppm Cl, 0.41 ± 0.04 ppm Br, and 0.03 ± 0.01 ppm I (with 2σ uncertainties). These estimates are all lower than normalized concentrations of elements of similar incompatibility during igneous differentiation, which may reflect loss of halogens via magmatic degassing/exsolution and/or chemical weathering during the formation of the continental crust. The distinct behavior of Cl compared to Br and I during continental weathering leads to a wide range of Br/Cl (2–265 * 10−3) and I/Cl (122–197,952 * 10−6) ratios, and Br/I ratios that are distinctly higher than those of pelagic sediments and marine pore fluids. Similar halogen signals have been reported from the lithospheric mantle and may reflect recycling of terrigenous sediments. The calculated weathering flux of Cl from the continents is quite small compared to the total Cl content of seawater (<8–34 %), suggesting that Cl in seawater is mainly derived from outgassing of the mantle and/or late volatile accretion. On the other hand, the significantly higher Br and I contents in terrigenous organic-rich sediments compared to those of crystalline bedrocks suggest that significant amounts of Br and I were transported from the oceans to the continents.
Diabetes and the Prostate: Elevated Fasting Glucose, Insulin Resistance and Higher Levels of Adrenal Steroids in Prostate Cancer
2022-11-15

Although epidemiological studies suggest a lower prostate cancer incidence rate in patients with type 2 diabetes, cancer survival is markedly reduced. Underlying mechanisms that connect the two diseases are still unclear. Potential links between type 2 diabetes and prostate cancer are hallmarks of the metabolic syndrome, such as hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. Therefore, we explored the systemic metabolism of 103 prostate cancer patients with newly diagnosed and yet untreated prostate cancer compared to 107 healthy controls, who were carefully matched for age and BMI. Here, we report that patients with prostate cancer display higher fasting blood glucose levels and insulin resistance, without changes in insulin secretion. With respect to lipid metabolism, serum triglyceride levels were lower in patients with prostate cancer. In addition, we report increased adrenal steroid biosynthesis in these patients. Our results indicate that higher fasting glucose levels in patients with prostate cancer may be explained at least in part by insulin resistance, due to the enhanced synthesis of adrenal steroids.
How To Deal with Toxic Amino Acids: the Bipartite AzlCD Complex Exports Histidine in Bacillus subtilis
2022-11-15

Amino acids are building blocks for protein biosynthesis in each living cell. However, due to their reactivity and the similarity between several amino acids, they may also be involved in harmful reactions or in noncognate interactions and thus may be toxic. Bacillus subtilis can deal with otherwise toxic histidine by overexpressing the bipartite amino acid exporter AzlCD.
Substitution Effects and the Transnational Demand for European Soccer Telecasts
2022-11-15

European soccer leagues’ internationalization efforts have significantly increased the number of available telecasts abroad. In the US, this has fueled discussions about the degree of audience overlap between networks broadcasting international soccer. However, whether and to what extent telecasts of different leagues indeed constitute substitutes has never been explored empirically. Drawing on US audience data for Bundesliga telecasts, we analyze the impact of scheduling clashes with Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A games. Econometric demand models reveal sizeable substitution effects caused primarily by overlapping Premier League games, suggesting significant competition for the soccer audience in the US market.