julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Investigating brain network dynamics in state-dependent stimulation: A concurrent electroencephalography and transcranial magnetic stimulation study using hidden Markov models
2025-04-02

These findings represent a step forward towards characterizing brain network in EEG-TMS with both high spatial and temporal resolution and underscore the importance of incorporating large-scale network dynamics into TMS experiments.
Math self-concept decreases while math anxiety increases over the lifespan
2025-04-02

<title>Abstract</title> Math self-concept and math anxiety are two critical psychological constructs influencing mathematical performance. Math self-concept reflects an individual's perception of their mathematical abilities, while math anxiety represents a negative emotional response to mathematical tasks. Although extensively studied in young adults and children, little is known about how these constructs evolve across the lifespan. Findings from young adults are sometimes generalized to all adults, suggesting an assumption of stability over time. However, given that other personality traits exhibit significant variation across the lifespan, this assumption may not hold. This study systematically examined the developmental trajectories of math self-concept and math anxiety, their interrelationship, and their impact on arithmetic performance from childhood to older adulthood. The findings revealed a decline in math self-concept and a concurrent increase in math anxiety with age. Additionally, a strong negative correlation between math self-concept and math anxiety persisted across all age groups. Importantly, math self-concept, rather than math anxiety, predicted arithmetic performance as well as the complexity effect. These results provide critical insights into the lifelong development of math-related psychological constructs, suggesting that findings from young adults cannot be generalized across developmental stages. The observed increase in math anxiety and decline in math self-concept with age indicate progressively more problematic attitudes and emotions towards mathematics.
Introduction and review of cartilage and craniofacial growth
2025-04-02

Abstract This special issue on Cartilage and Craniofacial Growth builds upon more than a century of work on the development of cranial cartilages. Illuminating work has been done in recent years on the cranial cartilages that serve as the template for much endochondral bone of the skull ‐ the chondrocranium. With a focus on elements of the chondrocranium at the tissue level, the papers in this issue emphasize key characteristics of hyaline cartilage to skull morphogenesis. Based on matrix properties and cellular capabilities, cartilage is the ideal skeletal tissue for directional growth, but it also has multiple possible fates beyond its well‐established importance as the source for endochondral components of the skull. In this issue, we have provided a greater focus on other fates, including persistence as cartilage or dictating the position of facial bones that are adjacent to cartilage which will disappear; that is, cartilage has both direct and indirect roles in facial morphogenesis. At the tissue level, cartilage is also important in a greatly prolonged temporal manner. Chondrogenic and osteogenic cells have a close relationship prior to differentiation, and endochondral bones have a long window of development time for change beyond the initial formation of a cartilage template.
Dolomite luminescence thermochronometry reconstructs the low-temperature exhumation history of carbonate rocks in the central Apennines, Italy
2025-04-02

Abstract The lack of available thermochronological methods has so far hampered reconstructions of the cooling and exhumation histories in carbonate rock regions. Here we develop a new trapped charge thermochronometry tool based on the thermoluminescence signal of dolomite. It has a closure temperature range of 45–75 °C and is applicable to carbonate domains with cooling rates of 2–200 °C per million years. This new thermochronometric technique is tested in the central Apennines, where seismogenic, carbonate-hosted normal faulting controls regional neotectonics. Thermoluminescence dating is applied along the northeastern shoulder of the Late Pliocene-Quaternary L’Aquila Intermontane Basin, at the footwall of the extensional Monte Marine Fault. Dolomite samples from the bedrock have a mean thermoluminescence age of 4.60 ± 0.35 millions of years, whereas dolomite clasts within the fault damage zone have a mean thermoluminescence age of 2.53 ± 0.13 millions of years. These new thermoluminescence ages, corroborated by the existing stratigraphic constraints, (i) provide the first direct, low-temperature exhumation ages of the carbonate bedrocks in the central Apennines; (ii) constrain the activity of the basin boundary faults along the northeastern shoulder of the L’Aquila Intermontane Basin. Our study demonstrates the potential of dolomite luminescence thermochronometry in reconstructing the low-temperature cooling/exhumation history of carbonate bedrocks.
Assessing the association between menstrual cycle phase and voice-gender categorization: no robust evidence for an association
2025-04-02

Introduction Hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle are known to influence a wide variety of cognitive-emotional processes and behavior. Mate choice and changes in attractiveness ratings for faces and voices are often investigated in this context, but research on changes in voice-gender perception independent of attractiveness ratings is rare even though the voice is an essential element in social interactions. For this reason, we investigated the influence of cycle phase and levels of estrogen and progesterone on performance in a voice-gender categorization task. Our expectation was to find a more pronounced other-sex effect, so faster and more accurate reactions for masculine voices, in the follicular (fertile) phase than in the luteal phase. Methods We measured 65 healthy, naturally-cycling women, half of them in the follicular phase and the other half in the luteal phase. For the analyses, we used signal detection theory (SDT) measures in addition to reaction times and percent of correct reactions. The study was preregistered after measuring the first 33 participants and prior to any data analyses ( https://osf.io/dteyn ). Results Cycle phase and hormone levels showed no significant effect on reaction time or SDT measures. This was the case both using frequentist analyses and Bayesian statistics. Reaction time was influenced by voice-gender, with faster reactions for feminine voices compared to masculine voices in both cycle phases. Discussion Taken together, our results add to the increasing number of studies that do not find an interaction of menstrual cycle phase and reaction to gendered stimuli.
Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies beyond the local X-ray Universe: an X-ray spectral sample
2025-04-02

ABSTRACT Narrow-line Seyfert 1 AGNs (NLS1s) represent a unique stage in the black hole growth history, characterized by low black hole masses of approximately – solar masses and around-Eddington accretion rates. X-ray studies of NLS1s have largely been confined to the local Universe ( ), while their broad-line counterparts and radio-loud quasars have been more extensively investigated at higher redshifts. In this work, we conducted an X-ray spectral analysis for 14 SDSS-observed NLS1s at in the eRASS1 catalogue. We found that all of their eROSITA observations agree with the expected rest-frame 2 keV monochromatic luminosity given their rest-frame 2500 Å monochromatic luminosity, further supporting evidence of AGN emission. Secondly, when fitted with a power-law model, most continuum spectra between 0.7 and 7 keV in their rest frames necessitate photon indices . Notably, the highest photon index of around 4.7 in one of our NLS1 AGNs hints at a significant contribution from soft excess emission. Finally, our analysis demonstrates that we can align the Eddington ratios with optical measurements by applying a correction factor between 10 and 120 to their X-ray luminosity. Although measurement uncertainty remains considerable, our findings suggest that assumptions for the standard geometrically thin accretion disc model made in previous estimations of this correction factor may not apply to near or super-Eddington NLS1 AGNs. Finally, we also compare this sample with extremely variable nearby NLS1s and other X-ray-weak AGNs, such as JWST-observed, broad-line AGNs at , and underscores the importance of deeper X-ray surveys for more X-ray-weak NLS1s.
Motivating reasons: The state of the question
2025-04-02

Abstract This article surveys the state of the currently burgeoning debate on motivating reasons, which spans across theoretical and practical philosophy. I focus on the metaphysical project at the forefront of this debate, that is, the quest for an account of the nature of motivating reasons, which covers both reasons for which we act as well as reasons for which we hold attitudes. The discussion is organized around two questions at the heart of this project: (i) What kind of entity are motivating reasons? (ii) How are motivating reasons related to the actions or attitudes we perform or hold for them?
Bright and Dark States of Light: The Quantum Origin of Classical Interference
2025-04-03

Classical theory asserts that several electromagnetic waves cannot interact with matter if they interfere destructively to zero, whereas quantum mechanics predicts a nontrivial light-matter dynamics even when the average electric field vanishes. Here, we show that in quantum optics, classical interference emerges from collective bright and dark states of light, i.e., particular cases of two-mode binomial states, which are entangled superpositions of multimode photon-number states. This makes it possible to explain wave interference using the particle description of light and the superposition principle for linear systems only. It also sheds new light on an old debate concerning the origin of complementarity.
Implementation of Matrix-Matched Semiquantification of PFAS in AFFF-Contaminated Soil
2025-04-03

This study presents a novel semiquantification approach for nontarget screening (NTS), combining matrix-matched calibration and ionization class-specific average calibration curves (ACCs) to address the lack of analytical reference standards for most per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Ionization class-specific ACCs for carboxylic and sulfonic acids, sulfonamides, and cationic PFAS result in high accuracy, with median absolute accuracy quotients below 2.27×. The approach was applied to soil impacted by aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) contamination. A total of 96 tentatively identified PFAS were semiquantified in addition to 28 quantified compounds based on available standards. Semiquantified concentrations exceeded those of target analytes, demonstrating the critical role of this method in capturing broader PFAS contamination. In this case, validation against extractable organofluorine (EOF) showed a 102% closed mass balance. The innovative approach not only enables comprehensive PFAS contamination assessment in complex matrices but also expands the scope of the NTS for environmental monitoring, remediation, and risk assessment of AFFF-contaminated sites.
Educational attainment and cognitive behavioral therapy treatment outcome in late-life depression: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial
2025-04-03

Participants may have responded differently to LLD-CBT and SUI depending on their previous school and vocational education. This may be taken into account for future research and potentially when treating patients with LLD and individualizing interventions for this patient group.
Bacterial and Viral Coinfections in Adult Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 Throughout the Pandemic: A Multinational Cohort Study in the EuCARE Project
2025-04-03

Abstract Background Limited evidence exists on how bacterial and viral coinfections have developed since the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant emerged. We investigated whether community-onset coinfections in adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 differed during the wild type, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron periods and whether such coinfections were associated with an increased risk of mortality. Methods We conducted a multinational cohort study including COVID-19 hospitalizations until 30 April 2023 in 5 European countries. The outcome was bacterial and viral coinfections based on 5 test modalities. Variant periods were compared with regard to occurrences of coinfections and risk ratios for coinfections (Omicron vs pre-Omicron), as well as association with in-hospital mortality (Omicron vs pre-Omicron). Results A total of 29 564 cases were included: 12 601 wild type, 5256 Alpha, 2433 Delta, and 9274 Omicron. The coinfection rate was 2.6% (327/12 601) for wild type, 2.0% (105/5256) for Alpha, 3.2% (77/2433) for Delta, and 7.9% (737/9274) for Omicron. Omicron had a significantly increased risk ratio of coinfection when compared with preceding variants (1.88 [95% CI, 1.53–2.32], P &amp;lt; .001). These results were consistent across several subgroup analyses. An increased occurrence (19% [232/1246] vs 11% [3042/28 318]) and adjusted risk (1.69 [95% CI, 1.49–1.91], P &amp;lt; .001) of in-hospital mortality were observed in patients with a verified coinfection as compared with patients without a coinfection. Conclusions Bacterial and viral coinfections were more prevalent during the Omicron period as compared with preceding variants. Such coinfections were associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality, calling for sustained monitoring and clinical vigilance.
Effect of 4 Weeks Resonance Frequency Breathing on Glucose Metabolism and Autonomic Tone in Healthy Adults
2025-04-03

Our findings introduce RFB-HRV-BF training as an effective tool to modulate the autonomic nervous system with a shift towards the parasympathetic tone. Along with the observed decrease in glycemia in those with lower insulin sensitivity, RFB-HRV-BF training emerges as a promising non-pharmacological approach to improve glucose metabolism which has to be further investigated in prediabetes and diabetes.
Monomers and short oligomers of human RAD52 promote single-strand annealing
2025-04-04

Genome maintenance and stability rely on the repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Breaks can be repaired via the single-strand-annealing pathway mediated by the protein RAD52. RAD52 oligomerizes to rings that are thought to promote annealing. However, rings have only been observed at micromolar concentrations at which annealing activity is impaired. Thus, it is unclear which oligomeric form is responsible for annealing. We combined single-molecule mass photometry with biochemical assays to determine the in vitro oligomeric states of human RAD52. We found that RAD52 was mostly monomeric at lower nanomolar concentrations. With increasing concentration, RAD52 oligomerized and formed rings with a variable stoichiometry from heptamers to tridecamers consistent with an oligomerization model of noncooperative assembly coupled with preferential cyclization. Under conditions where hardly any rings were present, RAD52 already promoted single-strand annealing in vitro. Our findings indicate that in vitro single-strand annealing can be mediated by monomers and short oligomers of RAD52. The oligomerization model suggests that ring formation is similar to a phase transition whereby rings are a reservoir to replenish the monomer and short oligomer pool. This pool has a nearly constant concentration which may be optimal for annealing and would be independent, for example, of the amount of DNA damage, protein upregulation, or the cell cycle.
Chromosome 1p Loss and 1q Gain for Grading of Meningioma
2025-04-04

Importance The World Health Organization (WHO) classification of central nervous system tumors (CNS) grading for meningioma was updated in 2021 to include rare molecular features, namely homozygous deletions of CDKN2A or CDKN2B and TERT promotor alterations. Previous work, including the cIMPACT-NOW statement, has discussed the potential value of including chromosomal copy number alterations to help refine the current grading system. Objective To identify chromosomal copy number alterations that could be used to improve the current CNS WHO grading of meningioma. Design, Setting, and Participants In this cohort study, patients with surgically treated meningioma were followed-up until recurrence or progression of disease or death. Chromosomal copy number alterations were then correlated with progression-free survival (PFS) to identify new outcome biomarkers. This study included patients with a histopathological diagnosis of meningioma from multiple institutions in Canada, the US, and Germany, with molecular data collection starting in 2016. Data were analyzed from January to September 2024. Exposures All patients underwent surgery for meningioma and a subset underwent radiation therapy. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was PFS. Cox regression analysis was used to identify copy number alterations associated with outcomes in the context of WHO grading. Results Among 1964 patients with meningioma (1256 female; median [IQR] age, 58 [48-69] years) assessed, loss of chromosome 1p in WHO grade 1 meningiomas was associated with significantly worse outcomes compared with tumors without loss of 1p (median PFS, 5.83 [95% CI, 4.36-∞] years vs 34.54 [95% CI, 16.01-∞] years; log-rank P &amp;amp;lt; .001). Outcomes of patients with WHO grade 1 tumors with loss of chromosome 1p were comparable to those of patients with WHO grade 2 tumors (median PFS, 4.48 [95% CI, 4.09-5.18] years). Combined loss of chromosome 1p and gain of chromosome 1q were associated with outcomes that were highly concordant with WHO grade 3 tumors, regardless of initial grade (median PFS: grade 1, 2.23 [95% CI, 1.28-∞] years; grade 2, 1.90 [95% CI, 1.23-2.25] years; grade 3, 2.27 [95% CI, 1.68-3.05] years). Conclusions and Relevance These findings highlight a role for cytogenetic profiling in the next iteration of CNS WHO grading, with a specific focus on chromosome 1p loss and 1q gain, suggesting that chromosome 1p loss, in addition to 22q loss, should be added as a criterion for a CNS WHO grade of 2 and addition of 1q gain as a criterion for a CNS WHO grade of 3.
Probiotic colonization of Xenopus laevis skin causes short-term changes in skin microbiomes and gene expression
2025-04-04

ABSTRACT Probiotic therapies have been suggested for amelioration efforts of wildlife disease such as chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium spp. in amphibians. However, there is a lack of information on how probiotic application affects resident microbial communities and immune responses. To better understand these interactions, we hypothesized that probiotic application would alter microbial community composition and host immune expression in Xenopus laevis . Accordingly, we applied three amphibian-derived and anti- Batrachochytrium bacteria strains (two Pseudomonas spp. and one Stenotrophomonas sp.) to X. laevis in monoculture and also as a cocktail. We quantified microbial community structure using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We also quantified genes involved in X. laevis immune responses using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and skin transcriptomics over 1 and 3-week periods. All probiotic treatments successfully colonized X. laevis skin for 3 weeks, but with differential amplicon sequence variant (ASV) sequence counts over time. Bacterial community and immune gene effects were most pronounced at week 1 post-probiotic exposure and decreased thereafter. All probiotic treatments caused initial changes to bacterial community alpha and beta diversity, including reduction in diversity from pre-exposure anti- Batrachochytrium bacterial ASV relative abundance. Probiotic colonization by Pseudomonas probiotic strain RSB5.4 reduced expression of regulatory T cell marker ( FOXP3, measured with RT-qPCR) and caused the greatest gene expression changes detected by transcriptomics. Single bacterial strains and mixed cultures, therefore, altered amphibian microbiome-immune interactions. This work will help to improve our understanding of the role of the microbiome-immune interface underlying both disease dynamics and emergent eco-evolutionary processes. IMPORTANCE Amphibian skin microbial communities have an important role in determining disease outcomes, in part through complex yet poorly understood interactions with host immune systems. Here we report that probiotic-induced changes to the Xenopus laevis frog skin microbial communities also result in significant alterations to these animals’ immune gene expression. These findings underscore the interdependence of amphibian skin immune-microbiome interactions.
Structural elements of cyanobacterial co-factor-independent phosphoglycerate mutase that mediate regulation by PirC
2025-04-04

ABSTRACT The 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate-independent phosphoglycerate mutase (iPGAM) has been identified as a regulating key point in the carbon storage metabolism of cyanobacteria. Upon nitrogen starvation, the iPGAM is inhibited by the P II -interacting regulator PirC, which is released from its interaction partner P II due to elevated 2-oxoglutarate levels. In silico analysis of 338 different iPGAMs revealed a deep-rooted distinctive evolution of iPGAMs in cyanobacteria. Remarkably, cyanobacterial iPGAMs possess a unique loop structure and an extended C-terminus. Our mass photometry analysis suggests that iPGAM forms a complex with three individual PirC monomers. Biolayer interferometry revealed that the PirC–iPGAM complex is affected by the unique loop and the C-terminal structural elements of iPGAM. A C-terminally truncated iPGAM enzyme showed loss of control by PirC and twofold increased enzymatic activity compared to the iPGAM-WT (wild type), as demonstrated by enzyme assays. By contrast, deleting the loop structure significantly reduced the activity of this variant. Physiological experiments were carried out with different iPGAM variant strains of Synechocystis , in which these structural elements were deleted. The strain expressing the C-terminally truncated iPGAM showed a similar overproduction of polyhydroxybutyrate as deletion of the iPGAM regulator PirC. However, in contrast to the latter, these strains showed higher overall biomass accumulation, making them a better chassis for the production of polyhydroxybutyrate or other valuable substances than the PirC-deficient mutant. IMPORTANCE The primordial cyanobacteria were responsible for developing oxygenic photosynthesis early in evolution. In the pathways of fixed carbon allocation, the co-factor-independent phosphoglycerate mutase (iPGAM) plays a crucial role by directing the first CO 2 fixation product, 3-phosphoglycerate, toward central anabolic glycolytic-derived pathways. This work reveals a distinct evolution of iPGAM within oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. We have identified two specific segments in cyanobacterial iPGAMs that affect the control of iPGAM activity through its specific interactor protein PirC. This understanding of iPGAM has allowed us to engineer cyanobacterial strains with altered carbon fluxes. Since cyanobacteria can directly convert CO 2 into valuable products, our results demonstrate a novel approach for developing a chassis for biotechnical use.