julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Different Endurance Exercise Modalities, Different Affective Response: A Within-Subject Study
2021-08-13

Affect experienced during an exercise session is supposed to predict future exercise behavior. However, empirical evidence reveals high variability in affective response to different exercise modalities. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to compare acute affective response and its variation during three different endurance exercise modalities: (a) moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE), (b) vigorous-intensity continuous exercise (VICE), and (c) high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE). Using the dual-mode theory as a theoretical framework, cognitive and interoceptive factors were considered as potential predictors of in-task affective response. In a within-subject design, 40 insufficiently active healthy participants (aged from 20 to 40 years) attended three sessions per exercise modality on a cycle ergometer. Affective valence (measured by the Feeling Scale), two cognitive factors (perceived competence and awareness of interoceptive cues), and one interoceptive factor (heart rate) were assessed before, during, and after each exercise session. Mixed models with three levels ( subject, exercise session , and time point ) revealed more positive affective valence during MICE compared with VICE ( p &amp;lt; 0.001) and HIIE ( p &amp;lt; 0.01), while there was no significant difference between the latter two. Levene's test results showed the highest variability of in-task affective valence during VICE ( p s &amp;lt; 0.01). Regarding the course across the session, MICE was associated with a constant slight increase in affective valence from pre- to post-exercise ( p &amp;lt; 0.05), whereas VICE and HIIE caused a decline in pleasure, followed by an affective rebound immediately after exercise termination ( p s &amp;lt; 0.01). The highest importance of cognitive and interoceptive factors for in-task affective valence was observed in VICE ( p s &amp;lt; 0.05). The current findings provide support for the tenets of the dual-mode theory, however, indicating that there may be differences in the affect-intensity relationship between continuous and interval exercise. In conclusion, the study results concerning previously insufficiently active individuals extend the knowledge of how exercise can positively shape affective well-being depending on exercise modality and psychophysiological influences. This knowledge enables public health practitioners to design more individualized activity recommendations, thereby improving the subjective experience of exercise.
Elasticity in crystals with high density of local defects : insights\\n from ultra-soft colloids
2021-08-13

In complex crystals close to melting or at finite temperatures, different\\ntypes of defects are ubiquitous and their role becomes relevant in the\\nmechanical response of these solids. Conventional elasticity theory fails to\\nprovide a microscopic basis to include and account for the motion of\\npoint-defects in an otherwise ordered crystalline structure. We study the\\nelastic properties of a point-defect rich crystal within a first-principles\\ntheoretical framework derived from microscopic equations of motion. This\\nframework allows us to make specific predictions pertaining to the mechanical\\nproperties which we can validate through deformation experiments performed in\\nMolecular Dynamics simulations.\\n
The Natural Environment of Physical Activity and Perceived Stress: The Mediating Role of Specific Recovery Experiences
2021-08-13

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate a potential psychological mechanism of green exercise on perceived stress. More precisely, it was analyzed whether the relationship between the natural environment of physical activity and perceived stress was mediated by recovery experiences, namely by psychological detachment and relaxation. An ecological momentary assessment approach was used, meaning that specific recovery experiences were assessed directly in real-life situations and multiple times. Materials and methods: Thirty five women and 27 men took part in the ecological momentary assessment study over seven days ( M age = 32.30 years, SD = 10.23, 53% had a degree from a university or a university of applied science). If participants were involved in PA lasting at least 10 min on a given day, they had to answer questionnaires on the smartphone both prior to the activity and immediately afterwards. Perceived naturalness, psychological detachment and relaxation were assessed after physical activity events, whereas perceived stress was measured before and after each physical activity event. A two-level mediation analysis was conducted. The direct and indirect effect of perceived naturalness on perceived stress after engagement in physical activity was analyzed on the within- and between-person levels. Results and conclusion: Results showed that the relaxation as a recovery experience served as mediator between perceived naturalness and perceived stress after engagement in physical activity, but only on a within-person level. This means that the more natural a given individual appraised the physical activity environment, the more relaxed he or she felt during physical activity (β = 0.3 22, p &amp;lt; 0.0005). Furthermore the more relaxed the individual was, the less stress he or she perceived after exercising (β = −0.221, p &amp;lt; 0.0005). The psychological detachment as a recovery experience in contrast, did not serve as mediator, neither at the within- and the between-person level. Considering the indirect effect of perceived naturalness on perceived stress and the importance of relaxation experiences, current findings suggest that research should put greater emphasis on examining the specific psychological mechanisms of green exercise to make even better use of its beneficial effects in the future.
Saccadic suppression by way of retinal image processing
2021-08-13

Humans make eye movements such as saccades four times every second. Saccades disrupt the visual flow on the retina; however, visual perception remains a stable and coherent process. This is a striking achievement of the visual system. Visual stability around the time of these eye movements is partially associated with a reduction in visual sensitivity, a phenomenon known as saccadic suppression. While saccadic suppression has been extensively characterized at the perceptual and neural levels, its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. According to the favored view, eye-movement related signals play a central role in the genesis of saccadic suppression. Despite extensive efforts to substantiate these claims, the neural origin of such signals has not been established. In this dissertation, we challenge the dominant view that saccadic suppression is triggered by eye-movement related signals. Instead, using electrophysiology in mouse, pig, and macaque retina, 2-photon calcium imaging, computational modeling, and human psychophysics we show evidence that visual mechanisms starting at the retina account for perceptual saccadic suppression. Cellular and circuit level descriptions of these retinal mechanisms are presented in detail. Most notably, we find a novel retinal processing motif underlying retinal saccadic suppression, “dynamic reversal suppression”, which is triggered by sequential stimuli containing contrast reversals. This motif does not involve inhibition but relies on nonlinear transformation of the inherently slow responses of cone photoreceptors by downstream retinal pathways. We also found that eye-movement related signals act to shorten the suppression resulting from visual mechanisms - a diametrically opposite involvement of eye movement signals than proposed in the literature. Overall, our results establish a neural locus of saccadic suppression, and provide detailed mechanistic insights underlying it. These findings resolve a long-standing open question concerning the origin of saccadic suppression. Given that the retinal saccadic suppression is triggered by sequential visual stimulation, our results also describe retinal processing of dynamic stimuli.
Bat Diversity in Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve, Northeastern Vietnam: A Review with New Records from Mangrove Ecosystem
2021-08-14

The Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve is internationally renowned for its spectacular karst landscape. It covers a large area with hundreds of limestone islands and various ecosystems including caves, tropical forests, and mangroves. However, previous surveys were only conducted in terrestrial ecosystems on Cat Ba Island. Therefore, bats inhabiting mangroves and the remaining islands did not receive attention from scientists up to 2014. To initially fill in the gaps, we conducted ten bat surveys between 2015 and 2020 with an emphasis on mangroves and previously unsurveyed islands. Bats were captured using mist nets and harp traps. Twenty-three species belonging to 13 genera of six families were recorded during the surveys. Of these, four species (Macroglossus minimus, Myotis hasselti, Phoniscus jagorii, Tylonycteris fulvida) are new to the reserve. Remarkably, 15 species belonging to seven genera of five families were captured in mangrove, which is the highest species diversity for bats reported from any mangrove area in mainland Southeast Asia. Based on results from the surveys and literature review, we here provide the most updated bat diversity of the reserve with confirmed records of 32 bat species belonging to 16 genera of six families. Historical records of each species in the literature were reviewed. Two species, Scotophilus heathi and Scotophilus kuhlii, are unconfirmed because of unclear evidence in previous publications. Results of this study indicated that the mangrove ecosystem is important for bats but still poorly studied in Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve and Vietnam as a whole. In addition, morphological measurements, echolocation data, distributional records, and conservation status of each species are also given in this paper for potential research and conservation campaigns in the future.
COVID-19 and Myocarditis: Findings from Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Endomyocardial Biopsies
2021-08-14

Abstract Diagnosing myocarditis is still challenging due to its varying presentation ranging from none or mild symptoms to sudden cardiac death. Clinical presentation, electrocardiography, and cardiac biomarkers seem not to be sufficient for a reliable diagnosis. In fact, an unequivocal myocardial characterization is needed, applying endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), a technique which demonstrates high accuracy to histology. Besides the assessment of functional parameters (volumes, ejection fraction), established late gadolinium enhancement and recent T1 and T2 mapping techniques including the calculation of extracellular volume fraction allow distinct myocardial tissue analysis by a noninvasive approach without the need of radiation. However, EMB is the only method which allows the identification of the underlying etiology of cardiac inflammation. Since myocardial damage and inflammation seem to be prevalent in a considerable number of patients even in the mid-term range after COVID-19, CMR and EMB seem to be adequate tools to further investigate these findings. In this article, we will (1) review current knowledge about the role of CMR in the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) report about our own EMB findings in COVID-19 patients in the Cardiopathology Center of our University Hospital.
New hybrid evolutionary models for spatial prediction of soil properties in Kurdistan
2021-08-14

Abstract With intense human activity causing constant environmental change, there is a greater need than ever to have accurate and frequently updated soil information. Traditional soil maps are large‐scale polygon maps of soil type and implicitly assume no variation in soil properties within polygons. DSM approaches can increase the accuracy of modelling. Therefore, the current study was conducted to evaluate the applicability of a classic adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and three hybridized ANFIS models (i.e. particle swarm optimization—PSO, the genetic model—GA and the artificial bee colony model—ABC) for predicting eight soil properties in western Iran. The ANFIS+ABC and ANFIS+PSO approaches showed the best performance in predicting soil properties such as soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (N). The ABC+ANFIS‐hybrid model increased R 2 values by 0.32, 0.24, 0.23 and 0.37 and decreased RMSEs by 11%, 32.7 mg kg −1 , 0.08 mmhos cm −1 and 0.3% when predicting SOC, K, EC and SP, respectively, compared with the ANFIS model alone. Also, the use of the PSO+ANFIS‐hybrid model led to an increase in R 2 values of 0.44, 0.29, 0.34 and 0.36 and a decrease in RMSEs of 0.02, 0.29 ppm, 0.34% and 0.36% for predicting N, P, pH and TNV, respectively, compared with the ANFIS model alone. In general, the ANFIS+ABC and ANFIS+PSO improved the prediction accuracies for SOC and N by 32% and 24%, respectively, compared with the classic ANFIS model. As a whole, our findings demonstrated the ability of hybrid models for improving the accuracy of the ANFIS approach for predicting soil features in western Iran, which supports our main hypothesis.
Feasibility and Implementation of a Deep Learning MR Reconstruction for TSE Sequences in Musculoskeletal Imaging
2021-08-16

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the musculoskeletal system is one of the most common examinations in clinical routine. The application of Deep Learning (DL) reconstruction for MRI is increasingly gaining attention due to its potential to improve the image quality and reduce the acquisition time simultaneously. However, the technology has not yet been implemented in clinical routine for turbo spin echo (TSE) sequences in musculoskeletal imaging. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the technical feasibility and evaluate the image quality. Sixty examinations of knee, hip, ankle, shoulder, hand, and lumbar spine in healthy volunteers at 3 T were included in this prospective, internal-review-board-approved study. Conventional (TSES) and DL-based TSE sequences (TSEDL) were compared regarding image quality, anatomical structures, and diagnostic confidence. Overall image quality was rated to be excellent, with a significant improvement in edge sharpness and reduced noise compared to TSES (p &lt; 0.001). No difference was found concerning the extent of artifacts, the delineation of anatomical structures, and the diagnostic confidence comparing TSES and TSEDL (p &gt; 0.05). Therefore, DL image reconstruction for TSE sequences in MSK imaging is feasible, enabling a remarkable time saving (up to 75%), whilst maintaining excellent image quality and diagnostic confidence.
Polyglutamine‐Expanded Ataxin‐3: A Target Engagement Marker for Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 in Peripheral Blood
2021-08-16

Abstract Background Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 is a rare neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the ataxin‐3 gene. Although no curative therapy is yet available, preclinical gene‐silencing approaches to reduce polyglutamine (polyQ) toxicity demonstrate promising results. In view of upcoming clinical trials, quantitative and easily accessible molecular markers are of critical importance as pharmacodynamic and particularly as target engagement markers. Objective We aimed at developing an ultrasensitive immunoassay to measure specifically polyQ‐expanded ataxin‐3 in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Methods Using the novel single molecule counting ataxin‐3 immunoassay, we analyzed cross‐sectional and longitudinal patient biomaterials. Results Statistical analyses revealed a correlation with clinical parameters and a stability of polyQ‐expanded ataxin‐3 during conversion from the pre‐ataxic to the ataxic phases. Conclusions The novel immunoassay is able to quantify polyQ‐expanded ataxin‐3 in plasma and CSF, whereas ataxin‐3 levels in plasma correlate with disease severity. Longitudinal analyses demonstrated a high stability of polyQ‐expanded ataxin‐3 over a short period. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Diagnostic performance of capillary and venous blood samples in the detection of Loa loa and Mansonella perstans microfilaraemia using light microscopy
2021-08-16

Background Loa loa and Mansonella perstans –the causative agents of loiasis and mansonellosis—are vector-borne filarial parasites co-endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Diagnosis of both infections is usually established by microscopic analysis of blood samples. It was recently established that the odds for detecting Plasmodium spp . is higher in capillary (CAP) blood than in venous (VEN) blood. In analogy to this finding this analysis evaluates potential differences in microfilaraemia of L . loa and M . perstans in samples of CAP and VEN blood. Methods Recruitment took place between 2015 and 2019 at the CERMEL in Lambaréné, Gabon and its surrounding villages. Persons of all ages presenting to diagnostic services of the research center around noon were invited to participate in the study. A thick smear of each 10 microliters of CAP and VEN blood was prepared and analysed by a minimum of two independent microscopists. Differences of log2-transformed CAP and VEN microfilaraemia were computed and expressed as percentages. Furthermore, odds ratios for paired data were computed to quantify the odds to detect microfilariae in CAP blood versus in VEN blood. Results A total of 713 participants were recruited among whom 52% were below 30 years of age, 27% between 30–59 years of age and 21% above 60 years of age. Male-female ratio was 0.84. Among 152 participants with microscopically-confirmed L . loa infection median (IQR) microfilaraemia was 3,650 (275–11,100) per milliliter blood in CAP blood and 2,775 (200–8,875) in VEN blood (p&lt;0.0001), while among 102 participants with M . perstans this was 100 (0–200) and 100 (0–200), respectively (p = 0.44). Differences in linear models amount up to an average of +34.5% (95% CI: +11.0 to +63.0) higher L . loa microfilaria quantity in CAP blood versus VEN blood and for M . perstans it was on average higher by +24.8% (95% CI: +0.0 to +60.5). Concordantly, the odds for detection of microfilaraemia in CAP samples versus VEN samples was 1.24 (95% CI: 0.65–2.34) and 1.65 (95% CI: 1.0–2.68) for infections with L . loa and M . perstans , respectively. Conclusion This analysis indicates that average levels of microfilaraemia of L . loa are higher in CAP blood samples than in VEN blood samples. This might have implications for treatment algorithms of onchocerciasis and loiasis, in which exact quantification of L . loa microfilaraemia is of importance. Furthermore, the odds for detection of M . perstans microfilariae was higher in CAP than in VEN blood which may pre-dispose CAP blood for detection of M . perstans infection in large epidemiological studies when sampling of large blood quantities is not feasible. No solid evidence for a higher odds of L . loa microfilariae detection in CAP blood was revealed, which might be explained by generally high levels of L . loa microfilaraemia in CAP and VEN blood above the limit of detection of 100 microfilariae/ml. Yet, it cannot be excluded that the study was underpowered to detect a moderate difference.
The effect of zolpidem on targeted memory reactivation during sleep
2021-08-16

According to the active system consolidation theory, memory consolidation during sleep relies on the reactivation of newly encoded memory representations. This reactivation is orchestrated by the interplay of sleep slow oscillations, spindles, and theta, which are in turn modulated by certain neurotransmitters like GABA to enable long-lasting plastic changes in the memory store. Here we asked whether the GABAergic system and associated changes in sleep oscillations are functionally related to memory reactivation during sleep. We administered the GABA A agonist zolpidem (10 mg) in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. To specifically focus on the effects on memory reactivation during sleep, we experimentally induced such reactivations by targeted memory reactivation (TMR) with learning-associated reminder cues presented during post-learning slow-wave sleep (SWS). Zolpidem significantly enhanced memory performance with TMR during sleep compared with placebo. Zolpidem also increased the coupling of fast spindles and theta to slow oscillations, although overall the power of slow spindles and theta was reduced compared with placebo. In an uncorrected exploratory analysis, memory performance was associated with slow spindle responses to TMR in the zolpidem condition, whereas it was associated with fast spindle responses in placebo. These findings provide tentative first evidence that GABAergic activity may be functionally implicated in memory reactivation processes during sleep, possibly via its effects on slow oscillations, spindles and theta as well as their interplay.
Promotion of physical activity-related health competence in physical education: A person-oriented approach for evaluating the GEKOS intervention within a cluster randomized controlled trial
2021-08-16

A central goal of physical education (PE) is to empower students to be physically active in a health-enhancing way. Therefore, using a competence-based approach, the objective of the health- and fitness-related PE intervention ‘Promotion of physical activity-related health competence in PE’ (GEKOS) was to address practical and theoretical content regarding training, fitness, and health. The aim of this person-oriented study was to examine differential effects of the GEKOS intervention on control competence and related knowledge, skills, abilities, and motivation. A total of 860 ninth graders were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. Intervention group students received six PE lessons that combined practical and theoretical content regarding training, fitness, and health. Measurements were taken before, directly after, and with a follow-up after 8–12 weeks. Students completed a knowledge test and a fitness test, and filled out scales considering motivation and perceived control competence. Latent profile analysis and multinomial logistic regression were estimated. Five patterns of outcome measures were found. Intervention group students transitioned significantly more often to patterns with improved outcome values. The intervention was especially effective for a subgroup of students who initially had rather low outcome values. For a small proportion of students, the intervention entailed a loss of health-related motivation. The study indicated that students with low control competence and related knowledge, skills, abilities, and motivation can benefit from the GEKOS intervention. Future studies should investigate modes of actions and interventions that explicitly address motivation and vary the content and methods used in PE.