julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic relationships and biogeographical history of the large extinct European testudinids
2015-02-28

Background. Large-sized testudinids had a long evolutionary history in Europe during the last 50 million years before becoming extinct in the beginning of the Pleistocene. Despite a 150-year long history in research and a decent fossil record, the European large testudinids have received limited attention so far. Methods. New excavations, descriptions of new specimens from Greece, Spain and Germany, revisions of previously published European taxa and comparative studies with extant testudinids now provide a major advancement in understanding the anatomy and evolutionary history of these turtles. This contribution aims to provide an updated summary of the accumulated knowledge on European large tortoises and to explore in detail their phylogenetic relationships in a global context (including small-sized extinct and extant taxa). The phylogenetic analysis is based on a new character/taxon matrix of morphological characters. Parsimony analysis was performed both with and without molecular backbone constraints . Results. We describe new material of large testudinids from Greece, Spain and Germany and revise most of the available material that has been previously published. Our morphology-based results are promising since they are consistent with recent molecular studies in identifying large testudinids traditionally referred to the Geochelone complex as polyphyletic. Furthermore, we were able to reproduce the molecular phylogeny of Mediterranean tortoises ( Testudona ). Discussion. The phylogenetic framework presented here allows addressing several open questions of the history of testudinids. First of all, it hints to a more complex biogeographic history of European testudinids than previously recognized. Although the early Paleogene history of testudinids cannot be accurately traced at the moment it seems probable that, besides Asia and North America, Europe also played a major role in the early diversification of Testudinidae. We demonstrate that large European testudinids do not form a monophyletic lineage. The widely recognized genus Cheirogaster should only include the Eocene type species, and exclude other large Paleogene or giant Neogene taxa so far known. Our analysis reveals that large size evolved independently in several clades and in several continents during warmer parts of the Cenozoic. Besides this general scheme other factors might have played a role regionally (e.g. changes in vegetation, island isolation).
Cognition and Brain Function in Schizotypy: A Selective Review
2015-03-01

Schizotypy refers to a set of personality traits thought to reflect the subclinical expression of the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia. Here, we review the cognitive and brain functional profile associated with high questionnaire scores in schizotypy. We discuss empirical evidence from the domains of perception, attention, memory, imagery and representation, language, and motor control. Perceptual deficits occur early and across various modalities. While the neural mechanisms underlying visual impairments may be linked to magnocellular dysfunction, further effects may be seen downstream in higher cognitive functions. Cognitive deficits are observed in inhibitory control, selective and sustained attention, incidental learning, and memory. In concordance with the cognitive nature of many of the aberrations of schizotypy, higher levels of schizotypy are associated with enhanced vividness and better performance on tasks of mental rotation. Language deficits seem most pronounced in higher-level processes. Finally, higher levels of schizotypy are associated with reduced performance on oculomotor tasks, resembling the impairments seen in schizophrenia. Some of these deficits are accompanied by reduced brain activation, akin to the pattern of hypoactivations in schizophrenia spectrum individuals. We conclude that schizotypy is a construct with apparent phenomenological overlap with schizophrenia and stable interindividual differences that covary with performance on a wide range of perceptual, cognitive, and motor tasks known to be impaired in schizophrenia. The importance of these findings lies not only in providing a fine-grained neurocognitive characterization of a personality constellation known to be associated with real-life impairments, but also in generating hypotheses concerning the aetiology of schizophrenia.
The Oxford Handbook of Neolithic Europe
2015-03-01

This chapter explores early metallurgy and metalwork in Iberia and the western Mediterranean, focusing on the metal-using phase known as ‘Chalcolithic’. After providing a background on the Iberian peninsula and its potential importance for early metallurgy, the discussion turns to the earliest treatment of copper ores in the region and the socioeconomic context of early metallurgy. It then looks at the earliest use of copper artefacts in Italy and the Italian peninsula c. 4500–3500 BC, as well as Mediterranean France. Finally, it examines the social role played by copper artefacts and metallurgy in the late Neolithic and Chalcolithic societies of the western Mediterranean.
Invigorating Democracy in Turkey: The Agency of Organized Islamist Women
2015-03-01

The Islamist Justice and Development Party ( Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi , henceforth AKP) came to power in 2002 with the promise of consolidating democracy and strengthening civil society to further Turkey's bid to join the European Union (EU). To this end, in its first term in the parliament (2002–2007), the AKP implemented a set of political reforms that lifted the restrictions on political and civil rights such as the freedom of assembly, associations, and expression and improved the rule of law (Kubicek 2005; Müftüler-Baç 2005). The AKP, as it has promised in its election campaigns, also engaged civil society into policy-making processes. In the initial years of the AKP, diverse civil society actors gathered on broad civil society platforms and worked with the AKP government to consolidate Turkish democracy (Keyman 2010; Kubicek 2005). Although the Islamist segments of civil society began to integrate into the secular political sphere and to voice their demands more freely, Islamist women's civil society organizations (CSOs) have not fully benefited from this transforming political atmosphere under the AKP.
Acute effects of whole-body vibration on trunk and neck muscle activity in consideration of different vibration loads.
2015-03-01

The intention of this study was to systematically analyze the impact of biomechanical parameters in terms of different peak-to-peak displacements and knee angles on trunk and neck muscle activity during whole-body vibration (WBV). 28 healthy men and women (age 23 ± 3 years) performed four static squat positions (2 peak-to-peak displacements x 2 knee angles) on a side alternating vibration platform with and without vibration stimulus. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to record the neuromuscular activity of the erector spinae muscle, the rectus abdominis muscle, and of the splenius muscle. EMG levels normalized to maximal voluntary contractions ranged between 3.2 - 27.2 % MVC during WBV. The increase in muscle activity caused by WBV was significant, particularly for the back muscles, which was up to 19.0 % MVC. The impact of the factor 'condition' (F-values ranged from 13.4 to 132.0, p ≤ 0.001) and of the factor 'peak-to-peak displacement' (F-values ranged from 6.4 to 69.0 and p-values from < 0.001 to 0.01) were statistically significant for each muscle tested. However, the factor 'knee angle' only affected the back muscles (F-value 10.3 and 7.3, p ≤ 0.01). The results of this study should give more information for developing effective and safe training protocols for WBV treatment of the upper body. Key pointsThe maximum levels of muscle activity were significantly reached at high amplitudes at a vibration frequency of 30 Hz.WBV leads to a higher muscle activation of the lower back muscles than of the abdominal muscles.Both knee angles of 30° and 45° have similar effects on the vibration load and represent safe positions to prevent any actual harm.Certain combinations of the biomechanical variables have similar effects on the level of muscle activity.
Humor at the Airport? Visualization, Exposure, and Laughter in the “War on Terror”
2015-03-01

With the emergence of aviation as a target for terrorism and serious crime in the 1970s, the affective dimension of airport security changed drastically and is now carefully engineered as a zone of earnest and solemn protocol. Against a backdrop of bombings and hijackings, airport security today enacts a “no bullshit” approach to the “war on terror.” Humor has essentially been banned from screening operations. From signs reading “No bomb jokes, please,” to drastic consequences in the case of non-compliance, security appears as something that is not to be fooled around with. Against this background, this paper builds on ethnographic fieldwork at Hamburg airport during the German trial run with body scanners in 2011. During the time of observation, we found a surprising amount of reciprocal laughter and joking. We argue that this can be conceptualized as an attempt to break open a space for laughter, momentarily abandoning protocol in order to deal with issues of visualization, exposure, and shame which arise from the new focus on the fleshly anatomical body.
Enabling resilient smart grid communication over the information-centric C-DAX middleware
2015-03-01

Limited scalability, reliability, and security of todays utility communication infrastructures are main obstacles to the deployment of smart grid applications. The C-DAX project aims at providing and investigating a communication middleware for smart grids to address these problems, applying the information-centric networking and publish/subscribe paradigm. We briefly describe the C-DAX architecture, and extend it with a flexible resilience concept, based on resilient data forwarding and data redundancy. Different levels of resilience support are defined, and their underlying mechanisms are described. Experiments show fast and reliable performance of the resilience mechanism.
Chemokine levels and parasite- and allergen-specific antibody responses in children and adults with severe or uncomplicatedPlasmodium falciparummalaria
2015-03-01

Chemokine and antibody response profiles were investigated in children and adults with severe or uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria; the aim was to reveal which profiles are associated with severe disease, as often seen in nonimmune children, or with mild and uncomplicated disease, as seen in semi-immune adults. Blood samples were obtained from children under 5 years of age as well as adults with falciparum malaria. Classification of malaria was performed according to parasite densities and hemoglobin concentrations. Plasma levels of chemokines (IL-8, IP-10, MCP-4, TARC, PARC, MIP-1δ, eotaxins) were quantified, and antibody responses (IgE, IgG1, and IgG4) to P. falciparum, Entamoeba histolytica-specific antigen, and mite allergen extracts were determined. In children with severe malaria proinflammatory, IL-8, IP10, MIP-1δ, and LARC were at highly elevated levels, suggesting an association with severe disease. In contrast, the Th2-type chemokines TARC, PARC, and eotaxin-2 attained in children the same levels as in adults suggesting the evolution of immune regulatory components. In children with severe malaria, an elevated IgG1 and IgE reactivity to mite allergens and intestinal protozoan parasites was observed. In conclusion, exacerbated proinflammatory chemokines together with IgE responses to mite allergens or E. histolytica-specific antigen extract were observed in children with severe falciparum malaria.
Load-dependent flow splitting for traffic engineering in resilient OpenFlow networks
2015-03-01

In this paper we propose and investigate load-dependent load balancing for resilient OpenFlow networks. The objective is to spare extra capacity for the primary path of a traffic aggregate (flow) by accommodating excess traffic on its backup path. The contribution of the paper is manyfold. We explain existing OpenFlow features for traffic monitoring and dynamic flow splitting, combine them to implement load-dependent balancing of a flow's traffic on its primary and backup paths, and propose three different load-dependent flow splitting (LDFS) policies. We develop a performance evaluation method to quantify the capacity for load-balancing and protection switching methods such that expected traffic can be accommodated for envisioned overload and failure scenarios. Finally, we assess the usefulness of LDFS by comparison with traffic-agnostic single- or multipath forwarding methods.
Simultaneous estimation of spectral reflectance and normal from a small number of images
2015-03-01

Spectral reflectance is inherent characteristics of an object surface and therefore useful not only for computer vision tasks such as material classification but also compute graphics applications such as relighting. In this study, by integrating multispectral imaging and photometric stereo, we propose a method for simultaneously estimating the spectral reflectance and normal per pixel from a small number of images taken under multispectral and multidirectional light sources. In addition, taking attached shadows observed on curved surfaces into consideration, we derive the minimum number of images required for the simultaneous estimation and propose a method for selecting the optimal set of light sources. Through a number of experiments using real images, we show that our proposed method can estimate spectral reflectances without the ambiguity of per-pixel scales due to unknown normals, and that, when the optimal set of light sources is used, our method performs as well as the straightforward method using a large number of images. Moreover, we demonstrated that estimating both the spectral reflectances and normals is useful for relighting under novel illumination conditions.
Hyperbolicity of high-order systems of evolution equations
2015-03-01

We study properties of evolution equations which are first order in time and arbitrary order in space (FTNS). Following Gundlach and Martín-García (2006) we define strong and symmetric hyperbolicity for FTNS systems and examine the relationship between these definitions, and the analogous concepts for first-order systems. We demonstrate equivalence of the FTNS definition of strong hyperbolicity with the existence of a strongly hyperbolic first-order reduction. We also demonstrate equivalence of the FTNS definition, up to N = 4, of symmetric hyperbolicity with the existence of a symmetric-hyperbolic first-order reduction.
Traffic estimation of the PowerMatcher application for demand supply matching in smart grids
2015-03-01

The electrical grid is changing from a centralized system with predictable and controllable power generation to a system integrating large numbers of distributed energy resources including weather-dependent renewables. As a consequence, the future retail energy market for electrical energy will have many more participants and see more volatile prices than today, creating the need for new communication and trading infrastructures facilitating. In this paper, we briefly review PowerMatcher as a possible approach for such an infrastructure, and analytically evaluate its communication characteristics. PowerMatcher is a multiagent based smart grid communication framework developed by TNO which enables market integration of distributed energy resources and automatic demand supply matching. While the trading side of the framework is well understood, there is no study that considers the communication side. Our results show that PowerMatcher enables scalable retail energy transactions with millions of participants requiring only moderate resources on the communication's side.
Corrigendum to “HPV16 DNA status is a strong prognosticator of loco-regional control after postoperative radiochemotherapy of locally advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma: Results from a multicentre explorative study of the German Cancer Consortium Radiation Oncology Group (DKTK-ROG)” [Radiother. Oncol. 113 (2014) 317–323]
2015-03-01

The authors regret that in the above-mentioned article an error occurred. In the original manuscript, it was stated that patients who were treated between 2005 and 2010 with a curatively intended cisplatin based PORT-C were included in this retrospective study. The correct statement is that patients who were treated between 2004 and 2012 with a curatively intended cisplatin based PORT-C were included in this retrospective study. In each centre, the patients were included backwards from 2010 to 2005 or from 2012 to 2004 as HPV prevalence is increasing in recent years. All results presented in the manuscript remain unaffected. HPV16 DNA status is a strong prognosticator of loco-regional control after postoperative radiochemotherapy of locally advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma: Results from a multicentre explorative study of the German Cancer Consortium Radiation Oncology Group (DKTK-ROG)Radiotherapy and OncologyVol. 113Issue 3PreviewTo investigate the impact of HPV status in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), who received surgery and cisplatin-based postoperative radiochemotherapy. Full-Text PDF Open Access
I am so glad that we parted! Am I? On attitude representation, counterfactual thinking, and experienced regret
2015-03-01

Abstract Two studies examined how different linguistic forms affect the way in which people access memories of former close relationships that are irrevocably over. Remembering former relationships can activate either positive or negative attitudes. Whether people feel sorrow that bygones are in fact bygones depends on attitudinal valence, but also on the linguistic form in which people express their attitudes. More abstract linguistic forms prevent people from retrieving specific and detailed memories, and thus prompt them to generating more counterfactual thoughts and to experience stronger regret. In contrast, more concrete linguistic forms lead people to remember their personal past more vividly and accurately, and this subjective impression can forestall counterfactual thinking. Study 2 further shows that people are more prone to generate counterfactual thoughts when they focus on the final stage of their relationships rather than the beginning even when the valence of recalled attitudes and objective time are controlled.
Eudor-a: a Naturalistic, European Multi-centre Clinical Study of Edor Test in Adult Patients with Primary Depression
2015-03-01

Previous findings suggested that electrodermal hyporeactivity has a high sensitivity (up to 97%) and high raw specificity (up to 98%) for suicide. To evaluate prevalence, sensitivity and specificity of electrodermal hyporeactivity for suicide and suicide attempt, with and without death intent and with violent method or not, in adult patients with a primary diagnosis of depression. At each study site at least 100 patients with a primary diagnosis of depression, also in remission, will be recruited. Depressive symptomatology will be evaluated through the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale. Previous suicide attempts will be registered and the death intent of the worst attempt will be rated according to the first eight items of the Beck Suicide Intent Scale. The risk of suicide will be assessed according to rules and traditions at the centre. The EDOR Test (ElectroDermal Orienting Reactivity) will be performed. Two fingers are put on gold electrodes. Through headphones a moderately strong tone is presented now and then during the test. Sensors located within the electrodes are able to register the electrodermal response to those tones, measuring the skin conductance (i.e. electrodermal activity from sweat gland activity). Each patient will be followed up for one year for actions of intentional self-harm that require medical care and for suicide. The death intent will also be rated. It is expected that the EDOR test detects a previously unknown neuropsychological dysfunction that is independent of the depressive state and can predict suicidality with a high sensitivity and specificity.
Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor beta ARHGDIB in renal cell cancer.
2015-03-01

474 Background: Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor 2 (ARHGDIB) is an important mediator of cellular signaling. The expression of ARHGDIB correlates with tumor growth and metastasis in a variety of non genitourinary cancers, however the role of ARHGDIB in renal cell cancer (RCC) has not yet been evaluated. Methods: Tissue samples from 106 patients undergoing surgery for RCC were obtained. The expression of ARHGDIB mRNA in normal kidney tissue and in corresponding cancer tissue was analyzed by means of quantitative real time PCR. Differences in mRNA expression levels were assessed using paired two-sample tests. Associations of relative mRNA expression levels and clinicopathological parameters were statistically analyzed using an univariate logistic regression model. Relative mRNA expression levels in healthy renal tissue compared to cancerous tissue from the same kidney was assessed using a paired t-test. Results: When comparing 74 tissues from kidney tumors with adjacent histologically normal appearing paired tissues, mRNA expression of ARHGDIB was significantly higher in the tumor tissue (p &lt; 0.001). Paired analysis did not only show significantly higher mRNA expression levels for ARHGDIB over all RCC but also for the subgroup with clear cell RCC (ccRCC). The mRNA expression of ARHGDIB was also more pronounced in ccRCC when compared with papillary RCC (p &lt; 0.001). When looking at clinicopathological parameters in univariate logistic regression analysis ccRCC was significantly associated with nodal involvement (p = 0.03) and also with tumor grade (p = 0.05). For all RCC there was no association with clinicopathological parameters. A bivariate Cox regression model, adjusted for metastatic status (p = 0.001), tumor diameter (p = 0.043), state of advanced disease (p = 0.030) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.006) identified ARHGDIB mRNA expression as a candidate positive prognosticator for RFS. Conclusions: Increased ARHGDIB mRNA expression is significantly associated with RCC tissues. Higher relative expression observed within tumor tissues represents a candidate prognosticator for better RFS of patients.
Platelets and the complement cascade in atherosclerosis
2015-03-02

Atherosclerosis and its late sequels are still the number one cause of death in western societies. Platelets are a driving force not only during the genesis of atherosclerosis, but especially in its late stages, as evidenced by complications such as arterial thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke. Atherosclerosis is increasingly recognized as an inflammatory disease, influenced by various immune mechanisms. The complement system is part of our innate immune system, and its diverse roles in atherosclerosis have become evident over the past years. In this review we identify points of intersection between platelets and the complement system and discuss their relevance for atherosclerosis. Specifically, we will focus on roles for platelets in the onset as well as progression of the disease, a possible dual role for complement in the genesis and development of atherosclerosis, and review emerging literature revealing previously unrecognized cross-talk between platelets and the complement system and discuss its possible impact for atherosclerosis. Finally, we identify limitations of current research approaches and discuss perspectives of complement modulation in the control of the disease.