julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Nitrate leaching and its implication for Fe and As mobility in a Southeast Asian aquifer
2023-03-14

Abstract The drinking water quality in Southeast Asia is at risk due to arsenic (As) groundwater contamination. Intensive use of fertilizers may lead to nitrate (NO3−) leaching into aquifers, yet very little is known about its effect on iron (Fe) and As mobility in water. We ran a set of microcosm experiments using aquifer sediment from Vietnam supplemented with 15NO3− and 13CH4. To assess the effect of nitrate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (N-DAMO) we also inoculated the sediment with two different N-DAMO enrichment cultures. We found that native microorganisms and both N-DAMO enrichments could efficiently consume all NO3− in 5 days. However, CH4 oxidation was observed only in the inoculated microcosms, suggesting that the native microbial community did not perform N-DAMO. In uninoculated microcosms, NO3− was preferentially used over Fe(III) as an electron acceptor and consequently inhibited Fe(III) reduction and As mobilization. The addition of N-DAMO enrichment cultures led to Fe(III) reduction and stimulated As and Mn release into the water. The archaeal community in all treatments was dominated by Ca. Methanoperedens while the bacterial community consisted of various denitrifiers. Our results suggest that input of N fertilizers to the aquifer decreases As mobility and that CH4 cannot serve as an electron donor for NO3− reduction.
Expected polarization properties of nonmagnetized CCOs
2023-03-14

Central compact objects (CCOs) are neutron stars found close to the center of some supernova remnants. A certain number of them are presumably covered by carbon envelopes. Their unpulsed thermal X-ray emission can originate either from the entire surface covered by a carbon atmosphere or alternatively from a nonuniformly emitting hydrogen atmosphere. However, the latter scenario appears unlikely given the available upper limits on the amplitude of pulsations. Here we explore a possibility to further discriminate between the two scenarios using X-ray polarimetric observations. We compute the polarization degree (PD) for nonmagnetized pure-carbon and pure-hydrogen atmospheres with effective temperatures of between 1 and 6 MK and find that it can reach up to 25% and 40% for hydrogen and carbon atmospheres, respectively, in the photon energy band 1–10 keV. However, given the available constraints on possible inhomogeneities of the temperature distribution deduced from models of the X-ray spectrum of the CCO in HESS J1731−347, the integrated PD appears to be very low for both carbon (&lt; 0.25%) and hydrogen (a few percent) compositions in the energy band of 2–8 keV covered by the recently launched Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer. We therefore conclude that polarization from CCOs is not expected to be detectable by current facilities, but future detection would strongly support nonuniform hydrogen composition models.
Optomechanics-Based Quantum Estimation Theory for Collapse Models
2023-03-14

We make use of the powerful formalism of quantum parameter estimation to assess the characteristic rates of a continuous spontaneous localization (CSL) model affecting the motion of a massive mechanical system. We show that a study performed in non-equilibrium conditions unveils the advantages provided by the use of genuinely quantum resources—such as quantum correlations—in estimating the CSL-induced diffusion rate. In stationary conditions, instead, the gap between quantum performance and a classical scheme disappears. Our investigation contributes to the ongoing effort aimed at identifying suitable conditions for the experimental assessment of collapse models.
Sulfide anatexis during high-grade metamorphism: a case study from the Bodenmais SEDEX deposit, Germany
2023-03-14

Abstract Many sedimentary-exhalative (SEDEX) sulfide deposits have been subject to regional metamorphism and, if the metamorphic grade was high enough, this could have resulted in sulfide anatexis. Although experiments and textures indeed showed that some deposits were partially molten, there is an ongoing debate as to the extent to which metamorphosed ore deposits were molten. Since some SEDEX deposits underwent amphibolite to granulite facies metamorphism, not only sulfides but also the host silicate rocks should have reached anatectic conditions. Due to the two immiscible silicate and sulfide melts, the formation of typical mingling and emulsion textures, as already known from magmatic sulfide deposits, should form. To test this hypothesis, we investigate sulfide-silicate textures from the granulite-facies Bodenmais SEDEX deposit (Germany). Textures from Bodenmais are similar to magmatic sulfide deposits including sulfide-matrix breccia, emulsion textures, pegmatitic leucosomes, and massive sulfides overlain by net-textured intergrowths of refractory quartz, which is interpreted to be a relic of silicate anatexis. Minerals crystallized during the interaction of both immiscible melts differ in their chemistry compared to the same minerals found in the adjacent migmatitic host rocks: for example, garnet in sulfides is Mn-rich (spessartine), but Fe-rich (almandine) in the migmatites and sulfide-enclosed cordierite is more enriched in Mg (Mg/(Mg + Fe): 0.84) than migmatitic cordierite (Mg/(Mg + Fe): 0.54). The textures themselves, their spatial arrangement within the deposit, the differences in mineral chemistry, and the observed crystallization sequence provide unequivocal evidence that the sulfides at Bodenmais were molten to a large extent under granulite facies conditions.
DNA methylation in the wild: epigenetic transgenerational inheritance can mediate adaptation in clones of wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
2023-03-14

<title>Abstract</title> Due to the accelerating climate change, it is crucial to understand how plants adapt to rapid environmental changes. Such adaptation may be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation, which could heritably alter phenotypes without changing the DNA sequence, especially across clonal generations. However, we are still missing robust evidence of the adaptive potential of DNA methylation in wild clonal populations. Here, we studied the methylome of <italic>Fragaria vesca</italic>, a predominantly clonally reproducing herb. We examined samples from 21 natural populations across three climatically distinct geographic regions, as well as clones of the same individuals grown in a common garden. We found that inherited epigenetic variation was partly associated with climate of origin, and that a subset of these epigenetic changes affected gene expression. Our results indicate that DNA methylation variation in the wild is common and may contribute to adaptation of clonal plant populations.
Developing a Research Tool for Investigating Religious Knowledge as Part of Religious Literacy: The Questionnaire – First Results – Possibilities for International Comparisons
2023-03-14

Abstract This article makes international debates on religious literacy as well as forms of assessment in RE related to these debates its starting point by identifying the lack of an empirical basis for the respective discussions. A questionnaire for 15-year-old pupils with a focus on religious knowledge, based on prior studies and tried out in Finland, Germany and Sweden is introduced. The results, although not representative, allow for comparative evaluation, comparing the results at country level and in reference to different kinds of religion-related knowledge. Possible influences of the different curricula are identified by comparing different degrees of familiarity with certain topics or religions in relation to when the respective curriculum foresees them being treated. The article is meant to demonstrate that meaningful international research on religious knowledge as part of religious literacy is possible, that its results could inform RE and show the possible value of developing such efforts further.
“How is your thesis going?” – Ph.D. students’ perspectives on mental health and stress in academia
2023-03-14

Mental health issues among Ph.D. students are prevalent and on the rise, with multiple studies showing that Ph.D. students are more likely to experience symptoms of mental health-related issues than the general population. However, the data is still sparse. This study aims to investigate the mental health of 589 Ph.D. students at a public university in Germany using a mixed quantitative and qualitative approach. We administered a web-based self-report questionnaire to gather data on the mental health status, investigated mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, and potential areas for improvement of the mental health and well-being of Ph.D. students. Our results revealed that one-third of the participants were above the cut-off for depression and that factors such as perceived stress and self-doubt were prominent predictors of the mental health status of Ph.D. students. Additionally, we found job insecurity and low job satisfaction to be predictors of stress and anxiety. Many participants in our study reported working more than full-time while being employed part-time. Importantly, deficient supervision was found to have a negative effect on Ph.D. students’ mental health. The study’s results are in line with those of earlier investigations of mental health in academia, which likewise reveal significant levels of depression and anxiety among Ph.D. students. Overall, the findings provide a greater knowledge of the underlying reasons and potential interventions required for advancing the mental health problems experienced by Ph.D. students. The results of this research can guide the development of effective strategies to support the mental health of Ph.D. students.
Putting on the Crown: Synthesis and Reactivity of Trimethyltitanium
2023-03-14

The trimethyltitanium complex (Me3TACN)TiMe3 (Me3TACN = 1,4,7-Me3-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) is obtained by reacting (Me3TACN)TiCl3 with methyllithium in the cold. The isolation of pure (Me3TACN)TiMe3 was achieved via direct crystallization from the filtered reaction mixture or by extraction of the reaction residue with toluene. A similar reaction with neosilyllithium comes to a halt at the bis(alkyl) complex (Me3TACN)TiCl(CH2SiMe3)2. Treatment of (Me3TACN)TiMe3 with ClSiMe3 or TfOSiMe3 gives mixed ligand complexes (Me3TACN)TiMe2Cl, (Me3TACN)TiMe2(OTf), and (Me3TACN)TiMe(OTf)2 in good yields. The reaction of (Me3TACN)TiMe3 with trimethylaluminum in THF leads to the ion-separated compound [(Me3TACN)TiMe2(THF)][AlMe4], while salt-metathetical exchange of (Me3TACN)TiMe2Cl with LiAlMe4 affords chlorido-bridged [{(Me3TACN)TiMe2}2(μ-Cl)][AlMe4]. Treatment of (Me3TACN)TiMe3 with HAlMe2 gives access to the reduced hydride species [{(Me3TACN)Ti(μ-H)2AlMe2}2(μ-H)][AlMe4]. Monomeric alkoxides (Me3TACN)Ti(OR)3 (R = Me, Et) are obtained via the protonolysis of (Me3TACN)TiMe3 with stoichiometric amounts of methanol and ethanol, respectively. The crystal structure of (Me3TACN)Ti(OMe)3 is compared to the scandium congener (Me3TACN)Sc(OMe)3 (δ(45Sc) = 140.6 ppm), which was synthesized from (Me3TACN)ScMe3 and methanol.
Treating hepatitis D with bulevirtide – Real-world experience from 114 patients
2023-03-15

Clinical trials proved the efficacy of bulevirtide for chronic hepatitis D and led to conditional approval by the European Medical Agency. Now it is of great interest to investigate the effects of bulevirtide treatment in a real-world setting. In this work, we included data from 114 patients with chronic hepatitis D who were treated with bulevirtide at 16 German centers. A virologic response was seen in 87/114 cases. After 24 weeks of treatment, only a small proportion of patients did not respond to treatment. At the same time, signs of liver inflammation improved. This observation was independent from changes in hepatitis D viral load. The treatment was generally well tolerated. In the future, it will be of interest to investigate the long-term effects of this new treatment.
AZG1 is a cytokinin transporter that interacts with auxin transporter PIN1 and regulates the root stress response
2023-03-15

Summary An environmentally responsive root system is crucial for plant growth and crop yield, especially in suboptimal soil conditions. This responsiveness enables the plant to exploit regions of high nutrient density while simultaneously minimizing abiotic stress. Despite the vital importance of root systems in regulating plant growth, significant gaps of knowledge exist in the mechanisms that regulate their architecture. Auxin defines both the frequency of lateral root (LR) initiation and the rate of LR outgrowth. Here, we describe a search for proteins that regulate root system architecture (RSA) by interacting directly with a key auxin transporter, PIN1. The native separation of Arabidopsis plasma membrane protein complexes identified several PIN1 co‐purifying proteins. Among them, AZG1 was subsequently confirmed as a PIN1 interactor. Here, we show that, in Arabidopsis, AZG1 is a cytokinin (CK) import protein that co‐localizes with and stabilizes PIN1, linking auxin and CK transport streams. AZG1 expression in LR primordia is sensitive to NaCl, and the frequency of LRs is AZG1‐dependent under salt stress. This report therefore identifies a potential point for auxin:cytokinin crosstalk, which shapes RSA in response to NaCl.
Functional mapping of sensorimotor activation in the human thalamus at 9.4 Tesla
2023-03-15

Although the thalamus is perceived as a passive relay station for almost all sensory signals, the function of individual thalamic nuclei remains unresolved. In the present study, we aimed to identify the sensorimotor nuclei of the thalamus in humans using task-based fMRI at a field strength of 9.4T by assessing the individual subject-specific sensorimotor BOLD response during a combined active motor (finger-tapping) and passive sensory (tactile-finger) stimulation. We demonstrate that both tasks increase BOLD signal response in the lateral nuclei group (VPL, VA, VLa, and VLp), and in the pulvinar nuclei group (PuA, PuM, and PuL). Finger-tapping stimuli evokes a stronger BOLD response compared to the tactile stimuli, and additionally engages the intralaminar nuclei group (CM and Pf). In addition, our results demonstrate reproducible thalamic nuclei activation during motor and tactile stimuli. This work provides important insight into understanding the function of individual thalamic nuclei in processing various input signals and corroborates the benefits of using ultra-high-field MR scanners for functional imaging of fine-scale deeply located brain structures.
Inceptor correlates with markers of prostate cancer progression and modulates insulin/IGF1 signaling and cancer cell migration
2023-03-15

Our in vitro results showed that inceptor expression was associated with androgen status, increased migration, and IGF1R signaling. In human samples, inceptor expression was significantly correlated with markers of prostate cancer progression. Taken together, these data provide a basis for investigation of inceptor in the context of prostate cancer.
Long-Term Outcomes of Depression Treatment With Hypnotherapy or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
2023-03-15

Abstract In a recent randomized controlled trial of mild to moderate depression, hypnotherapy (HT) was noninferior to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) after 6 months of outpatient treatment. In the present article, we extended the results in a secondary analysis and investigated how HT compares with CBT 1) during the course of the self-rated depressive symptoms throughout the 12-month follow-ups, 2) with regard to the rates of full remission, and 3) for the time to remission after treatment. Of the 152 randomized patients with current depression, 136 were available for the follow-up analyses. The course of self-rated depressive symptoms during follow-ups was analyzed with linear mixed-effects models. Time to a full remission, defined as eight consecutive weeks without depression, was compared between groups in a survival analysis. The self-reported depressive symptoms could be maintained on a low symptom level during the 12-month follow-up for both HT and CBT. Overall, both treatments achieved comparably high long-term remission rates of 73% after a median of 30 weeks. Outpatient psychotherapy with HT achieved good long-term results mostly comparable to CBT.
Characterization of Muscle Weakness Due to Myasthenia Gravis Using Shear Wave Elastography
2023-03-15

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is often accompanied with muscle weakness; however, little is known about mechanical adaptions of the affected muscles. As the latter can be assessed using ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE), this study characterizes the biceps brachii muscle of 11 patients with MG and compares them with that of 14 healthy volunteers. Simultaneous SWE, elbow torque and surface electromyography measurements were performed during rest, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and submaximal isometric contractions (up to 25%, 50% and 75% MVC) at different elbow angles from flexion to extension. We found that, with increasing elbow angle, maximum elbow torque decreased (p &lt; 0.001), whereas muscle stiffness increased during rest (p = 0.001), MVC (p = 0.004) and submaximal contractions (p &lt; 0.001). Muscle stiffness increased with increasing contraction intensities during submaximal contractions (p &lt; 0.001). In comparison to the healthy cohort, muscle stiffness of MG patients was 2.1 times higher at rest (p &lt; 0.001) but 8.93% lower in active state (75% MVC, p = 0.044). We conclude that (i) increased muscle stiffness shown by SWE during rest might be an indicator of MG, (ii) SWE reflects muscle weakness and (iii) SWE can be used to characterize MG muscle.
The deep neural network approach to the reference class problem
2023-03-15

Abstract Methods of machine learning (ML) are gradually complementing and sometimes even replacing methods of classical statistics in science. This raises the question whether ML faces the same methodological problems as classical statistics. This paper sheds light on this question by investigating a long-standing challenge to classical statistics: the reference class problem (RCP). It arises whenever statistical evidence is applied to an individual object, since the individual belongs to several reference classes and evidence might vary across them. Thus, the problem consists in choosing a suitable reference class for the individual. I argue that deep neural networks (DNNs) are able to overcome specific instantiations of the RCP. Whereas the criteria of narrowness, reliability, and homogeneity, that have been proposed to determine a suitable reference class, pose an inextricable tradeoff to classical statistics, DNNs are able to satisfy them in some situations. On the one hand, they can exploit the high dimensionality in big-data settings. I argue that this corresponds to the criteria of narrowness and reliability. On the other hand, ML research indicates that DNNs are generally not susceptible to overfitting. I argue that this property is related to a particular form of homogeneity. Taking both aspects together reveals that there are specific settings in which DNNs can overcome the RCP.
The interaction game: A reciprocity‐based minimal paradigm for the induction of social distance
2023-03-15

Abstract The investigation of how social distance affects psychological phenomena has relied mostly on comparisons between strangers and acquaintances. Such an operationalization suffers from a confound between social distance and acquaintance. We propose an experimental paradigm that manipulates social distance while avoiding the aforementioned confound. By relying on reciprocity and known social tie formation mechanisms, the Interaction Game provides researchers with a powerful tool for the investigation of social distance effects without inducing negative affective or emotional states. Four preregistered experiments demonstrate the internal and external validity of the paradigm. The capability of manipulating social distance in a targeted manner constitutes a critical step towards advancing our knowledge of the impact of such metrics on human cognition and behavior. Moreover, Experiment 4 demonstrates that the Interaction Game can induce social distance that is free of acquaintanceship, and that such a minimal manipulation is sufficient for inducing close‐other favoritism in a social discounting task. These findings expand our understanding of social distance as a powerful mechanism underlying social judgments and behaviors.
Leader selection and why it matters: Education and the endogeneity of favouritism in 11 African countries
2023-03-15

Abstract A large literature on favouritism argues that leaders favour their own ethnicity or administrative birthplace. We question the assumption that these leaders are exogenously selected for office. Using historical censuses from 11 African countries, we show that leaders are selected from more advanced regions. In other words, our sample shows that African leaders were created by colonial (and pre‐colonial) institutions, which often meant large educational differences between regions. Our paper's historical perspective shows that these often‐overlooked institutions can account for much of the variation in post‐colonial outcomes. Favouritism was at least partially endogenous.
An overview of standardizable raw materials for controlled knapping experiments
2023-03-15

Experimental replication of stone tools is an important method for understanding the context and production of prehistoric technologies. In scientific undertakings, experimental control is a valuable and necessary means of ensuring that confounding variables are not influencing the outcomes of the study. One way that researchers can exert control in knapping experiments is to standardize the type, form, and size of raw materials that are provided to the knappers. Though measures to standardize materials are already part of archaeological practice, specific protocols, let alone comparisons between standardization techniques, are rarely openly reported. Consequently, independent laboratories often repeat the same trial-and-error process for selecting the ‘right’ material for testing. We investigate a variety of techniques and raw materials (e.g., hand-knapped flint, machine-cut basalt, manufactured glass, and porcelain). Each material was evaluated for their validity, reliability, and ease of standardization. Here, we have outlined the raw material tests we performed, providing information on the individual approaches, as well as comparisons between the techniques and materials according to both validity and reliability, along with their costs and our own recommendations. This text is intended as a serviceable guide on raw material standardization for knapping experiments, including previously pursued avenues and means that are as-of-yet undescribed in the experimental archaeology literature. We include additional considerations for techniques that were not included in this study or which are presently not widely available and/or affordable. Future potential in this field would benefit from advances in the relevant technologies and in methodological approaches.