julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
LGM ice extent and deglaciation history in the Gurktal and Lavantal Alps (eastern European Alps): first constraints from 10Be surface exposure dating of glacially polished quartz veins
2021-11-29

Abstract Compared with the western European Alps, the ice extent during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the subsequent deglaciation history of the eastern Alps east of the Tauern Window remain less well constrained. Also, considerable discrepancies exist between the mapped LGM ice margin and the ice extent predicted by ice‐sheet models. Here we present the first 10 Be surface exposures ages from two regions east of the Tauern Window (the Gurktal and Lavantal Alps), which provide constraints on the LGM ice extent and the deglaciation history. Our results show that the deglaciation of the Gurktal Alps occurred between 16 and 14 ka, which agrees with the predictions from ice‐sheet models. In contrast, the 10 Be ages from the Lavantal Alps located farther east are either LGM in age or predate the LGM, indicating that these regions were ice free or only partially covered by LGM ice. This finding suggests that ice‐sheet models may have overestimated the LGM ice extent in the easternmost Alps. In conclusion, our study highlights the need for more age data from the eastern Alps to refine the location of the LGM ice margin and the deglaciation history, which is also crucial for climate‐evolution and postglacial‐rebound models.
Incretin hypersecretion in gestational diabetes mellitus
2021-11-29

Background Incretins are crucial stimulators of insulin secretion after food intake. We investigated the incretin response during an oral glucose tolerance test in pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes. Methods Subjects underwent a 5-point OGTT with 75 g glucose. We assessed insulin secretion and levels of total GLP-1, GIP, glicentin and glucagon during the OGTT. Findings We examined 167 women (33 with GDM) during gestational week 26.95 (2.15 SD). Insulin secretion was significantly lower in women with GDM (p&lt;0.001). Postprandial GLP-1 and GIP were ~20% higher in women with GDM (all p&lt;0.05) independent from age, BMI and gestational age. GLP-1 increase associated with insulin secretion only in GDM, but not in NGT. Postprandial GLP-1 levels associated negatively with birth weight. Interpretation The more pronounced GLP-1 increase in women with GDM could be part of a compensatory mechanism counteracting GLP-1 resistance. Higher GLP-1 levels might be protective against fetal overgrowth.
Approximate NNLO QCD corrections to semi-inclusive DIS
2021-11-29

We determine approximate next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) corrections to unpolarized and polarized semi-inclusive DIS. They are derived using the threshold resummation formalism, which we fully develop to next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic (NNLL) accuracy, including the two-loop hard factor. The approximate NNLO terms are obtained by expansion of the resummed expression. They include all terms in Mellin space that are logarithmically enhanced at threshold, or that are constant. In terms of the customary SIDIS variables and they include all double distributions (that is, "plus" distributions and -functions) in the partonic variables. We also investigate corrections that are suppressed at threshold and we determine the dominant terms among these. Our numerical estimates suggest much significance of the approximate NNLO terms, along with a reduction in scale dependence.
The Beep-Speed Illusion: Non-Spatial Tones Increase Perceived Speed of Visual Objects in a Forced-Choice Paradigm
2021-11-29

We introduce a new audio-visual illusion revealing the interplay between audio-visual integration and selective visual attention. This illusion involves two simultaneously moving objects that change their motion trajectory occasionally, but only the direction changes of one object are accompanied by spatially uninformative tones. We observed a selective increase in perceived object speed of the audio-visually synchronized object by measuring the point of subjective equality in a forced-choice paradigm. The illusory increase in perceived speed of the audio-visually synchronized object persisted when preventing eye movements. Using temporally matched color changes of the synchronized object also increased the perceived speed. Yet, using color changes of a surrounding frame instead of tones had no effect on perceived speed ruling out simple alertness explanations. Thus, in contrast to coinciding tones, visual coincidences only elicit illusory increases in perceived speed when the coincidence provided spatial information. Taken together, our pattern of results suggests that audio-visual synchrony attracts visual attention towards the coinciding visual object, leading to an increase in speed-perception and thus shedding new light on the interplay between attention and multisensory feature integration. We discuss potential limitations such as the choice of paradigm and outline prospective research question to further investigate the effect of audio-visual integration on perceived object speed.
Effect of Fear of Falling on Mobility Measured During Lab and Daily Activity Assessments in Parkinson’s Disease
2021-11-30

In chronic disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), fear of falling (FOF) is associated with falls and reduced quality of life. With inertial measurement units (IMUs) and dedicated algorithms, different aspects of mobility can be obtained during supervised tests in the lab and also during daily activities. To our best knowledge, the effect of FOF on mobility has not been investigated in both of these settings simultaneously. Our goal was to evaluate the effect of FOF on the mobility of 26 patients with PD during clinical assessments and 14 days of daily activity monitoring. Parameters related to gait, sit-to-stand transitions, and turns were extracted from IMU signals on the lower back. Fear of falling was assessed using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) and the patients were grouped as with (PD-FOF+) and without FOF (PD-FOF−). Mobility parameters between groups were compared using logistic regression as well as the effect size values obtained using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The peak angular velocity of the turn-to-sit transition of the timed-up-and-go (TUG) test had the highest discriminative power between PD-FOF+ and PD-FOF− ( r -value of effect size = 0.61). Moreover, PD-FOF+ had a tendency toward lower gait speed at home and a lower amount of walking bouts, especially for shorter walking bouts. The combination of lab and daily activity parameters reached a higher discriminative power [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.75] than each setting alone (AUC = 0.68 in the lab, AUC = 0.54 at home). Comparing the gait speed between the two assessments, the PD-FOF+ showed higher gait speeds in the capacity area compared with their TUG test in the lab. The mobility parameters extracted from both lab and home-based assessments contribute to the detection of FOF in PD. This study adds further evidence to the usefulness of mobility assessments that include different environments and assessment strategies. Although this study was limited in the sample size, it still provides a helpful method to consider the daily activity measurement of the patients with PD into clinical evaluation. The obtained results can help the clinicians with a more accurate prevention and treatment strategy.
Not all elementary school teachers are scared of math
2021-11-30

Teachers are strong role models for their pupils, especially at the beginning of education. This also holds true for math: If teachers feel anxious about math, the consequences on the mathematical education of their pupils is detrimental. Previous studies have shown that (future) elementary school teachers have higher levels of math anxiety than most people studying other subjects. Here, we set out to conceptually replicate these findings (e.g., meta-analysis by Hembree, 1990, https://doi.org/10.2307/749455) by comparing math anxiety levels of pre-service and in-service German and Belgian elementary school teachers to a reference group of German university students from various fields of study. Moreover, we questioned this finding by asking which elementary school teachers experience math anxiety, considering gender, specialization, and experience, and investigated how math anxiety relates to teaching attitudes towards math. We replicated the previous finding by showing that female elementary school teachers have a higher level of math anxiety as compared to other female students. Importantly, female elementary school teachers without math specialization indeed had higher levels of math anxiety than female students from other fields and almost a quarter of them experience critical math anxiety. In contrast, female elementary school teachers with math specialization did not show an increased level of math anxiety as compared to the reference sample. Considering that not only these but all teachers, regardless of specialization, teach math in elementary school in the investigated educational systems, the math anxiety of elementary school teachers is a potential problem for their pupils’ math attitudes and learning.
Application of artificial intelligence to overcome clinical information overload in urological cancer
2021-11-30

Objective To describe the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical literature and trial data extraction, and its applications in uro‐oncology. This bridging review, which consolidates information from the diverse applications of AI, highlights how AI users can investigate more sophisticated queries than with traditional methods, leading to synthesis of raw data and complex outputs into more actionable and personalised results, particularly in the field of uro‐oncology. Methods Literature and clinical trial searches were performed in PubMed, Dimensions, Embase and Google (1999–2020). The searches focussed on the use of AI and its various forms to facilitate literature searches, clinical guidelines development, and clinical trial data extraction in uro‐oncology. To illustrate how AI can be applied to address questions about optimising therapeutic decision making and individualising treatment regimens, the Dimensions‐linked information platform was searched for ‘prostate cancer’ keywords (76 publications were identified; 48 were included). Results AI offers the promise of transforming raw data and complex outputs into actionable insights. Literature and clinical trial searches can be automated, enabling clinicians to develop and analyse publications expeditiously on complex issues such as therapeutic sequencing and to obtain updates on documents that evolve at the pace and scope of the landscape. An AI‐based platform inclusive of 12 trial databases and &gt;100 scientific literature sources enabled the creation of an interactive visualisation. Conclusion As the literature and clinical trial landscape continues to grow in complexity and with increasing speed, the ability to pull the right information at the right time from different search engines and resources, while excluding social media bias, becomes more challenging. This review demonstrates that by applying natural language processing and machine learning algorithms, validated and optimised AI leads to a speedier, more personalised, efficient, and focussed search compared with traditional methods.
Comparing the MCMC Efficiency of JAGS and Stan for the Multi-Level Intercept-Only Model in the Covariance- and Mean-Based and Classic Parametrization
2021-11-30

Bayesian MCMC is a widely used model estimation technique, and software from the BUGS family, such as JAGS, have been popular for over two decades. Recently, Stan entered the market with promises of higher efficiency fueled by advanced and more sophisticated algorithms. With this study, we want to contribute empirical results to the discussion about the sampling efficiency of JAGS and Stan. We conducted three simulation studies in which we varied the number of warmup iterations, the prior informativeness, and sample sizes and employed the multi-level intercept-only model in the covariance- and mean-based and in the classic parametrization. The target outcome was MCMC efficiency measured as effective sample size per second (ESS/s). Based on our specific (and limited) study setup, we found that (1) MCMC efficiency is much higher for the covariance- and mean-based parametrization than for the classic parametrization, (2) Stan clearly outperforms JAGS when the covariance- and mean-based parametrization is used, and that (3) JAGS clearly outperforms Stan when the classic parametrization is used.
Central Nervous System Delivery of Antibodies and Their Single-Domain Antibodies and Variable Fragment Derivatives with Focus on Intranasal Nose to Brain Administration
2021-11-30

IgG antibodies are some of the most important biopharmaceutical molecules with a high market volume. In spite of the fact that clinical therapies with antibodies are broadly utilized in oncology, immunology and hematology, their delivery strategies and biodistribution need improvement, their limitations being due to their size and poor ability to penetrate into tissues. In view of their small size, there is a rising interest in derivatives, such as single-domain antibodies and single-chain variable fragments, for clinical diagnostic but also therapeutic applications. Smaller antibody formats combine several benefits for clinical applications and can be manufactured at reduced production costs compared with full-length IgGs. Moreover, such formats have a relevant potential for targeted drug delivery that directs drug cargo to a specific tissue or across the blood–brain barrier. In this review, we give an overview of the challenges for antibody drug delivery in general and focus on intranasal delivery to the central nervous system with antibody formats of different sizes.
Mobility endpoints in marketing authorisation of drugs: what gets the European medicines agency moving?
2021-11-30

Abstract Background Mobility is defined as the ability to independently move around the environment and is a key contributor to quality of life, especially in older age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of mobility as a decisive outcome for the marketing authorisation of drugs by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Methods Fifteen therapeutic areas which commonly lead to relevant mobility impairments and alter the quantity and/or the quality of walking were selected: two systemic neurological diseases, four conditions primarily affecting exercise capacity, seven musculoskeletal diseases and two conditions representing sensory impairments. European Public Assessment Reports (EPARs) published by the EMA until September 2020 were examined for mobility endpoints included in their ‘main studies’. Clinical study registries and primary scientific publications for these studies were also reviewed. Results Four hundred and eighty-four EPARs yielded 186 relevant documents with 402 ‘main studies’. The EPARs reported 153 primary and 584 secondary endpoints which considered mobility; 70 different assessment tools (38 patient-reported outcomes, 13 clinician-reported outcomes, 8 performance outcomes and 13 composite endpoints) were used. Only 15.7% of those tools distinctly informed on patients’ mobility status. Out of 402, 105 (26.1%) of the ‘main studies’ did not have any mobility assessment. Furthermore, none of these studies included a digital mobility outcome. Conclusions For conditions with a high impact on mobility, mobility assessment was given little consideration in the marketing authorisation of drugs by the EMA. Where mobility impairment was considered to be a relevant outcome, questionnaires or composite scores susceptible to reporting biases were predominantly used.
Role of Rendezvous-Procedure in the Treatment of Complications after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
2021-11-30

Introduction: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is one of the most commonly performed bariatric procedures worldwide with good results, high patient acceptance, and low complication rates. The most relevant perioperative complication is the staple line leak. For the treatment of this complication, endoscopic negative pressure therapy has proven particularly effective. The correct time to start endoscopic negative pressure therapy has not been the subject of studies to date. Methods: Twelve patients were included in this retrospective data analysis over three years. Endoscopic negative pressure therapy was carried out using innovative open pore suction devices. Patients were treated with simultaneous surgery and endoscopy, so called rendezvous-procedure (Group A) or solely endoscopically, or in sequence surgically and endoscopically (Group B). Therapy data of the procedures and outcome measures, including duration of therapy, therapy success, and change of treatment strategy, were collected and analysed. Results: In each group, six patients were treated (mean age 52.96 years, 4 males, 8 females). Poor initial clinical situation, time span of endoscopic negative pressure therapy (Group A 31 days vs. Group B 18 days), and mean length of hospital stay (Group A 39.5 days vs. Group B 20.17 days) were higher in patients with rendezvous procedures. One patient in Group B died during the observation time. Discussion: Rendezvous procedures for patients with staple line leaks after sleeve gastrectomy is indicated for serious ill patients with perigastric abscesses and in need of laparoscopic lavage. The one-stage complication management with the rendezvous procedure seems not to result in an obvious advantage in the further outcome in patients with staple line leaks after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
Pick the smaller number: No influence of linguistic markedness on three-digit number processing
2021-11-30

The symbolic number comparison task has been widely used to investigate the cognitive representation and underlying processes of multi-digit number processing. The standard procedure to establish numerical distance and compatibility effects in such number comparison paradigms usually entails asking participants to indicate the larger of two presented multi-digit Arabic numbers rather than to indicate the smaller number. In terms of linguistic markedness, this procedure includes the unmarked/base form in the task instruction (i.e., large). Here we evaluate distance and compatibility effects in a three-digit number comparison task observed in Bahnmueller et al. (2015, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01216) using a marked task instruction (i.e., ‘pick the smaller number’). Moreover, we aimed at clarifying whether the markedness of task instruction influences common numerical effects and especially componential processing as indexed by compatibility effects. We instructed German- and English-speaking adults (N = 52) to indicate the smaller number in a three-digit number comparison task as opposed to indicating the larger number in Bahnmueller et al. (2015). We replicated standard effects of distance and compatibility in the new pick the smaller number experiment. Moreover, when comparing our findings to Bahnmueller et al. (2015), numerical effects did not differ significantly between the two studies as indicated by both frequentist and Bayesian analysis. Taken together our data suggest that distance and compatibility effects alongside componential processing of multi-digit numbers are rather robust against variations of linguistic markedness of task instructions.
Accessing the Stapedius Muscle Via Novel Surgical Retrofacial Approach: A Cadaveric Feasibility Study
2021-11-30

Hypothesis: Despite the complete embodiment of the stapedius muscle (SM) into the pyramidal eminence, it is possible to safely gain access to the SM belly via a retrofacial approach. This presents a novel approach to directly measure the electrically evoked stapedius reflex threshold (eSRT). Background: Objective fitting of maximum comfortable loudness levels for cochlear implant users can improve the benefit introduced by the device. Sensing SM activity via direct surgical access represents a potential tool for objective eSRT fitting. Methods: Eighteen human temporal bones (TBs) were used. Micro-computed tomography was performed for six TBs. Standard computed tomography for six TBs. Manual 3D-segmentation of the relevant middle and inner ear anatomy was performed on 12 TBs. Mastoidectomy and posterior tympanotomy allowed the access to middle ear of all 18 the TBs. Once identified the mastoidal segment of the facial nerve (FN), the retrofacial access to the SM was drilled. Results: The total access rate was 72.2%. Only in the first three cases the posterior semi-circular canal was hit. The SM access was identified posterior to the FN at a 4 ± 0.78 mm distance from the stapes’ head, almost halfway to the chorda tympani's branching point along the FN direction. The drilling depth to access the SM posterior to the external surface of FN on average was 2 ± 0.30 mm. The exposure took on average of 5 to 8 minutes. Conclusions: The retrofacial approach seems to offer a feasible and reproducible access to the SM belly opening an avenue to electromyographic sensing of eSRT.
The regeneration factors ERF114 and ERF115 act as transducers of mechanical cues to developmental pathways
2021-11-30

Plants show an unparalleled regenerative capacity, allowing them to survive severe stress conditions, such as injury, herbivory attack and harsh weather conditions. This potential not only replenishes tissues and restores damaged organs, but can also give rise to whole plant bodies, highlighting the intertwined nature of development and regeneration. It suggests that regeneration and developmental processes respond to the same upstream signals, but how a cell knows which of the two processes to engage is currently unknown. Here, we demonstrate that next to being regulators of regeneration, ETHYENE RESPONSE FACTOR 114 (ERF114) and ERF115 govern developmental growth in the absence of wounding or injury. Increased ERF114 and ERF115 activity is correlated with enhanced xylem maturation and lateral root formation, whereas their knockout results in a decrease in lateral roots and xylem connectivity following grafting. Moreover, we provide evidence that mechanical cues contribute to ERF114 and ERF115 expression in correlation with BZR1 mediated brassinosteroid signaling under both regenerative and developmental conditions. Antagonistically, negative regulation of cell wall extensibility via cell wall-associated mechanosensory FERONIA signaling suppresses their expression under both conditions. Our data suggest a molecular framework in which mechanical perturbations too great to be compensated by adaptive cell wall remodeling results in strong ERF114 and ERF115 expression, switching their role from developmental to regenerative regulators.