julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Colors and patterns of black hole X-ray binary GX 339-4
2020-06-25

\\nBlack hole X-ray binaries show signs of nonthermal emission in the optical to near-infrared range. We analyzed optical to near-infrared SMARTS data on GX 339-4 over the 2002–2011 period. Using soft state data, we estimated the interstellar extinction toward the source and characteristic color temperatures of the accretion disk. We show that various spectral states of regular outbursts occupy similar regions on color-magnitude diagrams, and that transitions between the states proceed along the same tracks despite substantial differences in the morphology of the observed light curves. We determine the typical duration of hard-to-soft and soft-to-hard state transitions and the hard state at the decaying stage of the outburst to be one, two, and four weeks, respectively. We find that the failed outbursts cannot be easily distinguished from the regular outbursts at their early stages, but if the source reaches 16 mag in V band, it transits to the soft state. By subtracting the contribution of the accretion disk, we obtain spectra of the nonthermal component, which have constant, nearly flat shapes during the transitions between the hard and soft states. In contrast to the slowly evolving nonthermal component seen at optical and near-infrared wavelengths, the mid-infrared spectrum is strongly variable on short timescales and sometimes shows a prominent excess with a cutoff below 1014 Hz. We show that the radio to optical spectrum can be modeled using three components corresponding to the jet, hot flow, and irradiated accretion disk.\\n
Early M‐Protein Dynamics Predicts Progression‐Free Survival in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma
2020-06-25

This study aimed to predict long‐term progression‐free survival (PFS) using early M‐protein dynamic measurements in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). The PFS was modeled based on dynamic M‐protein data from two phase III studies, POLLUX and CASTOR, which included 569 and 498 patients with relapsed/refractory MM, respectively. Both studies compared active controls (lenalidomide and dexamethasone, and bortezomib and dexamethasone, respectively) alone vs. in combination with daratumumab. Three M‐protein dynamic features from the longitudinal M‐protein data were evaluated up to different time cutoffs (1, 2, 3, and 6 months). The abilities of early M‐protein dynamic measurements to predict the PFS were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards survival models. Both univariate and multivariable analyses suggest that maximum reduction of M‐protein (i.e., depth of response) was the most predictive of PFS. Despite the statistical significance, the baseline covariates provided very limited predictive value regarding the treatment effect of daratumumab. However, M‐protein dynamic features obtained within the first 2 months reasonably predicted PFS and the associated treatment effect of daratumumab. Specifically, the areas under the time‐varying receiver operating characteristic curves for the model with the first 2 months of M‐protein dynamic data were ~ 0.8 and 0.85 for POLLUX and CASTOR, respectively. Early M‐protein data within the first 2 months can provide a prospective and reasonable prediction of future long‐term clinical benefit for patients with MM.
The HlyD-like membrane fusion protein All5304 is essential for acid stress survival of the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120
2020-06-25

ABSTRACT Acid stress is an environmental problem for plants and fresh water cyanobacteria like the filamentous, heterocyst forming species Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 (hereafter Anabaena sp.). Heterocyst differentiation, cell–cell communication and nitrogen fixation has been deeply studied in this model organism, but little is known about the cellular response of Anabaena sp. to decreased pH values, causing acid stress. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are involved in acid stress response in other bacteria, by exporting proteins responsible for survival under acidification. The genome of Anabaena sp. encodes numerous ABC transporter components, whose function is not known yet. Here, we describe the function of the gene all5304 encoding a protein with homology to membrane fusion proteins of tripartite efflux pumps driven by ABC transporters like HlyBD-TolC of Escherichia coli. The all5304 mutant shows less resistance against low pH, even though the expression of the gene is independent from the pH of the medium. We compared the exoproteome of the wild type and mutant cultures and identified three proteins-candidate substrates of the putative transporter. Including the in silico analysis of All5304, our results suggest that All5304 functions as part of an efflux pump, secreting of a protein necessary for acid tolerance in Anabaena sp.
Trade and commodity taxes as environmental instruments in an open economy
2020-06-25

Purpose In a simple reciprocal dumping model of trade, this study scrutinizes the strategic role of trade and commodity taxes as environmental instruments when consumption of an imported product generates pollution. The results suggest that for sufficiently small values of the marginal disutility from pollution, commodity taxes can be preferred over import tariffs, and compared to the case of trade policies, free trade can be welfare dominating even for higher values of the marginal disutility from pollution when commodity taxes are used strategically as environmental instruments. Design/methodology/approach The authors employ a reciprocal dumping model of trade. Findings A sufficiently high marginal disutility from pollution (or sufficient asymmetries between the countries in terms of their marginal disutility from pollution) may jeopardize bilateral trade, especially if countries are given the option to set tariffs freely for imported goods (consumption of which generate environmental pollution). For sufficiently weak transboundary pollution and sufficiently low marginal disutility from pollution, (1) both Nash trade and domestic policies may prove to be helpful in addressing consumption-based pollution, and (2) it is possible to show in such a case that Nash domestic policies may be preferred over Nash trade policies, especially when both transboundary pollution and the trading partner's marginal disutility from pollution are sufficiently low. Originality/value The novel contribution of this paper is (1) to capture asymmetries among trading partners in terms of how much they account for environmental pollution when deciding on their (domestic/trade) policy measures and (2) to focus on environmental degradation that is caused by final consumption of a product imported from a trading partner.
Validation of a Self-Report Version of the German Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behavior Scale (SWAN-DE-SB)
2020-06-25

Adults with ADHD experience impairing levels of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity, while individuals without ADHD experience these symptoms to a lesser extent. Yet, ADHD self-report scales so far hardly captured continuous distributions across the general population. Additionally, they focused on weaknesses and ignored strengths. To address these shortcomings, we present here the SWAN-DE-SB. The normal distribution of the data collected and the scale’s internal consistency, and factorial and convergent validity were assessed using data from a general population sample. Its clinical utility was evaluated by comparing scores from a clinical sample and a sample without ADHD, and by calculating optimal cut-off values for specificity and sensitivity. The SWAN-DE-SB demonstrated normal distribution of the data collected, high internal consistency, and factorial and convergent validity. It reliably discriminated individuals with and without ADHD, with high specificity and sensitivity. It should therefore be considered a psychometrically convincing measure to assess strengths and weaknesses of ADHD symptoms and normal behavior in clinical and general population samples.
The Impact of an Audience Response System on a summative Assessment, a controlled Field Study
2020-06-25

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background:</bold> Audience response systems allow to activate the audience and to receive a direct feedback of participants during lectures. Modern systems do not require any proprietary hardware anymore. Students can directly respond on their smartphone. Several studies reported about a high level of satisfaction of students when audience response systems are used, however their impact on learning success is still unclear.<bold>Methods:</bold> In order to evaluate the impact of an audience response system on the learning success we implemented the audience response system eduVote into a seminar series and performed a controlled crossover study on its impact on assessments. 154 students in nine groups were taught the same content. In four groups, eduVote was integrated for the first topic while five groups were taught this topic without the audience response systems. For a second topic, the groups were switched: Those groups who were taught before using eduVote were now taught without the audience response system and vice versa. We then analysed the impact of the audience response system on the students’ performance in a summative assessment and specifically focused on questions dealing with the topic, for which the audience response system was used during teaching. We further assessed the students’ perception on the use of eduVote using questionnaires.<bold>Results:</bold> In our controlled crossover study we could not confirm an impact of the audience response system eduVote on long-term persistence i.e. the students’ performance in the summative assessment. Our evaluation revealed that students assessed the use of eduVote very positively, felt stronger engaged and better motivated to deal with the respective topics and would prefer their integration into additional courses as well. In particular we identified that students who feel uncomfortable with answering questions in front of others profit from the use of an audience response system during teaching.<bold>Conclusions:</bold> Audience response systems motivate and activate students and increase their engagement during classes. However, their impact on long-term persistence and summative assessments may be limited. Audience response systems, however, specifically allow activating students which cannot be reached by the traditional way of asking questions without such an anonymous tool.
Future drought characteristics through a multi-model ensemble from CMIP6 over South Asia
2020-06-26

To characterize future drought events over a drought prone area like South Asia is paramount for drought risk mitigation. In this paper, a five-model ensemble mean from CMIP6 was chosen to project drought characteristics in South Asia under the latest SSPs-RCPs emission scenarios (SSP1–2.6, SSP2–4.5, and SSP5–8.5) for the period 2020–2099. Additionally, corresponding scenarios RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 of CMIP5 were used for comparison and to identify the changes and improvements of CMIP6 over the South Asia. Principle Component Analysis and the Varimax rotation method is used to divided the study area into five homogenous drought sub-regions. Drought duration, frequency, and intensity are analyzed based on the Run theory, and the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) at 12-months timescale, and the self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index (sc-PDSI). The Modified Mann-Kendall and Sen's slope method is adopted to detect sub-regional trends in drought characteristics. Results show that significant increases in drought conditions mainly pronounced over the North-West sub-region. Strong increases are projected in the average drought duration and drought frequency. The North-West sub-region is the most vulnerable to face frequent drought events with longer duration with higher intensity. Parts of the South-West, North-Central, and North-East sub-regions will also face more adverse drought conditions in future. The selected model ensemble from CMIP6 has a very robust capability to simulate present climate parameters (precipitation, temperature, and evaporation) and satisfactorily captures drought characteristics in South Asia. These results provide a basis for developing drought adaptation measures for South Asia.
Retrieving scattering clouds and disequilibrium chemistry in the atmosphere of HR 8799e
2020-06-26

Context. Clouds are ubiquitous in exoplanet atmospheres and they represent a challenge for the model interpretation of their spectra. When generating a large number of model spectra, complex cloud models often prove too costly numerically, whereas more efficient models may be overly simplified. Aims. We aim to constrain the atmospheric properties of the directly imaged planet HR 8799e with a free retrieval approach. Methods. We used our radiative transfer code petitRADTRANS for generating the spectra, which we coupled to the PyMultiNest tool. We added the effect of multiple scattering which is important for treating clouds. Two cloud model parameterizations are tested: the first incorporates the mixing and settling of condensates, the second simply parameterizes the functional form of the opacity. Results. In mock retrievals, using an inadequate cloud model may result in atmospheres that are more isothermal and less cloudy than the input. Applying our framework on observations of HR 8799e made with the GPI, SPHERE, and GRAVITY, we find a cloudy atmosphere governed by disequilibrium chemistry, confirming previous analyses. We retrieve that C/O = 0.60 −0.08 +0.07 . Other models have not yet produced a well constrained C/O value for this planet. The retrieved C/O values of both cloud models are consistent, while leading to different atmospheric structures: either cloudy or more isothermal and less cloudy. Fitting the observations with the self-consistent Exo-REM model leads to comparable results, without constraining C/O. Conclusions. With data from the most sensitive instruments, retrieval analyses of directly imaged planets are possible. The inferred C/O ratio of HR 8799e is independent of the cloud model and thus appears to be a robust. This C/O is consistent with stellar, which could indicate that the HR 8799e formed outside the CO 2 or CO iceline. As it is the innermost planet of the system, this constraint could apply to all HR 8799 planets.
Current options and recommendations for the use of thoracic endovascular aortic repair in acute and chronic thoracic aortic disease: an expert consensus document of the European Society for Cardiology (ESC) Working Group of Cardiovascular Surgery, the ESC Working Group on Aorta and Peripheral Vascular Diseases, the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) of the ESC and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS)
2020-06-26

Abstract Since its clinical implementation in the late nineties, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has become the standard treatment of several acute and chronic diseases of the thoracic aorta. While TEVAR has been embraced by many, this disruptive technology has also stimulated the continuing evolution of open surgery, which became even more important as late TEVAR failures do need open surgical correction justifying the need to unite both treatment options under one umbrella. This fact shows the importance of—in analogy to the heart team—aortic centre formation and centralization of care, which stimulates continuing development and improves outcome . The next frontier to be explored is the most proximal component of the aorta—the aortic root, in particular in acute type A aortic dissection—which remains the main challenge for the years to come. The aim of this document is to provide the reader with a synopsis of current evidence regarding the use or non-use of TEVAR in acute and chronic thoracic aortic disease, to share latest recommendations for a modified terminology and for reporting standards and finally to provide a glimpse into future developments.
Magnetospheric return-current-heated atmospheres of rotation-powered millisecond pulsars
2020-06-26

We computed accurate atmosphere models of rotation-powered millisecond pulsars in which the polar caps of a neutron star (NS) are externally heated by magnetospheric return currents. The external ram pressure, energy losses, and stopping depth of the penetrating charged particles were computed self-consistently with the atmosphere model, instead of assuming a simplified deep-heated atmosphere in radiative equilibrium. We used exact Compton scattering formalism to model the properties of the emergent X-ray radiation. The deep-heating approximation was found to be valid only if most of the heat originates from ultra-relativistic bombarding particles with Lorentz factors of γ ≳ 100. In the opposite regime, the atmosphere attains a distinct two-layer structure with an overheated optically thin skin on top of an optically thick cool plasma. The overheated skin strongly modifies the emergent radiation: It produces a Compton-upscattered high-energy tail in the spectrum and alters the radiation beaming pattern from limb darkening to limb brightening for emitted hard X-rays. This kind of drastic change in the emission properties can have a significant impact on the inferred NS pulse profile parameters as performed, for example, by Neutron star Interior Composition ExploreR. Finally, the connection between the energy distribution of the return current particles and the atmosphere emission properties offers a new tool to probe the exact physics of pulsar magnetospheres.
A randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of individual versus household treatment for Scabies in Lambaréné, Gabon
2020-06-26

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether individual treatment of scabies is similarly effective compared to household treatment. This study compared these two treatment strategies with topical benzyl benzoate for treating scabies in Lambaréné, Gabon. METHODS: Participants presenting with uncomplicated scabies were randomized into either the Individual Treatment group, where only the affected participants received treatment, or the Household Treatment group, where all family members were treated in parallel to the affected participants regardless of signs and symptoms. The primary endpoint was clinical cure after 28 days; the secondary endpoint was the proportion of affected household members per household after 28 days. RESULTS: After 28 days, from a total of 79 participants assessed, 67% (n = 53) were clinically cured; 59% (20/34) in the Individual Treatment group and 73% (33/45) in the Household Treatment group. Participants in the Household Treatment group had about twice the odds of being cured (odds ratio 1.9, 95% confidence interval: 0.8-4.9; p = 0.17). For the secondary outcome, an effect of similar size was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that treating close contacts of persons affected by scabies may be beneficial to patients and contacts, however, the benefit was less pronounced than anticipated and further research is needed to definitively answer this question.
Induction and repression effects on CYP and transporter protein abundance by azole mixture uptake in rat liver
2020-06-26

Detection of mixture effects is a major challenge in current experimental and regulatory toxicology. Robust markers are needed that are easy to quantify and responsive to chemical stressors in a broad dose range. Several hepatic enzymes and proteins related to drug metabolism like cytochrome-P-450 (CYP) enzymes and transporters have been shown to be responsive to pesticide active substances in a broad dose range and are therefore good candidates to be used as markers for mixture toxicity. Even though they can be well quantified at the mRNA level, quantification on the protein level is challenging because most of these proteins are membrane bound. Here we report the development of mass spectrometry-based assays using triple-x-proteomics (TXP) antibodies in combination with targeted selected ion monitoring (tSIM) to quantify changes of protein levels due to exposure to mixtures of pesticide active substances. Our results indicate that changes on the protein level of CYP1A1, ABCB2, ABCC3 are in line with observations on the mRNA and enzyme activity level and are indicative of mixture effects. Therefore, the tests are promising to reveal effects by chemical mixture effects in toxicological studies in rats.
Energy Expenditure of Dynamic Submaximal Human Plantarflexion Movements: Model Prediction and Validation by in-vivo Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
2020-06-26

To understand the organization and efficiency of biological movement, it is important to evaluate the energy requirements on the level of individual muscles. To this end, predicting energy expenditure with musculoskeletal models in forward-dynamic computer simulations is currently the most promising approach. However, it is challenging to validate muscle models <i>in-vivo</i> in humans, because access to the energy expenditure of single muscles is difficult. Previous approaches focused on whole body energy expenditure, e.g., oxygen consumption (VO2), or on thermal measurements of individual muscles by tracking blood flow and heat release (through measurements of the skin temperature). This study proposes to validate models of muscular energy expenditure by using functional phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (<sup>31</sup>P-MRS). <sup>31</sup>P-MRS allows to measure phosphocreatine (PCr) concentration which changes in relation to energy expenditure. In the first 25 s of an exercise, PCr breakdown rate reflects ATP hydrolysis, and is therefore a direct measure of muscular enthalpy rate. This method was applied to the gastrocnemius medialis muscle of one healthy subject during repetitive dynamic plantarflexion movements at submaximal contraction, i.e., 20% of the maximum plantarflexion force using a MR compatible ergometer. Furthermore, muscle activity was measured by surface electromyography (EMG). A model (provided as open source) that combines previous models for muscle contraction dynamics and energy expenditure was used to reproduce the experiment in simulation. All parameters (e.g., muscle length and volume, pennation angle) in the model were determined from magnetic resonance imaging or literature (e.g., fiber composition), leaving no free parameters to fit the experimental data. Model prediction and experimental data on the energy supply rates are in good agreement with the validation phase (<25 s) of the dynamic movements. After 25 s, the experimental data differs from the model prediction as the change in PCr does not reflect all metabolic contributions to the energy expenditure anymore and therefore underestimates the energy consumption. This shows that this new approach allows to validate models of muscular energy expenditure in dynamic movements <i>in vivo</i>.