julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Outcomes of Vibroplasty Coupler Implantations to Treat Mixed/Conductive Hearing Loss
2018-01-01

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Objective:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; To evaluate the long-term safety and performance of four different vibroplasty couplers (round window, oval window, CliP and Bell coupler) in combination with an active middle ear implant. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; This was a multicentre, prospective, long-term study including 5 German hospitals. Thirty adult subjects suffering from conductive or mixed hearing loss were initially enrolled for the study, 24 of these were included in the final analysis with up to 36 months of postsurgical follow-up data. Bone conduction and air conduction were measured pre- and postoperatively to evalu ate safety. Postoperative aided sound field thresholds and Freiburger monosyllable word recognition scores were compared to unaided pre-implantation results to confirm performance. Additional speech tests compared postoperative unaided with aided results. To determine patient satisfaction, an established quality-of-life questionnaire developed for conventional hearing aid usage was administered to all subjects. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Mean postoperative bone conduction thresholds remained stable throughout the whole study period. Mean functional gain for all couplers investigated was 38.5 ± 11.4 dB HL (12 months) and 38.8 ± 12.5 dB HL (36 months). Mean word recognition scores at 65 dB SPL increased from 2.9% in the unaided by 64.2% to 67.1% in the aided situation. The mean postoperative speech reception in quiet (or 50% understanding of words in sentences) shows a speech intelligibility improvement at 36 months of 17.8 ± 12.4 dB SPL over the unaided condition. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improved by 5.9 ± 7.2 dB SNR over the unaided condition. High subjective device satisfaction was reflected by the International Inventory for Hearing Aids scored very positively. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; A significant improvement was seen with all couplers, and audiological performance did not significantly differ between 12 and 36 months after surgery.
G3 PhyloChip Analysis Confirms the Promise of Plant-Based Culture Media for Unlocking the Composition and Diversity of the Maize Root Microbiome and for Recovering Unculturable Candidate Divisions/Phyla
2018-01-01

The rapid development of high-throughput techniques and expansion of bacterial databases have accelerated efforts to bring plant microbiomes into cultivation. We introduced plant-only-based culture media as a successful candidate to mimic the nutritional matrices of plant roots. We herein employed a G3 PhyloChip microarray to meticulously characterize the culture-dependent and -independent bacterial communities of the maize root compartments, the endo- and ecto-rhizospheres. An emphasis was placed on the preference of the growth of unculturable candidate divisions/phyla on plant-only-based culture media over standard culture media (nutrient agar). A total of 1,818 different operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were resolved representing 67 bacterial phyla. Plant-only-based culture media displayed particular affinity towards recovering endophytic over ectophytic rhizobacteria. This was shown by the slightly higher recovery of CFUs for endophytes on plant-only-based culture media (26%) than on standard culture media (10%) as well as the higher taxa richness and numbers of exclusive families of unculturable divisions/phyla. Out of 30 bacterial phyla (comprising >95% of the whole population), 13 were of a significantly higher incidence on plant-only-based culture media, 6 phyla of which were not-yet-cultured (Atribacteria, OP9; Dependentiae, TM6; Latescibacteria, WS3; Marinimicrobia, SAR406; Omnitrophica, OP3; BRC1). Furthermore, plant-only-based culture media significantly enriched less abundant and/or hard-to-culture bacterial phyla (Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Tenericutes). These results present conclusive evidence of the ability of plant-only-based culture media to bring the plant-fed in situ microbiome into the status of plant-fed in vitro cultures, and to widen the scope of cultivation of heretofore-unculturable bacterial divisions/phyla.
A random-matrix theory of the number sense
2018-01-01

Number sense, a spontaneous ability to process approximate numbers, has been documented in human adults, infants and newborns, and many other animals. Species as distant as monkeys and crows exhibit very similar neurons tuned to specific numerosities. How number sense can emerge in the absence of learning or fine tuning is currently unknown. We introduce a random-matrix theory of self-organized neural states where numbers are coded by vectors of activation across multiple units, and where the vector codes for successive integers are obtained through multiplication by a fixed but random matrix. This cortical implementation of the ‘von Mises' algorithm explains many otherwise disconnected observations ranging from neural tuning curves in monkeys to looking times in neonates and cortical numerotopy in adults. The theory clarifies the origin of Weber–Fechner's Law and yields a novel and empirically validated prediction of multi-peak number neurons. Random matrices constitute a novel mechanism for the emergence of brain states coding for quantity. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The origins of numerical abilities’.
Small Heat Shock Protein16.3 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: After Two Decades of Functional Characterization
2018-01-01

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are one of the five families of proteins acting as molecular chaperone. sHSPs possess a universally conserved alpha-crystallin domain, hence, also known as alpha-crystallin family. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is an etiological agent of tuberculosis, a disease claiming million of lives every year across the world. MTB has two sHSPs: sHSP16.3 (a 16.3 kDa protein) and Acr2 (a 17.8 kDa protein). Of these, sHSP16.3 has been reported to be crucial for survival of MTB during prolonged period of dormancy, in addition to indispensable role in its growth, virulence and cell wall thickening. Additionally, this mycobacterial protein is also beneficial for host as well. Due to strong immunogenic properties and consistent presence in patients sera, sHSP16.3 has largely been implicated in vaccine development and diagnosis of latent and active infections of MTB in the clinical cases of TB. Recently, our study provided the substantial evidence to exploit this mycobacterial protein as a good drug target for developing novel therapeutic intervention. In the present review, a comprehensive analysis of various attributes of sHSP16.3 has been done and major gaps in area have been highlighted for future course of action.
Direct Breakthrough Curve Prediction From Statistics of Heterogeneous Conductivity Fields
2018-01-01

Abstract This paper presents a methodology to predict the shape of solute breakthrough curves in heterogeneous aquifers at early times and/or under high degrees of heterogeneity, both cases in which the classical macrodispersion theory may not be applicable. The methodology relies on the observation that breakthrough curves in heterogeneous media are generally well described by lognormal distributions, and mean breakthrough times can be predicted analytically. The log‐variance of solute arrival is thus sufficient to completely specify the breakthrough curves, and this is calibrated as a function of aquifer heterogeneity and dimensionless distance from a source plane by means of Monte Carlo analysis and statistical regression. Using the ensemble of simulated groundwater flow and solute transport realizations employed to calibrate the predictive regression, reliability estimates for the prediction are also developed. Additional theoretical contributions include heuristics for the time until an effective macrodispersion coefficient becomes applicable, and also an expression for its magnitude that applies in highly heterogeneous systems. It is seen that the results here represent a way to derive continuous time random walk transition distributions from physical considerations rather than from empirical field calibration.
Effect Size Estimation Fromt-Statistics in the Presence of Publication Bias
2018-01-01

Abstract. Publication bias hampers the estimation of true effect sizes. Specifically, effect sizes are systematically overestimated when studies report only significant results. In this paper we show how this overestimation depends on the true effect size and on the sample size. Furthermore, we review and follow up methods originally suggested by Hedges (1984) , Iyengar and Greenhouse (1988) , and Rust, Lehmann, and Farley (1990) allowing the estimation of the true effect size from published test statistics (e.g., from the t-values of reported significant results). Moreover, we adapted these methods allowing meta-analysts to estimate the percentage of researchers who consign undesired results in a research domain to the file drawer. We also apply the same logic to the case when significant results tend to be underreported. We demonstrate the application of these procedures for conventional one-sample and two-sample t-tests. Finally, we provide R and MATLAB versions of a computer program to estimate the true unbiased effect size and the prevalence of publication bias in the literature.
Acquaintance content and obviation
2018-01-01

This paper is about what Ninan (2014) (following Wollheim 1980) calls the AcquaintanceInference (AI): a firsthand experience requirement imposed by several subjective expressions such asPredicates of Personal Taste (PPTs) (delicious). In general, one is entitled to calling something deliciousonly upon having tried it. This requirement can be lifted, disappearing in scope of elements that we willcall obviators. The paper investigates the patterns of AI obviation for PPTs and similar constructions(e.g., psych predicates and subjective attitudes). We show that the cross-constructional variation in whenacquaintance requirements can be obviated presents challenges for previous accounts of the AI (Pearson2013, Ninan 2014). In place of these, we argue for the existence of two kinds of acquaintance content:(i) that of bare PPTs; and (ii) that of psych predicates, subjective attitudes and overt experiencer PPTs.For (i), we propose that the AI arises from an evidential restriction that is dependent on a parameterof interpretation which obviators update. For (ii), we argue that the AI is a classic presupposition. Wemodel both (i) and (ii) using von Fintel and Gillies’s (2010) framework for directness and thus connecttwo strands of research: that on PPTs and that on epistemic modals. Both phenomena are sensitive toa broad direct-indirect distinction, and analyzing them along similar lines can help shed light on hownatural language conceptualizes evidence in general.Keywords: evidentiality, firsthand experience, knowledge, predicates of personal taste, subjectivity
Accounting for the Decreasing Reaction Potential of Heterogeneous Aquifers in a Stochastic Framework of Aquifer‐Scale Reactive Transport
2018-01-01

Abstract Many groundwater contaminants react with components of the aquifer matrix, causing a depletion of the aquifer's reactivity with time. We discuss conceptual simplifications of reactive transport that allow the implementation of a decreasing reaction potential in reactive‐transport simulations in chemically and hydraulically heterogeneous aquifers without relying on a fully explicit description. We replace spatial coordinates by travel‐times and use the concept of relative reactivity, which represents the reaction‐partner supply from the matrix relative to a reference. Microorganisms facilitating the reactions are not explicitly modeled. Solute mixing is neglected. Streamlines, obtained by particle tracking, are discretized in travel‐time increments with variable content of reaction partners in the matrix. As exemplary reactive system, we consider aerobic respiration and denitrification with simplified reaction equations: Dissolved oxygen undergoes conditional zero‐order decay, nitrate follows first‐order decay, which is inhibited in the presence of dissolved oxygen. Both reactions deplete the bioavailable organic carbon of the matrix, which in turn determines the relative reactivity. These simplifications reduce the computational effort, facilitating stochastic simulations of reactive transport on the aquifer scale. In a one‐dimensional test case with a more detailed description of the reactions, we derive a potential relationship between the bioavailable organic‐carbon content and the relative reactivity. In a three‐dimensional steady‐state test case, we use the simplified model to calculate the decreasing denitrification potential of an artificial aquifer over 200 years in an ensemble of 200 members. We demonstrate that the uncertainty in predicting the nitrate breakthrough in a heterogeneous aquifer decreases with increasing scale of observation.
Nuclear Translocation of Argonaute 2 in Cytokine-Induced Senescence
2018-01-01

Background/Aims: Cellular senescence, or permanent growth arrest, is known as an effective tumor suppressor mechanism that can be induced by different stressors, such as oncogenes, chemotherapeutics or cytokine cocktails. Previous studies demonstrated that the growth-repressing state of oncogene-induced senescent cells depends on argonaute protein 2 (Ago2)-mediated transcriptional gene silencing and Ago2/Rb corepression of E2F-dependent cell cycle genes. Cytokine-induced senescence (CIS) likewise depends on activation of the p16Ink4a/Rb pathway, and consecutive inactivation of the E2F family of transcription factors. In the present study, we therefore analyzed the role of Ago2 in CIS. Methods: Human cancer cell lines were treated with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to induce senescence. Senescence was determined by growth assays and measurement of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity, Ago2 translocation by Ago2/ Ki67 immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis, and gene transcription by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: IFN-γ and TNF permanently stopped cell proliferation and time-dependently increased SA-β-gal activity. After 24 – 48 h of cytokine treatment, Ago2 translocated from the cytoplasm into the nucleus of Ki67-negative cells, an effect which was shown to be reversible. Importantly, the proinflammatory cytokine cocktail suppressed Ago2-regulated cell cycle control genes, and siRNA-mediated depletion of Ago2 interfered with cytokine-induced growth inhibition. Conclusion: IFN-γ and TNF induce a stable cell cycle arrest of cancer cells that is accompanied by a fast nuclear Ago2 translocation and repression of Ago2-regulated cell cycle control genes. As Ago2 downregulation impairs cytokine-induced growth regulation, Ago2 may contribute to tissue homeostasis in human cancers.
Where Do You Look Visual Attention to Human Bodies across the Weight Spectrum in Individuals with Normal Weight or with Obesity
2018-01-01

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Objective:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; We investigated how individuals with normal weight (NW) versus individuals with obesity (OB) visually explore human bodies varying in BMI. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;16 OB (BMI 37.5 ± 7.7 kg/m2) and 35 NW (BMI 21.5 ± 1.6 kg/m2) visually explored 35 natural photographs and 25 avatars depicting male and female bodies ranging from normal weight to obesity. Gaze behaviour was assessed using eye tracking technology. Additionally, participants rated the attractiveness of all body stimuli. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;A comparison of the displayed gaze behaviour shown by both participant weight classes indicates that regarding visual stimuli of obese natural bodies, all participants (OB + NW) looked at the waist longer, whereas regarding visual stimuli of normal-weight bodies, all participants viewed the head longer. Overall, OB spent less time looking at the bodies than NW. All participants rated normal-weight bodies as more attractive than obese bodies. However, the NW sample rated the depicted obese bodies as even less attractive than the OB sample did. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;The&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;BMI of the explored body, but not the observer's BMI, produces differences in the visual exploration of human bodies. The displayed exploration pattern of obese bodies can cautiously be interpreted as a ‘de-individualised' and ‘obesity-focused' perception. This tendency may prove in close relationship with the negative cultural views on obesity.
Unique and contrasting structures of homoleptic lanthanum(iii) and cerium(iii) 3,5-dimethylpyrazolates
2018-01-01

Six coordination modes are observed in the tetranuclear cage [Ce<sub>4</sub>(Me<sub>2</sub>pz)<sub>12</sub>] while lanthanum features a coordination polymer with an unusual η<sup>5</sup>:η<sup>5</sup> Me<sub>2</sub>pz sandwich.
In Silico Identification and in Vitro Analysis of B and T-Cell Epitopes of the Black Turtle Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Lectin
2018-01-01

Background/Aims: The incidence of lectin allergic disease is increasing in recent decades, and definitive treatment is still lacking. Identification of B and T-cell epitopes of allergen will be useful in understanding the allergen antibody responses as well as aiding in the development of new diagnostics and therapy regimens for lectin poisoning. In the current study, we mainly addressed these questions. Methods: Three-dimensional structure of the lectin from black turtle bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was modeled using the structural template of Phytohemagglutinin from P. vulgaris (PHA-E, PDB ID: 3wcs.1.A) with high identity. The B and T-cell epitopes were screened and identified by immunoinformatics and subsequently validated by ELISA, lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine profile analyses. Results: Seven potential B-cell epitopes (B1 to B7) were identified by sequence and structure based methods, while three T-cell epitopes (T1 to T3) were identified by the predictions of binding score and inhibitory concentration. The epitope peptides were synthesized. Significant IgE binding capability was found in B-cell epitopes (B2, B5, B6 and B7) and T2 (a cryptic B-cell epitope). T1 and T2 induced significant lymphoproliferation, and the release of IL-4 and IL-5 cytokine confirmed the validity of T-cell epitope prediction. Abundant hydrophobic amino acids were found in B-cell epitope and T-cell epitope regions by amino acid analysis. Positively charged amino acids, such as His residue, might be more favored for B-cell epitope. Conclusion: The present approach can be applied for the identification of epitopes in novel allergen proteins and thus for designing diagnostics and therapies in lectin allergy.
A Review: Mealtime Difficulties following Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration
2018-01-01

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Background:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) can result in a decline in behavior, language, and motor function. Mealtime disturbances are a common and significant outcome of FTLD. Disturbances during mealtimes can arise from dysphagia or may occur secondary to behavioral changes such as rapid eating, mealtime rigidity, and altered diet preferences. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Summary:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Few studies have comprehensively evaluated eating behavior or dysphagia in individuals presenting with FTLD pathology despite the potential impact on medical safety and individual quality of life. Dysphagia is reported in the late stages of frontotemporal dementia and early in the motor subtypes of FTLD. The identification of dysphagia can alert individuals and medical teams to disease progression and provide insight into the nature and spread of the underlying neuropathology. Improved understanding of eating behaviors can improve individual care and may enhance diagnostic accuracy. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Key Message:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Aberrant eating behavior and swallowing difficulties are reported in the conditions associated with FTLD neuropathology. The consequences of mealtime disturbances include health risks associated with an increased BMI and aspiration, reduction of an individual’s independence, and an increase in caregiver stress and burden. Here we review and summarize the literature on eating behavior and swallow impairments (dysphagia) in each of the syndromes caused by FTLD.
Dimethylmagnesium revisited
2018-01-01

Single-crystalline [MgMe<sub>2</sub>]<sub>n</sub> is obtained <italic>via</italic> crystallization from neat GaMe<sub>3</sub>, the formation of transient Mg(GaMe<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> being indicated by the serendipitous isolation of octametallic [Mg(GaMe<sub>4</sub>)(OMe)]<sub>4</sub>.
Cylindrical Wigner measures
2018-01-01

In this paper we study the semiclassical behavior of quantum states acting on the C*-algebra of canonical commutation relations, from a general perspective. The aim is to provide a unified and flexible approach to the semiclassical analysis of bosonic systems. We also give a detailed overview of possible applications of this approach to mathematical problems of both axiomatic relativistic quantum field theories and nonrelativistic many body systems. If the theory has infinitely many degrees of freedom, the set of Wigner measures, i.e. the classical counterpart of the set of quantum states, coincides with the set of all cylindrical measures acting on the algebraic dual of the space of test functions for the field, and this reveals a very rich semiclassical structure compared to the finite-dimensional case. We characterize the cylindrical Wigner measures and the a priori properties they inherit from the corresponding quantum states.
The Road to Functional Recovery: Temporal Effects of Matrix Regeneration on Amazonian Bats
2018-01-01

Across the tropics, vast deforested areas are undergoing forest regeneration due to land abandonment. Although secondary forest is an expanding type of landscape matrix that has been shown to buffer some of the negative consequences of forest loss and fragmentation on taxonomic diversity, little is known in this regard about the functional dimension of biodiversity. We took advantage of an ecosystem-wide fragmentation experiment to investigate longer term changes in functional diversity of a mega-diverse Amazonian bat assemblage associated with regrowth development in the matrix. We found that matrix regeneration affected several facets of bat functional diversity in secondary forest over time, increasing functional α diversity, species- and community-level functional uniqueness, altering functional trait composition, and resulting in functional β-diversity changes via trait gains. However, approximately 30 years of matrix regeneration were insufficient for functional diversity to recover to the same levels as in continuous forest. Our results suggest that a combination of natural, human-assisted, and active restoration is likely to be the most successful strategy for restoring functional biodiversity of bats in human-modified tropical landscapes, a finding that most likely also applies to many other taxa.