pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Hippocampus and basal forebrain volumes modulate effects of anticholinergic treatment on delayed recall in healthy older adults

AbstractIntroductionVolumes of hippocampus and cholinergic basal forebrain are associated with delayed recall performance and may modulate the effect of a muscarinic receptor antagonist on delayed recall in healthy volunteers.MethodsWe studied 15 older adults before and after the oral administration of a single dose of 1 or 2 mg of the preferential M1 muscarinic receptor antagonist trihexyphenidyl (Artane™) or placebo in a double-blind randomized cross-over design. Hippocampus and basal forebrain volumes were measured using magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsWe found a significant interaction between treatment and hippocampus volume and a trend level effect between treatment and anterior basal forebrain volume on task performance, with an attenuation of the association between volume size and performance with trihexyphenidyl.DiscussionThese findings suggest a reduction of delayed recall performance with increasing doses of the muscarinic antagonist that is related to an uncoupling of the association of task performance with cholinergic basal forebrain and hippocampus volumes
Scattering properties of a stratified air/snow/sea ice medium. Small slope approximation

AbstractThe sea-ice thickness, a key parameter in Arctic studies, is derived from radar altimeter height measurements of the freeboard, taking into account not only snow load, but also the penetration depth of the electromagnetic waves inside the snow—this is the not generally the case. Within the framework of the small slope approximation method, we study in Ku-band (f=13 GHz, λ=2.31 cm in the air) the electromagnetic signature of an air/snow/sea ice rough layered medium. The snow is inhomogeneous and is represented as a stack of several layers with different relative permittivities. We show that the electromagnetic response is very sensitive to the isotropy factor of the air/snow interface and to the cross-correlation parameters of interfaces
On the positive correlation between education and fertility intentions in Europe: Individual- and country-level evidence

AbstractIncreasing shares of European women are making large investments in their human capital. Whether and to what extent these investments are in conflict with reproductive behaviour are issues that have repercussions for fertility levels. Using two Eurobarometer survey data (2006 and 2011) on individuals clustered in the 27 EU countries, I investigate the relationship between women's education and lifetime fertility intentions. Results suggest that a positive association between women's level of education and lifetime fertility intentions exists at both the individual and country levels, as well as in a micro–macro integrated framework. The main explanation for these findings—which remains to be proven by future research—is that, in institutional contexts allowing highly educated women to have large families, women of reproductive ages are more prone to make investments in both human capital and family size, because these choices are not seen as incompatible alternatives
Search for new phenomena in photon+jet events collected in proton–proton collisions at s=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

AbstractThis Letter describes a model-independent search for the production of new resonances in photon+jet (γ+jet) events using 20 fb−1 of proton–proton LHC data recorded with the ATLAS detector at a centre-of-mass energy of s=8 TeV. The γ+jet mass distribution is compared to a background model fit from data; no significant deviation from the background-only hypothesis is found. Limits are set at 95% credibility level on generic Gaussian-shaped signals and two benchmark phenomena beyond the Standard Model: non-thermal quantum black holes and excited quarks. Non-thermal quantum black holes are excluded below masses of 4.6 TeV and excited quarks are excluded below masses of 3.5 TeV
Calcium- and phospholipid-dependent phosphorylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase small subunit by a chloroplast envelope-bound protein kinase in situ

AbstractPhosphorylation of the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase small subunit and other polypeptides by a protein kinase bound to the chloroplast envelope in situ was inhibited by EGTA, but not by calmodulin antagonists. When the envelope membrane was extracted with 90% (vv) cold acetone, the protein kinase activity was completely lost. The activity was restored by adding a lipid fraction extracted from the chloroplast envelope, or phospholipids such as phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine. Treatment of the envelope with phospholipases decreased the protein kinase activity. This was restored by the addition of phospholipids. These results strongly suggest that the envelope-bound protein kinase is a Ca2+-and phospholipid-dependent enzyme
Bayesian framework for power network planning under uncertainty

AbstractEffective transmission expansion planning is necessary to ensure a power system can satisfy all demand both reliably and economically. However, at the time reinforcement decisions are made many elements of the future system background are uncertain, such as demand level, type and location of installed generators, and plant availability statistics. Making decisions which account for such uncertainties is presently usually done by considering a small set of plausible scenarios, and the resulting limited coverage of parameter space limits confidence that the resulting decision will be a good one with respect to the real world. This paper presents a methodology which uses statistical emulators to quantify uncertainty in mathematical model outputs for all points at which it has not been evaluated, and hence to control properly uncertainties in the decision process arising from the finite size set of scenarios. The result is a generally applicable approach to network planning under uncertainty, including decision makers’ risk preferences, which scales well with problem size. The approach is demonstrated on a Great Britain test problem, which replicates key features of the model the Transmission Owners use for practical strategic planning studies
Angiographic Findings and Outcome in Diabetic Patients Treated With Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Myocardial Infarction: The GUSTO-I Experience

ObjectivesThis study sought to determine whether diabetes mellitus, in the setting of thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction, affects 1) early infarct-related artery patency and reocclusion rates; and 2) global and regional ventricular function indexes. We also sought to assess whether angiographic or baseline clinical variables, or both, can account for the known excess mortality after myocardial infarction in the diabetic population.BackgroundMortality after acute myocardial infarction in patients with diabetes is approximately twice that of nondiabetic patients. It is uncertain whether this difference in mortality is due to a lower rate of successful thrombolysis, increased reocclusion after successful thrombolysis, greater ventricular injury or a more adverse angiographic or clinical profile in diabetic patients.MethodsPatency rates and global and regional left ventricular function were determined in patients enrolled in the GUSTO-I Angiographic Trial. Thirty-day mortality differences between those with and without diabetes were compared.ResultsThe diabetic cohort had a significantly higher proportion of female and elderly patients, and they were more often hypertensive, came to the hospital later and had more congestive heart failure and a higher number of previous myocardial infarctions and bypass surgery procedures. Ninety-minute patency (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] flow grade 3) rates in patients with and without diabetes were 40.3% and 37.6%, respectively (p=0.7). Reocclusion rates were 9.2% vs. 5.3% (p=0.17). Ejection fraction at 90 min after thrombolysis was similar in diabetic and nondiabetic patients ([mean±SEM] 61.0±1.6% vs. 60.1±0.7%, p=0.7), as was regional ventricular function (number of abnormal chords: 19.1±2.0 vs. 17.5±0.8, p=0.3; SD/chord: -2.3±0.2 vs. -2.4±0.1, p=0.6). Diabetic patients had less compensatory hyperkinesia in the noninfarct zone (SD/ chord: 1.3±0.2 vs. 1.7±0.1, p - 0.01). No significant difference in ventricular function was noted at 5- to 7-day follow-up. The 30-day mortality rate was 11.3% in diabetic versus 5.9% in nondiabetic patients (p ≤ 0.0001). After adjustment for clinical and angiographic variables, diabetes remained an independent determinant of 30-day mortality (p=0.02).ConclusionsEarly (90-min) infarct-related artery patency as well as regional and global ventricular function do not differ between patients with and without diabetes after thrombolytic therapy, except for reduced compensatory hyperkinesia in the noninfarct zone among patients with diabetes. Diabetes remained an independent determinant of 30-day mortality after correction for clinical and angiographic variables
Genome-wide Association Study Identifies Genetic Variation in Neurocan as a Susceptibility Factor for Bipolar Disorder

We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and a follow-up study of bipolar disorder (BD), a common neuropsychiatric disorder. In the GWAS, we investigated 499,494 autosomal and 12,484 X-chromosomal SNPs in 682 patients with BD and in 1300 controls. In the first follow-up step, we tested the most significant 48 SNPs in 1729 patients with BD and in 2313 controls. Eight SNPs showed nominally significant association with BD and were introduced to a meta-analysis of the GWAS and the first follow-up samples. Genetic variation in the neurocan gene (NCAN) showed genome-wide significant association with BD in 2411 patients and 3613 controls (rs1064395, p = 3.02 × 10−8; odds ratio = 1.31). In a second follow-up step, we replicated this finding in independent samples of BD, totaling 6030 patients and 31,749 controls (p = 2.74 × 10−4; odds ratio = 1.12). The combined analysis of all study samples yielded a p value of 2.14 × 10−9 (odds ratio = 1.17). Our results provide evidence that rs1064395 is a common risk factor for BD. NCAN encodes neurocan, an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, which is thought to be involved in cell adhesion and migration. We found that expression in mice is localized within cortical and hippocampal areas. These areas are involved in cognition and emotion regulation and have previously been implicated in BD by neuropsychological, neuroimaging, and postmortem studies
Brane-world and loop cosmology from a gravity–matter coupling perspective

AbstractWe show that the effective brane-world and the loop quantum cosmology background expansion histories can be reproduced from a modified gravity perspective in terms of an f(R) gravity action plus a g(R) term non-minimally coupled with the matter Lagrangian. The reconstruction algorithm that we provide depends on a free function of the matter density that must be specified in each case and allows to obtain analytical solutions always. In the simplest cases, the function f(R) is quadratic in the Ricci scalar, R, whereas g(R) is linear. Our approach is compared with recent results in the literature. We show that working in the Palatini formalism there is no need to impose any constraint that keeps the equations second-order, which is a key requirement for the successful implementation of the reconstruction algorithm
Search for heavy narrow dilepton resonances in pp collisions at s=7 TeV and s=8 TeV

AbstractAn updated search for heavy narrow resonances decaying to muon or electron pairs using the CMS detector is presented. Data samples from pp collisions at s=7 TeV and 8 TeV at the LHC, with integrated luminosities of up to 5.3 and 4.1 fb−1, respectively, are combined. No evidence for a heavy narrow resonance is observed. The analysis of the combined data sets excludes, at 95% confidence level, a Sequential Standard Model ZSSM′ resonance lighter than 2590 GeV, a superstring-inspired Zψ′ lighter than 2260 GeV, and Kaluza–Klein gravitons lighter than 2390 (2030) GeV, assuming that the coupling parameter k/M¯Pl is 0.10 (0.05). These are the most stringent limits to date
Key Aspects of Smart Grid Design for Distribution System Automation: Architecture and Responsibilities

AbstractIn the conventional distribution network, systems designed for the control of individual constituents are autonomous with each other with respect to architectures and controlling. Thus, centralized control and integrated functionality are the major challenges faced by the distribution system operators. To overcome these issues, the term “distribution system automation” came into picture by using information and communications technology (ICT)as a resolution that integrate all the critical constituents of a distribution system. This develops a smart environment at power distribution level, called as “smart microgrid” that can optimize the system economy and improve the system resiliency. The major challenge lies in distribution system automation is the selection of proper architecture and communications. In view of all these aspects, this paper present an overview of distribution system automation as a part of smartgrid initiatives and its important features viz., architecture layout and responsibilities
Are multiple physical symptoms a poor prognostic factor or just a marker of depression severity? Secondary analysis of the GenPod trial

AbstractBackgroundUsing data from the GenPod trial this study investigates: (i) if depressed individuals with multiple physical symptoms have a poorer response to antidepressants before and after adjustment for baseline Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II); and (ii) if reboxetine is more effective than citalopram in depression with multiple physical symptoms.MethodsLinear regression models were used to estimate differences in mean BDI-II score at 6 and 12 weeks.ResultsBefore adjusting for baseline BDI-II, the difference in mean BDI-II score between no and multiple physical symptoms was 4.5 (95% CI 1.87, 7.14) at 6 weeks, 4.51 (95% CI 1.60, 7.42) at 12 weeks. After adjustment for baseline BDI-II, there was no evidence of a difference in outcome according to physical symptoms with a difference in mean BDI-II of 2.17 (95% CI −0.39, 4.73) at 6 weeks and 2.43 (95% CI −0.46, 5.32) at 12 weeks. There was no evidence that reboxetine was more effective than citalopram in those with multiple physical symptoms at 6 (P=0.18) or 12 weeks (P=0.24).LimitationsDifferential non-adherence between treatment arms has the potential to bias estimates of treatment efficacy.ConclusionMultiple physical symptoms predict response to antidepressants, but not after adjustment for baseline depression severity. Physical symptoms could be a marker of severe depression rather than an independent prognostic factor and depression should be considered in patients with multiple physical symptoms. Treatment with reboxetine conferred no advantage over citalopram in those with physical symptoms, and it is less well tolerated
Observation of the decay Bs0→D¯0ϕ

AbstractFirst observation of the decay Bs0→D¯0ϕ is reported using pp collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb−1, collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. The significance of the signal is 6.5 standard deviations. The branching fraction is measured relative to that of the decay Bs0→D¯0K¯⁎0 to beB(Bs0→D¯0ϕ)B(Bs0→D¯0K¯⁎0)=0.069±0.013 (stat)±0.007 (syst). The first measurement of the ratio of branching fractions for the decays Bs0→D¯0K¯⁎0 and B0→D¯0K⁎0 is found to beB(Bs0→D¯0K¯⁎0)B(B0→D¯0K⁎0)=7.8±0.7 (stat)±0.3 (syst)±0.6 (fs/fd), where the last uncertainty is due to the ratio of the Bs0 and B0 fragmentation fractions
Reanalyzing the upper limit on the tensor-to-scalar perturbation ratio rT in a quartic potential inflationary model

AbstractWe study the polynomial chaotic inflation model with a single scalar field in a double well quartic potential which has recently been shown to be consistent with Planck data. In particular, we study the effects of lifting the degeneracy between the two vacua on the inflationary observables, i.e., spectral index ns and tensor-to-scalar perturbation ratio rT. We find that removing the degeneracy allows the model to satisfy the upper limit constraints on rT from Planck data, provided the field starts near the local maximum. We also calculate the scalar power spectrum and non-Gaussianity parameter fNL for the primordial scalar perturbations in this model
Flavour independent search for Higgs bosons decaying into hadronic final states in e+e− collisions at LEP

AbstractA search for the Higgsstrahlung process e+e−→hZ is described, where the neutral Higgs boson h is assumed to decay into hadronic final states. In order to be sensitive to a broad range of models, the search is performed independent of the flavour content of the Higgs boson decay. The analysis is based on e+e− collision data collected by the OPAL detector at energies between 192 and 209 GeV. The search does not reveal any significant excess over the Standard Model background prediction. Results are combined with previous searches at energies around 91 and at 189 GeV. A limit is set on the product of the cross-section and the hadronic branching ratio of the Higgs boson, as a function of the Higgs boson mass. Assuming the hZ coupling predicted by the Standard Model, and a Higgs boson decaying only into hadronic final states, a lower bound of 104 GeV/c2 is set on the mass at the 95% confidence level
Brain network characterization of high-risk preterm-born school-age children

AbstractHigher risk for long-term cognitive and behavioral impairments is one of the hallmarks of extreme prematurity (EP) and pregnancy-associated fetal adverse conditions such as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). While neurodevelopmental delay and abnormal brain function occur in the absence of overt brain lesions, these conditions have been recently associated with changes in microstructural brain development. Recent imaging studies indicate changes in brain connectivity, in particular involving the white matter fibers belonging to the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamic loop. Furthermore, EP and IUGR have been related to altered brain network architecture in childhood, with reduced network global capacity, global efficiency and average nodal strength. In this study, we used a connectome analysis to characterize the structural brain networks of these children, with a special focus on their topological organization. On one hand, we confirm the reduced averaged network node degree and strength due to EP and IUGR. On the other, the decomposition of the brain networks in an optimal set of clusters remained substantially different among groups, talking in favor of a different network community structure. However, and despite the different community structure, the brain networks of these high-risk school-age children maintained the typical small-world, rich-club and modularity characteristics in all cases. Thus, our results suggest that brain reorganizes after EP and IUGR, prioritizing a tight modular structure, to maintain the small-world, rich-club and modularity characteristics. By themselves, both extreme prematurity and IUGR bear a similar risk for neurocognitive and behavioral impairment, and the here defined modular network alterations confirm similar structural changes both by IUGR and EP at school age compared to control. Interestingly, the combination of both conditions (IUGR+EP) does not result in a worse outcome. In such cases, the alteration in network topology appears mainly driven by the effect of extreme prematurity, suggesting that these brain network alterations present at school age have their origin in a common critical period, both for intrauterine and extrauterine adverse conditions
Cognitive styles and future depressed mood in early adulthood: The importance of global attributions

AbstractBackgroundCognitive theories of depression suggest that beliefs of low self-worth and the tendency to attribute negative events to causes that are global (widespread rather than specific) and stable (will persist rather than change in the future) are associated with the development of depressed mood. Such theories are supported by evidence from prospective studies and have guided the development of successful treatment and prevention strategies such as CBT. However, the relative importance of different psychological constructs within cognitive theories is unknown. This is important to refine cognitive theories and develop more efficient prevention strategies.MethodWe used prospective data from over 3500 young adults from the Avon Longitudinal Study for Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort in the UK to investigate the association between cognitive style, measured by short forms of the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS) and Cognitive Styles Questionnaire-Short Form (CSQ-SF) at age 18, and future depressed mood at age 19. Structural equation modelling techniques were used to separate cognitive style constructs.ResultsCognitive styles were associated with future depressed mood, independently of baseline mood, both as measured by the DAS-SF and the CSQ-SF. Of the different CSQ-SF constructs, only global attributions were associated with both baseline and future mood independently of other constructs.LimitationsThe study was subject to attrition and the follow-up was relatively short (10 months).ConclusionThe findings suggest that the tendency to attribute negative events specifically to global causes could be particularly important for depression. Reducing global attributions is potentially important in the prevention and treatment of depression
Modulation of mTOR Signalling Triggers the Formation of Stem Cell-like Memory T Cells

AbstractRobust, long-lasting immune responses are elicited by memory T cells that possess properties of stem cells, enabling them to persist long-term and to permanently replenish the effector pools. Thus, stem cell-like memory T (TSCM) cells are of key therapeutic value and efforts are underway to characterize TSCM cells and to identify means for their targeted induction.Here, we show that inhibition of mechanistic/mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) by rapamycin or the Wnt-β-catenin signalling activator TWS119 in activated human naive T cells leads to the induction of TSCM cells. We show that these compounds switch T cell metabolism to fatty acid oxidation as favoured metabolic programme for TSCM cell generation. Of note, pharmacologically induced TSCM cells possess superior functional features as a long-term repopulation capacity after adoptive transfer. Furthermore, we provide insights into the transcriptome of TSCM cells.Our data identify a mechanism of pharmacological mTORC1 inhibitors, allowing us to confer stemness to human naive T cells which may be significantly relevant for the design of innovative T cell-based cancer immunotherapies
A systematic review on [18F]FLT-PET uptake as a measure of treatment response in cancer patients

AbstractImaging biomarkers have a potential to depict the hallmarks of cancers that characterise cancer cells as compared to normal cells. One pertinent example is 3′-deoxy-3′-18F-fluorothymidine positron emission tomography ([18F]FLT-PET), which allows non-invasive in vivo assessment of tumour proliferation. Most importantly, [18F]FLT does not seem to be accumulating in inflammatory processes, as seen in [18F]-fludeoxyglucose, the most commonly used PET tracer for assessment of cell metabolism. [18F]FLT could therefore provide additional information about the tumour biology before, during and after treatment. This systematic review focuses on the use of [18F]FLT-PET tumour uptake values as a measure of tumour response to therapeutic interventions. The clinical studies which evaluated the role of [18F]FLT-PET as a measure of tumour response to treatment are summarised and the evidence linking [18F]FLT-PET tumour uptake values with clinical outcome is evaluated