Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leftward Lateralization of Auditory Cortex Underlies Holistic Sound Perception in Williams Syndrome

Background Individuals with the rare genetic disorder Williams-Beuren syndrome (WS) are known for their characteristic auditory phenotype including strong affinity to music and sounds. In this work we attempted to pinpoint a neural substrate for the characteristic musicality in WS individuals by studying the structure-function relationship of their auditory cortex. Since WS subjects had only minor musical training due to psychomotor constraints we hypothesized that any changes compared to the control group would reflect the contribution of genetic factors to auditory processing and musicality. Methodology/Principal Findings Using psychoacoustics, magnetoencephalography and magnetic resonance imaging, we show that WS individuals exhibit extreme and almost exclusive holistic sound perception, which stands in marked contrast to the even distribution of this trait in the general population. Functionally, this was reflected by increased amplitudes of left auditory evoked fields. On the structural level, volume of the left auditory cortex was 2.2-fold increased in WS subjects as compared to control subjects. Equivalent volumes of the auditory cortex have been previously reported for professional musicians. Conclusions/Significance There has been an ongoing debate in the neuroscience community as to whether increased gray matter of the auditory cortex in musicians is attributable to the amount of training or innate disposition. In this study musical education of WS subjects was negligible and control subjects were carefully matched for this parameter. Therefore our results not only unravel the neural substrate for this particular auditory phenotype, but in addition propose WS as a unique genetic model for training-independent auditory system properties.
Coherence-based near-oracle performance guarantees for sparse estimation under Gaussian noise

We consider the problem of estimating a deterministic sparse vector x0 from underdetermined measurements Ax0 + w, where w represents white Gaussian noise and A is a given deterministic dictionary. We analyze the performance of three sparse estimation algorithms: basis pursuit denoising, orthogonal matching pursuit, and thresholding. These approaches are shown to achieve near-oracle performance with high probability, assuming that x0 is sufficiently sparse. Our results are non-asymptotic and are based only on the coherence of A, so that they are applicable to arbitrary dictionaries.
Effect of preoperative radiochemotherapy on lymph node retrieval after resection of rectal cancer.

HYPOTHESIS Preoperative radiochemotherapy for advanced rectal cancer results in fewer lymph nodes detected in the tumor-bearing specimen. DESIGN Nonrandomized control trial with analysis of a prospective perioperative database. SETTING Department of Surgery of a large-volume university hospital. PATIENTS All patients who underwent conventional open surgery to cure rectal cancer between January 1, 1996, and March 31, 2001. INTERVENTIONS During the study period 184 patients (81%, control group) underwent surgery without receiving preoperative radiochemotherapy. Forty-two patients (19%, study group) who had advanced rectal cancer (modified Dukes stages B [tumors that have penetrated the muscle layer of the bowel wall or have gone through the bowel] or C [tumors that have spread to the lymph nodes in the same region]) received preoperative radiochemotherapy (2 cycles of fluorouracil, 4500 rad) during this period. Most patients underwent anterior rectal resection in both groups (77.7% of those who did not receive preoperative radiochemotherapy and 71.8% of those who did), the remaining patients were treated with abdominoperineal resection. RESULTS A mean (SEM) of 19 (1) lymph nodes per specimen were detected in the control patients, while significantly fewer lymph nodes were detected in study patients (13 [1]; P<.05). The rate of inadequate lymph node staging (pNx) increased from 7% in the control group to 12% in the study group (P =.06). Pathological lymph node staging disclosed that significantly more study patients who received preoperative radiochemotherapy had modified Dukes stage A (tumors that are found only in the inner wall or rectum) cancer when compared with the control group (17% vs 0%, respectively; P<.05). CONCLUSIONS Preoperative radiochemotherapy for advanced rectal cancer results in a significant decrease of lymph nodes detected within the tumor-bearing specimen. Preoperative radiochemotherapy induces significant downstaging with fewer positive lymph nodes and more patients presenting with Dukes stage A rectal cancer. Great care must be taken to remove an adequate number of lymph nodes and more sophisticated pathological techniques of lymph node detection are required since the tumors of ever-increasing numbers of patients are inadequately classified.
The Functional Basis of Counterfactual Thinking

Counterfactual thoughts (“might-have-been” reconstructions of past outcomes) may serve an affective function (feeling better) and a preparative function (future improvement). Three studies showed that counterfactuals varying in their direction and structure may differentially serve these 2 functions. Direction influenced affect such that downward (vs. upward) counterfactuals caused more positive affect. Direction influenced intentions such that upward (vs. downward) counterfactuals heightened intentions to perform success-facilitating behaviors. Both direction and structure influenced performance on an anagram task such that upward and additive (vs. downward and subtractive) counterfactuals engendered greater improvement. These findings suggest that people can strategically use downward counterfactuals to make themselves feel better and upward and additive counterfactuals to improve performance.
Effective Crowd Annotation for Relation Extraction

Can crowdsourced annotation of training data boost performance for relation extraction over methods based solely on distant supervision? While crowdsourcing has been shown effective for many NLP tasks, previous researchers found only minimal improvement when applying the method to relation extraction. This paper demonstrates that a much larger boost is possible, e.g., raising F1 from 0.40 to 0.60. Furthermore, the gains are due to a simple, generalizable technique, Gated Instruction , which combines an interactive tutorial, feedback to correct errors during training, and improved screening.
Brasileiras na indústria transnacional do sexo. Migrações, direitos humanos e antropologia

Taking as reference Brazilian women in the transnational sex industry, in this text I consider how anthropology might contribute in the debate about migration and prostitution. In the first section I explore the tensions among the national, international e transnational logics that inform policies directed towards these migrants. In the second section I draw a counterpoint between those logics and sex workers perceptions. Finally, I comment on anthropology’s potential contribution in this debate.
Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Cells: Physiological and Therapeutical Approaches and Molecular Mechanisms of Interaction

This review concentrates on findings described in the recent literature on the response of cells and tissues to electromagnetic fields (EMF). Models of the causal interaction between different forms of EMF and ions or biomolecules of the cell will be presented together with our own results in cell surface recognition. Naturally occurring electric fields are not only important for cell-surface interactions but are also pivotal for the normal development of the organism and its physiological functions. A further goal of this review is to bridge the gap between recent cell biological studies (which, indeed, show new data of EMF actions) and aspects of EMF-based therapy, e.g., in wounds and bone fractures.
Serum from calorie-restricted animals delays senescence and extends the lifespan of normal human fibroblasts in vitro

The cumulative effects of cellular senescence and cell loss over time in various tissues and organs are considered major contributing factors to the ageing process. In various organisms, caloric restriction (CR) slows ageing and increases lifespan, at least in part, by activating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent protein deacetylases of the sirtuin family. Here, we use an in vitro model of CR to study the effects of this dietary regime on replicative senescence, cellular lifespan and modulation of the SIRT1 signaling pathway in normal human diploid fibroblasts. We found that serum from calorie-restricted animals was able to delay senescence and significantly increase replicative lifespan in these cells, when compared to serum from ad libitum fed animals. These effects correlated with CR-mediated increases in SIRT1 and decreases in p53 expression levels. In addition, we show that manipulation of SIRT1 levels by either over-expression or siRNA-mediated knockdown resulted in delayed and accelerated cellular senescence, respectively. Our results demonstrate that CR can delay senescence and increase replicative lifespan of normal human diploid fibroblasts in vitro and suggest that SIRT1 plays an important role in these processes. (185 words).
Differential Neural Responses Underlying the Inhibition of the Startle Response by Pre-Pulses or Gaps in Mice

Gap pre-pulse inhibition of the acoustic startle (GPIAS) is a behavioral paradigm used for inferring the presence of tinnitus in animal models as well as humans. In contrast to pre-pulse inhibition (PPI), the neural circuitry controlling GPIAS is poorly understood. To increase our knowledge on GPIAS, a comparative study with PPI was performed in mice combining these behavioral tests and c-Fos activity mapping in brain areas involved in the inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex (ASR). Both pre-pulses and gaps efficiently inhibited the ASR and abolished the induction of c-Fos in the pontine reticular nucleus. Differential c-Fos activation was found between PPI and GPIAS in the forebrain whereby PPI activated the lateral globus pallidus and GPIAS activated the primary auditory cortex. Thus, different neural maps are regulating the inhibition of the startle response by pre-pulses or gaps. To further investigate this differential response to PPI and GPIAS, we pharmacologically disrupted PPI and GPIAS with D-amphetamine or Dizocilpine (MK-801) to target dopamine eﬄux and to block NMDA receptors, respectively. Both D-amp and MK-801 efficiently decreased PPI and GPIAS. We administered Baclofen, an agonist GABAB receptor, but failed to detect any robust rescue of the effects of D-amp and MK-801 suggesting that PPI and GPIAS are GABAB-independent. These novel findings demonstrate that the inhibition of the ASR by pre-pulses or gaps is orchestrated by different neural pathways.
Antipsychotics, other psychotropics, and the risk of death in patients with dementia: number needed to harm.

IMPORTANCE Antipsychotic medications are associated with increased mortality in older adults with dementia, yet their absolute effect on risk relative to no treatment or an alternative psychotropic is unclear. OBJECTIVE To determine the absolute mortality risk increase and number needed to harm (NNH) (ie, number of patients who receive treatment that would be associated with 1 death) of antipsychotic, valproic acid and its derivatives, and antidepressant use in patients with dementia relative to either no treatment or antidepressant treatment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A retrospective case-control study was conducted in the Veterans Health Administration from October 1, 1998, through September 30, 2009. Participants included 90,786 patients 65 years or older with a diagnosis of dementia. Final analyses were conducted in August 2014. EXPOSURES A new prescription for an antipsychotic (haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone), valproic acid and its derivatives, or an antidepressant (46,008 medication users). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Absolute change in mortality risk and NNH over 180 days of follow-up in medication users compared with nonmedication users matched on several risk factors. Among patients in whom a treatment with medication was initiated, mortality risk associated with each agent was also compared using the antidepressant group as the reference, adjusting for age, sex, years with dementia, presence of delirium, and other clinical and demographic characteristics. Secondary analyses compared dose-adjusted absolute change in mortality risk for olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone. RESULTS Compared with respective matched nonusers, individuals receiving haloperidol had an increased mortality risk of 3.8% (95% CI, 1.0%-6.6%; P < .01) with an NNH of 26 (95% CI, 15-99); followed by risperidone, 3.7% (95% CI, 2.2%-5.3%; P < .01) with an NNH of 27 (95% CI, 19-46); olanzapine, 2.5% (95% CI, 0.3%-4.7%; P = .02) with an NNH of 40 (95% CI, 21-312); and quetiapine, 2.0% (95% CI, 0.7%-3.3%; P < .01) with an NNH of 50 (95% CI, 30-150). Compared with antidepressant users, mortality risk ranged from 12.3% (95% CI, 8.6%-16.0%; P < .01) with an NNH of 8 (95% CI, 6-12) for haloperidol users to 3.2% (95% CI, 1.6%-4.9%; P < .01) with an NNH of 31 (95% CI, 21-62) for quetiapine users. As a group, the atypical antipsychotics (olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone) showed a dose-response increase in mortality risk, with 3.5% greater mortality (95% CI, 0.5%-6.5%; P = .02) in the high-dose subgroup relative to the low-dose group. When compared directly with quetiapine, dose-adjusted mortality risk was increased with both risperidone (1.7%; 95% CI, 0.6%-2.8%; P = .003) and olanzapine (1.5%; 95% CI, 0.02%-3.0%; P = .047). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The absolute effect of antipsychotics on mortality in elderly patients with dementia may be higher than previously reported and increases with dose.
Dietary antioxidants and magnesium in type 1 brittle asthma: a case control study

BACKGROUND Type 1 brittle asthma is a rare form of asthma. Atopy, psychosocial factors and diet may contribute to this condition. As increased dietary magnesium has a beneficial effect on lung function and selenium, vitamins A, C and E have antioxidant properties, a study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that patients with brittle asthma have diets deficient in these nutrients compared with subjects with non-brittle asthma and healthy adults. METHODS A case control study of the dietary intakes of 20 subjects with brittle asthma, 20 with non-brittle asthma, and 20 healthy adults was performed using five day weighed dietary records. Intake of magnesium was the primary outcome measure with selenium and vitamins A, C and E as secondary outcomes. Serum levels were measured at the same time as the dietary assessment. RESULTS Sixty subjects (27 men) of mean age 49.5 years were recruited and completed the study. Subjects with brittle asthma had statistically lower median dietary intakes of vitamins A and E than the other groups (vitamin A: brittle asthma 522.5 μg/day, non-brittle asthma 869.5 μg/day, healthy adults 806.5 μg/day; vitamin E: brittle asthma 4.3 mg/day, non-brittle asthma 4.6 mg/day, healthy adults 4.5 mg/day). Median dietary intakes for the other nutrients were not significantly different between groups. Serum levels were within normal ranges for each nutrient in all subjects. Intakes less than the reference nutrient intake (RNI) for magnesium and vitamins A and C, and less than the safe intake (SI) for vitamin E were more likely in patients with brittle asthma than in those with non-brittle asthma. CONCLUSION Nutrient deficiency and reduced antioxidant activity may contribute to disease activity in type 1 brittle asthma, although a prospective study of replacement therapy will be needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Reading Instruction for Struggling Learners

A survey conducted among approximately 1,400 students at 63 primary schools showed that learning gains for initial reading varied significantly for students in the last 6 months of Year 3. Learning gains turned out to be much higher in classes where students had received explicit or direct instruction, where instruction had been organized efficiently, and where appropriate remedial measures for poorly performing students had been arranged in a timely manner. Learning gains turned out to be lower in classes where teachers worked with homogeneous level groups or with individual learning plans for students.
Cardiac Function, Perfusion, Metabolism, and Innervation following Autologous Stem Cell Therapy for Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction. A FINCELL-INSIGHT Sub-Study with PET and MRI

Purpose: Beneficial mechanisms of bone marrow cell (BMC) therapy for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarct (STEMI) are largely unknown in humans. Therefore, we evaluated the feasibility of serial positron emission tomography (PET) and MRI studies to provide insight into the effects of BMCs on the healing process of ischemic myocardial damage. Methods: Nineteen patients with successful primary reteplase thrombolysis (mean 2.4 h after symptoms) for STEMI were randomized for BMC therapy (2.9 × 106 CD34+ cells) or placebo after bone marrow aspiration in a double-blind, multi-center study. Three days post-MI, coronary angioplasty, and paclitaxel eluting stent implantation preceded either BMC or placebo therapy. Cardiac PET and MRI studies were performed 7–12 days after therapies and repeated after 6 months, and images were analyzed at a central core laboratory. Results: In BMC-treated patients, there was a decrease in [11C]-HED defect size (−4.9 ± 4.0 vs. −1.6 ± 2.2%, p = 0.08) and an increase in [18F]-FDG uptake in the infarct area at risk (0.06 ± 0.09 vs. −0.05 ± 0.16, p = 0.07) compared to controls, as well as less left ventricular dilatation (−4.4 ± 13.3 vs. 8.0 ± 16.7 mL/m2, p = 0.12) at 6 months follow-up. However, BMC treatment was inferior to placebo in terms of changes in rest perfusion in the area at risk (−0.09 ± 0.17 vs. 0.10 ± 0.17, p = 0.03) and infarct size (0.4 ± 4.2 vs. −5.1 ± 5.9 g, p = 0.047), and no effect was observed on ejection fraction (p = 0.37). Conclusion: After the acute phase of STEMI, BMC therapy showed only minor trends of long-term benefit in patients with rapid successful thrombolysis. There was a trend of more decrease in innervation defect size and enhanced glucose metabolism in the infarct-related myocardium and also a trend of less ventricular dilatation in the BMC-treated group compared to placebo. However, no consistently better outcome was observed in the BMC-treated group compared to placebo.
The Social Adaptation of Children of Mexican Immigrants: Educational Aspirations Beyond Junior High School

Objective. This article draws on the concept of segmented assimilation to analyze the values toward, aspirations for, and realistic expectations of pursuing formal education among Mexican–origin students in southern California. Methods. Survey data inform the analyses, which include regression of educational aspirations and expectations on a series of potentially significant independent variables. Results. The evidence of segmented assimilation is mixed. Informants are nearly unanimous in professing positive values toward formal education. However, length of residency in the United States is negatively and fluent bilingualism in Spanish and English is positively associated with educational aspirations and expectations. Conclusions. At the cusp of entering high school, Mexican–origin students profess positive educational values, aspirations, and expectations, belying documented elevated rates of high school dropout and low rates of college attendance.
Effect of anastrozole on bone mineral density: 5-year results from the anastrozole, tamoxifen, alone or in combination trial 18233230.

PURPOSE The Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination (ATAC) trial (median follow-up, 68 months) has shown that adjuvant anastrozole has superior efficacy and better tolerability than tamoxifen. However, anastrozole reduces circulating estrogen, and low estradiol levels are associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture risk. It is therefore important to understand the effects of long-term aromatase inhibitor therapy on BMD. PATIENTS AND METHODS This prospective substudy of the ATAC trial assessed BMD changes in postmenopausal women with invasive primary breast cancer receiving anastrozole (1 mg/d) or tamoxifen (20 mg/d) as adjuvant therapy for 5 years. Lumbar spine and total hip BMD were assessed at baseline and after 1, 2, and 5 years. RESULTS One hundred ninety-seven women from the monotherapy arms of the ATAC trial were recruited onto the bone substudy, and 108 were included in the primary analysis. Among anastrozole-treated patients, there was a decrease in median BMD from baseline to 5 years in lumbar spine (-6.08%) and total hip (-7.24%) compared with the tamoxifen group (lumbar spine, +2.77%; total hip, +0.74%). No patients with normal BMD at baseline became osteoporotic at 5 years. CONCLUSION Anastrozole is associated with accelerated bone loss over the 5-year treatment period. However, although patients with pre-existing osteopenia are likely to require monitoring and bone-protection strategies, patients with normal BMD would not appear to require monitoring beyond the recommendation for healthy postmenopausal women. The effect of anastrozole on bone should be weighed against its superior efficacy and better tolerability profile versus tamoxifen in the main ATAC trial.
Psychiatric illness in later life. A study of prevalence in a Scottish population

This article describes a survey undertaken in 1976 of the prevalence of psychiatric illness in a total population of people aged 65 or over in the district of Clackmannan, Scotland. Using the Survey Psychiatric Assessment Schedule (Bond et al., 1980) prevalence rates of 7% for organic disorders and 22·5% for affective disorders and psychoneuroses were estimated for the total population of elderly people living at home and in institutions. This article reports logistic discriminant analyses which identify those variables which together predict the presence of psychiatric illness. Together age, functional capacity, civil status, the absence of an affective disorder or psychoneuroses and a visual impairment predict correctly whether a person has an organic disorder for 85% of the population. Together self‐perception of disabling conditions, feelings of loneliness, perceived lack of social contact, age, functional incapacity, lack of social contact, gender, visual impairment, presence of an organic disorder and hearing impairment predict correctly whether a person has an affective disorder or psychoneuroses for 81% of the population.
A preliminary investigation of “albert 285” (HWA 285) on psychomotor performance, mood, and memory

Eight healthy female volunteers received 150, 300, and 450 mg of HWA 285 and placebo according to a randomized, double‐blind crossover design. The subjects completed a battery of psychological tests including critical flicker fusion (CFF), choice reaction time (CRT), subjective ratings of drug effects (LARS), and a Sternberg memory scanning test (SMST) 1 and 2 hr following treatment. No statistically significant changes from placebo were observed on CFF, CRT, or subjective ratings of drug effects. However, memory as assessed using the Sternberg technique was significantly improved with respect to placebo 1 hr following treatment with HWA 285 at 150, 300, and 450 mg dose levels. The action of the drug was found to be specific in its effects on the central serial comparison stage of the information processing model.