Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The neural basis of audiomotor entrainment: an ALE meta-analysis

Synchronization of body movement to an acoustic rhythm is a major form of entrainment, such as occurs in dance. This is exemplified in experimental studies of finger tapping. Entrainment to a beat is contrasted with movement that is internally driven and is therefore self-paced. In order to examine brain areas important for entrainment to an acoustic beat, we meta-analyzed the functional neuroimaging literature on finger tapping (43 studies) using activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis with a focus on the contrast between externally-paced and self-paced tapping. The results demonstrated a dissociation between two subcortical systems involved in timing, namely the cerebellum and the basal ganglia. Externally-paced tapping highlighted the importance of the spinocerebellum, most especially the vermis, which was not activated at all by self-paced tapping. In contrast, the basal ganglia, including the putamen and globus pallidus, were active during both types of tapping, but preferentially during self-paced tapping. These results suggest a central role for the spinocerebellum in audiomotor entrainment. We conclude with a theoretical discussion about the various forms of entrainment in humans and other animals.
Determinants of renal vasoconstriction after systemic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis in rats.

The effects of NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 10 mg/kg i.v.) on renal hemodynamics were examined in control rats, rats in which renal perfusion pressure was prevented from rising after L-NNA by constricting the abdominal aorta, and rats in which tubuloglomerular feedback was inhibited by furosemide pretreatment, ureteral ligation, or both interventions combined. In control rats, L-NNA increased (P < 0.05) renal vascular resistance (274 +/- 27%) along with systemic arterial (54 +/- 4%) and renal perfusion (54 +/- 5%) pressures and decreased (P < 0.05) renal blood flow (57 +/- 4%). In rats in which renal perfusion pressure was prevented from increasing along with systemic arterial pressure (54 +/- 4%), the L-NNA-induced elevation of renal vascular resistance (173 +/- 27%) was less intense (P < 0.05). In another study, where renal perfusion pressure was fixed at pre-L-NNA levels, L-NNA-induced increases in renal vascular resistance (130 +/- 20%) were attenuated (P < 0.05) further with furosemide pretreatment (52 +/- 12%), with ureteral ligation (75 +/- 10%), and with furosemide pretreatment and ureteral ligation combined (32 +/- 8%). These data suggest that vasoconstrictor mechanisms linked to tubuloglomerular feedback and perfusion pressure elevation contribute to renal vasoconstriction after systemic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis with L-NNA.
Attentional spreading to task-irrelevant object features: experimental support and a 3-step model of attention for object-based selection and feature-based processing modulation

Directing attention to a specific feature of an object has been linked to different forms of attentional modulation. Object-based attention theory founds on the finding that even task-irrelevant features at the selected object are subject to attentional modulation, while feature-based attention theory proposes a global processing benefit for the selected feature even at other objects. Most studies investigated either the one or the other form of attention, leaving open the possibility that both object- and feature-specific attentional effects do occur at the same time and may just represent two sides of a single attention system. We here investigate this issue by testing attentional spreading within and across objects, using reaction time (RT) measurements to changes of attended and unattended features on both attended and unattended objects. We asked subjects to report color and speed changes occurring on one of two overlapping random dot patterns (RDPs), presented at the center of gaze. The key property of the stimulation was that only one of the features (e.g., motion direction) was unique for each object, whereas the other feature (e.g., color) was shared by both. The results of two experiments show that co-selection of unattended features even occurs when those features have no means for selecting the object. At the same time, they demonstrate that this processing benefit is not restricted to the selected object but spreads to the task-irrelevant one. We conceptualize these findings by a 3-step model of attention that assumes a task-dependent top-down gain, object-specific feature selection based on task- and binding characteristics, and a global feature-specific processing enhancement. The model allows for the unification of a vast amount of experimental results into a single model, and makes various experimentally testable predictions for the interaction of object- and feature-specific processes.
Effect of Fiber-Forming Conditions on the Microstructure of Acrylic Fiber

Results on the microheterogeneity of polyacrylonitrile filaments obtained by the wet- spinning process are presented, and the effects of fiber-forming conditions, such as type of spinning bath, spinning temperature, drawing temperature, drawing ratio, and heat- treatment conditions, on the microstructure are discussed. The microvoid content of filaments that are obtained by spinning into aqueous baths is in many cases markedly larger than the microvoid content of filaments obtained by spinning into nonaqueous baths. Reduced spinning and drawing bath temperatures are favorable to improved fiber microstructure. Drawing of filaments results in great im proyement of fiber microstructure. The temperature of heat treatment in the dry state has an important meaning for the formation of the internal microstructure. The heat treatment in the wet state markedly changed the internal microstructure of both water- swollen gel-like filaments and dried filaments. A consideration of the relation between small-angle scattering power, which is a measure of the relative content of microvoids of colloidal dimensions, and the properties of the fiber, such as specific gravity, cross-sectional aspect, degree of water retention, and dyeability, leads to a better understanding of the meaning of the internal micro structure of acrylic fiber.
Genomic Profiling of Messenger RNAs and MicroRNAs Reveals Potential Mechanisms of TWEAK-Induced Skeletal Muscle Wasting in Mice

Background Skeletal muscle wasting is a devastating complication of several physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Inflammatory cytokines play an important role in the loss of skeletal muscle mass in various chronic diseases. We have recently reported that proinflammatory cytokine TWEAK is a major muscle-wasting cytokine. Emerging evidence suggests that gene expression is regulated not only at transcriptional level but also at post-transcriptional level through the expression of specific non-coding microRNAs (miRs) which can affect the stability and/or translation of target mRNA. However, the role of miRs in skeletal muscle wasting is unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings To understand the mechanism of action of TWEAK in skeletal muscle, we performed mRNA and miRs expression profile of control and TWEAK-treated myotubes. TWEAK increased the expression of a number of genes involved in inflammatory response and fibrosis and reduced the expression of few cytoskeletal gene (e.g. Myh4, Ankrd2, and TCap) and metabolic enzymes (e.g. Pgam2). Low density miR array demonstrated that TWEAK inhibits the expression of several miRs including muscle-specific miR-1-1, miR-1-2, miR-133a, miR-133b and miR-206. The expression of a few miRs including miR-146a and miR-455 was found to be significantly increased in response to TWEAK treatment. Ingenuity pathway analysis showed that several genes affected by TWEAK are known/putative targets of miRs. Our cDNA microarray data are consistent with miRs profiling. The levels of specific mRNAs and miRs were also found to be similarly regulated in atrophying skeletal muscle of transgenic mice (Tg) mice expressing TWEAK. Conclusions/Significance Our results suggest that TWEAK affects the expression of several genes and microRNAs involved in inflammatory response, fibrosis, extracellular matrix remodeling, and proteolytic degradation which might be responsible for TWEAK-induced skeletal muscle loss.
Humic Acids as Electron Acceptors for Anaerobic Microbial Oxidation of Vinyl Chloride and Dichloroethene

ABSTRACT Anaerobic oxidation of [1,2-14C]vinyl chloride and [1,2-14C]dichloroethene to 14CO2under humic acid-reducing conditions was demonstrated. The results indicate that waterborne contaminants can be oxidized by using humic acid compounds as electron acceptors and suggest that natural aquatic systems have a much larger capacity for contaminant oxidation than previously thought.
The Problems With Interviews

Despite the popularity of the interview in qualitative research, methodological and theoretical problems remain. In this article, the author critically examines some of these problems for the researcher. He deals with the problems of power and resistance, distinguishing truth from authenticity, the (im)possibility of consent if knowing is a problem for both the interviewer and the interviewee, and the nature and significance of stories and the self. Although it is not always possible to address these problems directly, the author seeks in this article to create a dialogue with all of us for whom the interview is judged to be the appropriate answer to the research question “How can I know. ”
Genome-Wide Analysis of APETALA2/Ethylene-Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) Gene Family in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

APETALA2/Ethylene-Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) gene family is plant specific transcription factor. It plays critical roles in development process, tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and responses to plant hormones. However, limited data are available on the contributions of AP2/ERF gene family in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). In the present study, 121 HvAP2/ERF genes in barley were identified by using bioinformatics methods. A total of 118 HvAP2/ERF (97.5%) genes were located on seven chromosomes. According to phylogenetic classification of AP2/ERF family in Arabidopsis, HvAP2/ERF proteins were divided into AP2 (APETALA2), RAV (Related to ABI3/VP), DREB (dehydration responsive element binding), ERF (ethylene responsive factors) and soloist sub families. The analysis of duplication events indicated that tandem repeat and segmental duplication contributed to the expansion of the AP2/ERF family in barley. HvDREB1s/2s genes displayed various expression patterns under abiotic stress and phytohormone. Taken together, the data generated in this study will be useful for genome-wide analysis to determine the precise role of the HvAP2/ERF gene during barley development, abiotic stress and phytohormone responses with the ultimate goal of improving crop production.
The Role of Small Specimens and Welded Structural Elements in the Evaluation of Low-Cycle Fatigue of Submarine Hulls

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION . BACKGROUND . INTRODUCTION . BASELINE DATA . GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS . BASIC MECHANICAL PROPERTIES . CRACK INITIATION . CRACK PROPAGATION . General Considerations . Crack Growth Rate Characterization . FRACTURE TOUGHNESS . General Considerations . Fracture Toughness in Air, KIc . L h Fracture Toughness in Saltwater, KIscc cts . i EL VALIDATION . GENERAL CONS N S . ROUND BARS . CANTILEVER PLATES . PRESTRESSED BEAMS AND HOLLOW CYLINDERS FRACTURE MECHANICS SPECIMENS . T-FILLET WELDMENTS . BUTT WELDMENTS . Flexural Fatigue Specimens . Axial Fatigue Specimens . SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION . ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . REFERENCES . DATA F( Page 1 1 1 2 6 6 7 13 17 17 20 26 26 28 X1~__1~__~ II_ ___I~ _1~1 _I____~__ ~~I~_ ^_~I_ ~
The Cognitive Cost of Being a Twin: Two Whole-Population Surveys

Abstract Do twins have a lower mean IQ score than singletons? Previous studies have not examined whole populations and are likely to be biased. Twin data from two whole-population surveys of IQ at age 11 years were examined: the Scottish Mental Surveys of 1932 and 1947. Additional variables from childhood were examined as possible mediating effects. There were 1080 twins from the 1932 survey, and 949 from the 1947 survey. In both surveys twins scored lower on the Moray House Test of verbal reasoning, equivalent to a deficit of about 5 IQ points. In the Scottish Mental Survey of 1947 the whole-population group of twins was compared in detail with a representative population sample. The same mental ability difference of about 5 IQ points was found, and was not accounted for by father's occupation, overcrowding in the childhood home, childhood height, school attendance or the number of people in the family.
The bidiagonal singular value decomposition and Hamiltonian mechanics: LAPACK working note No. 11

We consider computing the singular value decomposition of a bidiagonal matrix B. This problem arises in the singular value decomposition of a general matrix, and in the eigenproblem for a symmetric positive definite tridiagonal matrix. We show that if the entries of B are known with high relative accuracy, the singular values and singular vectors of B will be determined to much higher accuracy than the standard perturbation theory suggests. We also show that the algorithm computes the singular vectors as well as the singular values to this accuracy. We also give a Hamiltonian interpretation of the algorithm and use differential equation methods to prove many of the basic facts. The Hamiltonian approach suggests a way to use flows to predict the accumulation of error in other eigenvalue algorithms as well. 36 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.
Early landmark analysis of imatinib treatment in CML chronic phase: Less than 10% BCR‐ABL by FISH at 3 months associated with improved long‐term clinical outcome

Imatinib has dramatically improved the clinical outcome in chronic myeloid leukemia, chronic phase (CMLcp), but a risk of resistance and serious disease progression still prevails. We have studied 45 newly diagnosed CMLcp patients initiated on imatinib, assessing treatment responses by interphase extral signal (ES)‐fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), quantitative real‐time (q‐RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and chromosome banding analysis. In a landmark analysis, an early favorable response, defined as less than 10% BCR‐ABL‐positive cells by FISH after 3 months of treatment, was identified as a predictive marker of an improved long‐term clinical outcome. Of evaluable patients, 51% achieved this response. A large majority, 95% of such responders reached complete cytogenetic responses (CCyR) within 12 months and 100% event‐free survival (EFS) at 48 months, when compared with 67 and 65%, respectively, of patients with higher breakpoint cluster region ‐ Abelson (BCR‐ABL) positivity at 3 months (P = 0.04; P = 0.006). No similar, significant correlations were noted between early disease assessments with PCR of BCR‐ABL mRNA transcripts or of cytogenetics versus a 12‐month CCyR or long‐term EFS. Our data, based on a limited patient cohort, indicate that (i) FISH can effectively be used in the early assessment of remaining Ph‐positive cells to identify patients at risk for a long‐term nonoptimal response to imatinib and that (ii) FISH may be more useful than PCR for this purpose. Am. J. Hematol. , 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gene expression of CC chemokines in experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis (CGN)

CGN is a rapidly progressive glomerular disease. Monocytes/macrophages are frequently observed in glomeruli in cases of CGN and they are considered to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of this disease. We described previously the glomerular expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), which is a potent chemoattractant for monocytes and a member of CC chemokine family, in an experimental model of CGN. In the present study we investigated the expression of mRNAs for other CC chemokines, namely, MCP‐3, macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α (MIP‐1α), MIP‐1β, RANTES and TCA3, all of which are chemotactic for monocytes, in the CGN model. First, we established a reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) method by which mRNA for each of the CC chemokines could be amplified separately, and then we measured the levels of the expression of mRNAs for the chemokines in diseased glomeruli at several time points after induction of CGN. The mRNAs for all CC chemokines examined were expressed in glomeruli of rats with CGN. Moreover, induction of the gene expression of MIP‐1α and MIP‐1β seemed to occur earlier than that of the others. CC chemokines may contribute to the recruitment and activation of monocytes in CGN, and each individual CC chemokine may play an overlapping but distinct role in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Secondary caustics in close multiple lenses

We investigate the caustic structure of a lens com- posed by a discrete number of point-masses, having mutual distances smaller than the Einstein radius of the total mass of the system. Along with the main critical curve, it is known that the lens map is characterized by secondary critical curves pro- ducing small caustics far from the lens system. By exploiting perturbative methods, we derive the number, the position, the shape, the cusps and the area of these caustics for an arbitrary number of close multiple lenses. Very interesting geometries are created in some particular cases. Finally we review the binary lens case where our formulae assume a simple form.
Ethics, data-dependent designs, and the strategy of clinical trials: time to start learning-as-we-go?

The seeds of modern clinical trials were unwittingly sown with the first use of randomization in a 1920s agricultural field experiment. The historical development of trials is briefly reviewed here, as are multi-farious pressures and problems faced by those involved with clinical trials today. These challenges include recruitment difficulties, the emerging rôle of patient support groups, and legal threats over informed consent, to name three. Fundamentally, they re‘ect an overall shift towards patient-centred, individual ethics. I suggest many problems may be overcome by increased implementation of hitherto neglected, data-dependent designs for clinical trials. Over a dozen arguments against their use are countered, primarily through ethical considerations. Benefits and costs of refining clinical trials strategy are explored hypothetically under enhanced use of such ‘learn-as-you-go’ designs, in contrast to traditional, equal-allocation, fixed-sample-size and frequentist-based designs. These latter methods mirror crop field trials in which one cannot make scientific progress until after gathering objective data at harvest time. Some attempts to alleviate certain problems, such as Zelen randomization to boost recruitment, or over-reliance on ‘large and simple trials’ to detect moderate-sized treatment effects, are discussed and found inadequate. A proposal for wider discussion is made to assist the selective introduction of ‘small and complex trials,’ which could simultaneously expedite medical research, satisfy the concerns of regulators, statisticians, and doctors alike, and help address the growing demands of 21st-century patients.
Acute Influence of Alcohol, THC or Central Stimulants on Violent Suicide: A Swedish Population Study

Alcohol and substance abuse in general is a risk factor for suicide, but very little is known about the acute effect in relation to suicide method. Based on information from 18,894 medico‐legal death investigations, including toxicological findings and manner of death, did the present study investigate whether acute influence of alcohol, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), or central stimulants (amphetamine and cocaine) was related to the use of a violent suicide method, in comparison with the nonviolent method self‐poisoning and alcohol‐/illicit drug‐negative suicide decedents. Multivariate analysis was conducted, and the results revealed that acute influence of THC was related to using the violent suicide method–– jumping from a height (RR 1.62; 95% CI 1.01–2.41). Alcohol intoxication was not related to any violent method, while the central stimulant‐positive suicide decedent had a higher, albeit not significant, risk of several violent methods. The study contributes with elucidating suicide methods in relation to acute intoxication.
Cellular and Humoral Immunity following Snow Mountain Virus Challenge

ABSTRACT Little is known about the immune response to noroviruses. To elucidate the immunobiology of norovirus infection in humans, 15 volunteers were challenged with Snow Mountain virus (SMV), a genogroup 2 norovirus. We assessed the cellular and humoral immune response and infection by analyzing stool, serum, saliva, and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) responses pre- and postchallenge. In contrast to Norwalk virus (NV), SMV infection was not dependent upon blood group secretor status. Nine of 15 volunteers were infected and showed a ≥4-fold increase over the prechallenge anti-SMV serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) titer, mostly subclass IgG1. Although serum IgG elicited by SMV infection was cross-reactive with Hawaii virus (HV), another genogroup 2 norovirus, salivary IgA was less cross-reactive. Neither SMV-elicited serum IgG nor salivary IgA cross-reacted with NV, a genogroup 1 norovirus. Significant increases in serum gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and IL-2, but not IL-6 or IL-10, were noted on day 2 postchallenge. For the majority of volunteers, both infected and uninfected, PBMCs stimulated with norovirus virus-like particles secreted IFN-γ and other Th1 cytokines, suggesting previous norovirus exposure in most volunteers. Like the IgG antibodies, the SMV-activated T cells were cross-reactive with HV but not NV. IFN-γ production was dependent upon CD4+ cells, consistent with a predominant, but not exclusive, Th1 response. To our knowledge, this is the first report characterizing T-cell and cytokine responses following live norovirus challenge.