Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The anatomy of language: contributions from functional neuroimaging

This article illustrates how functional neuroimaging can be used to test the validity of neurological and cognitive models of language. Three models of language are described: the 19th Century neurological model which describes both the anatomy and cognitive components of auditory and visual word processing, and 2 20th Century cognitive models that are not constrained by anatomy but emphasise 2 different routes to reading that are not present in the neurological model. A series of functional imaging studies are then presented which show that, as predicted by the 19th Century neurologists, auditory and visual word repetition engage the left posterior superior temporal and posterior inferior frontal cortices. More specifically, the roles Wernicke and Broca assigned to these regions lie respectively in the posterior superior temporal sulcus and the anterior insula. In addition, a region in the left posterior inferior temporal cortex is activated for word retrieval, thereby providing a second route to reading, as predicted by the 20th Century cognitive models. This region and its function may have been missed by the 19th Century neurologists because selective damage is rare. The angular gyrus, previously linked to the visual word form system, is shown to be part of a distributed semantic system that can be accessed by objects and faces as well as speech. Other components of the semantic system include several regions in the inferior and middle temporal lobes. From these functional imaging results, a new anatomically constrained model of word processing is proposed which reconciles the anatomical ambitions of the 19th Century neurologists and the cognitive finesse of the 20th Century cognitive models. The review focuses on single word processing and does not attempt to discuss how words are combined to generate sentences or how several languages are learned and interchanged. Progress in unravelling these and other related issues will depend on the integration of behavioural, computational and neurophysiological approaches, including neuroimaging.
Nitric Oxide Inhibits ATP Release from Erythrocytes

Erythrocytes have been reported to release ATP from intracellular stores into the surrounding environment in response to decreased oxygen tension and mechanical deformation. This erythrocyte-derived ATP can then act on purinergic receptors present on vascular endothelial cells, resulting in the synthesis and bidirectional release of nitric oxide (NO). NO released abluminally produces relaxation of vascular smooth muscle, thereby increasing vascular caliber, leading to a decrease in deformation-induced ATP release from erythrocytes. In contrast, NO released into the vascular lumen could interact directly with formed elements in the blood, including the erythrocyte. Here, we investigate the hypothesis that NO functions in a negative-feedback manner to inhibit ATP release from the erythrocyte. The NO donor N-(2-aminoethyl)- N-(2-hydroxy-2-nitrosohydrazino)-1,2-ethylenediamine (spermine NONOate) decreased total pulmonary resistance in a dose-dependent manner when administered to isolated perfused rabbit lungs. ATP release from rabbit erythrocytes in response to decreased oxygen tension or mechanical deformation was inhibited by preincubation with spermine NONOate (100 nM, 20 min). Importantly, incubating rabbit erythrocytes with spermine (100 nM, 20 min), the polyamine remaining after the liberation of NO from spermine NONOate, did not affect decreased oxygen tension-induced ATP release. Mechanical deformation-induced ATP release was also inhibited when erythrocytes were preincubated with spermine NONOate. However, NO-depleted spermine NONOate had no effect on mechanical deformation-induced ATP release from rabbit erythrocytes. These data provide support for the hypothesis that NO inhibits ATP release from erythrocytes, thereby identifying an additional role of NO in the regulation of vascular resistance.
A Novel Method to Estimate IP Traffic Matrix

Traffic flow is not only short-range dependence shown in traditional models, but also self-similarity and long-range dependence. The coexistence of these made it hard to estimate traffic matrix (TM) by using the modules based on temporal dimension. This paper avoids to establishing models for TM. Using the TM's spatial self-similarity, we expressed TM as a weighted linear combination of the sample OD flows. Compared with previous methods, our method does not only hold the lower estimation errors but also is more robust.
Normal-sodium diet compared with low-sodium diet in compensated congestive heart failure: is sodium an old enemy or a new friend?

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a normal-sodium (120 mmol sodium) diet compared with a low-sodium diet (80 mmol sodium) on readmissions for CHF (congestive heart failure) during 180 days of follow-up in compensated patients with CHF. A total of 232 compensated CHF patients (88 female and 144 male; New York Heart Association class II-IV; 55-83 years of age, ejection fraction <35% and serum creatinine <2 mg/dl) were randomized into two groups: group 1 contained 118 patients (45 females and 73 males) receiving a normal-sodium diet plus oral furosemide [250-500 mg, b.i. d. (twice a day)]; and group 2 contained 114 patients (43 females and 71 males) receiving a low-sodium diet plus oral furosemide (250-500 mg, b.i.d.). The treatment was given at 30 days after discharge and for 180 days, in association with a fluid intake of 1000 ml per day. Signs of CHF, body weight, blood pressure, heart rate, laboratory parameters, ECG, echocardiogram, levels of BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) and aldosterone levels, and PRA (plasma renin activity) were examined at baseline (30 days after discharge) and after 180 days. The normal-sodium group had a significant reduction (P<0.05) in readmissions. BNP values were lower in the normal-sodium group compared with the low sodium group (685+/-255 compared with 425+/-125 pg/ml respectively; P<0.0001). Significant (P<0.0001) increases in aldosterone and PRA were observed in the low-sodium group during follow-up, whereas the normal-sodium group had a small significant reduction (P=0.039) in aldosterone levels and no significant difference in PRA. After 180 days of follow-up, aldosterone levels and PRA were significantly (P<0.0001) higher in the low-sodium group. The normal-sodium group had a lower incidence of rehospitalization during follow-up and a significant decrease in plasma BNP and aldosterone levels, and PRA. The results of the present study show that a normal-sodium diet improves outcome, and sodium depletion has detrimental renal and neurohormonal effects with worse clinical outcome in compensated CHF patients. Further studies are required to determine if this is due to a high dose of diuretic or the low-sodium diet.
Learning to Extract Quality Discourse in Online Communities

Collaborative filtering systems have been developed to manage information overload and improve discourse in online communities. In such systems, users rank content provided by other users on the validity or usefulness within their particular context. The goal is that "good" content will rise to prominence and "bad" content will fade into obscurity. These filtering mechanisms are not well-understood and have known weaknesses. For example, they depend on the presence of a large crowd to rate content, but such a crowd may not be present. Additionally, the community's decisions determine which voices will reach a large audience and which will be silenced, but it is not known if these decisions represent "the wisdom of crowds" or a "censoring mob. " Our approach uses statistical machine learning to predict community ratings. By extracting features that replicate the community's verdict, we can better understand collaborative filtering, improve the way the community uses the ratings of their members, and design agents that augment community decision-making. Slashdot is an example of such a community where peers will rate each others' comments based on their relevance to the post. This work extracts a wide variety of features from the Slashdot metadata and posts' linguistic contents to identify features that can predict the community rating. We find that author reputation, use of pronouns, and author sentiment are salient. We achieve 76% accuracy predicting community ratings as good, neutral, or bad.
The PA and HA Gene-Mediated High Viral Load and Intense Innate Immune Response in the Brain Contribute to the High Pathogenicity of H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus in Mallard Ducks

ABSTRACT Most highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses cause only mild clinical signs in ducks, serving as an important natural reservoir of influenza A viruses. However, we isolated two H5N1 viruses that are genetically similar but differ greatly in virulence in ducks. A/Chicken/Jiangsu/k0402/2010 (CK10) is highly pathogenic, whereas A/Goose/Jiangsu/k0403/2010 (GS10) is low pathogenic. To determine the genetic basis for the high virulence of CK10 in ducks, we generated a series of single-gene reassortants between CK10 and GS10 and tested their virulence in ducks. Expression of the CK10 PA or hemagglutinin (HA) gene in the GS10 context resulted in increased virulence and virus replication. Conversely, inclusion of the GS10 PA or HA gene in the CK10 background attenuated the virulence and virus replication. Moreover, the PA gene had a greater contribution. We further determined that residues 101G and 237E in the PA gene contribute to the high virulence of CK10. Mutations at these two positions produced changes in virulence, virus replication, and polymerase activity of CK10 or GS10. Position 237 plays a greater role in determining these phenotypes. Moreover, the K237E mutation in the GS10 PA gene increased PA nuclear accumulation. Mutant GS10 viruses carrying the CK10 HA gene or the PA101G or PA237E mutation induced an enhanced innate immune response. A sustained innate response was detected in the brain rather than in the lung and spleen. Our results suggest that the PA and HA gene-mediated high virus replication and the intense innate immune response in the brain contribute to the high virulence of H5N1 virus in ducks.
The Role of Tropical Cyclones in the Formation of Tropical Upper-Tropospheric Troughs

Abstract Tropical upper-tropospheric troughs (TUTTs), also known as midoceanic troughs, are elongated troughs that appear in summer monthly averaged maps of the upper-tropospheric flow over the oceans. The transient part of these climatological features is composed of TUTT cells and their origin is the subject of this study. TUTT cells often occur to the east of tropical cyclones. A nonlinear shallow water model on the sphere was used in a simplified study of the interactions between tropical cyclones and the circumpolar vortex. Based on the results of these simulations and keeping in mind their limitations, it is proposed that dispersion of short Rossby wave energy is a possible mechanism to explain the formation of TUTT cells to the east of tropical cyclones. The model simulations suggest that two types of TUTT cells may form to the east of tropical cyclones. When embedded in cyclonic or weak anticyclonic shear, the trough to the east of the tropical cyclone may broaden, resulting in the formation of an.
ELM server: a new resource for investigating short functional sites in modular eukaryotic proteins

Multidomain proteins predominate in eukaryotic proteomes. Individual functions assigned to different sequence segments combine to create a complex function for the whole protein. While on-line resources are available for revealing globular domains in sequences, there has hitherto been no comprehensive collection of small functional sites/motifs comparable to the globular domain resources, yet these are as important for the function of multidomain proteins. Short linear peptide motifs are used for cell compartment targeting, protein-protein interaction, regulation by phosphorylation, acetylation, glycosylation and a host of other post-translational modifications. ELM, the Eukaryotic Linear Motif server at http://elm.eu. org/, is a new bioinformatics resource for investigating candidate short non-globular functional motifs in eukaryotic proteins, aiming to fill the void in bioinformatics tools. Sequence comparisons with short motifs are difficult to evaluate because the usual significance assessments are inappropriate. Therefore the server is implemented with several logical filters to eliminate false positives. Current filters are for cell compartment, globular domain clash and taxonomic range. In favourable cases, the filters can reduce the number of retained matches by an order of magnitude or more.
Numerical shock propagation using geometrical shock dynamics

A simple numerical scheme for the calculation of the motion of shock waves in gases based on Whitham's theory of geometrical shock dynamics is developed. This scheme is used to study the propagation of shock waves along walls and in channels and the self-focusing of initially curved shockfronts. The numerical results are compared with exact and numerical solutions of the geometrical-shock-dynamics equations and with recent experimental investigations.
Independent and Additive Effects of Glutamic Acid and Methionine on Yeast Longevity

It is established that glucose restriction extends yeast chronological and replicative lifespan, but little is known about the influence of amino acids on yeast lifespan, although some amino acids were reported to delay aging in rodents. Here we show that amino acid composition greatly alters yeast chronological lifespan. We found that non-essential amino acids (to yeast) methionine and glutamic acid had the most significant impact on yeast chronological lifespan extension, restriction of methionine and/or increase of glutamic acid led to longevity that was not the result of low acetic acid production and acidification in aging media. Remarkably, low methionine, high glutamic acid and glucose restriction additively and independently extended yeast lifespan, which could not be further extended by buffering the medium (pH 6.0). Our preliminary findings using yeasts with gene deletion demonstrate that glutamic acid addition, methionine and glucose restriction prompt yeast longevity through distinct mechanisms. This study may help to fill a gap in yeast model for the fast developing view that nutrient balance is a critical factor to extend lifespan.
EVALUATION OF THE RADIOGRAPHIC QUALITY OF ROOTS FILLING, PERFORMED BY UNDERGRADUATES IN THE FACULTY OF DENTAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA, SRI LANKA.

This study was carried out to assess the radiographic quality of endodontic treatment performed by undergraduates at the Faculty of Dental Sciences (FDS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Post-operative radiographs of endodontic treatment performed by final-year dental undergraduates were assessed for length of obturation, voids, homogeneity of obturation and taper of preparation. Radiographs were viewed under x2.5 magnification using an illuminated viewing box with extraneous light blocked. Assessment was done by two experienced examiners with ethical clearance from the Research Committee of the FDS. Of the 2426 radiographs 81.1% were obturated within 2mm of the radiographic apex, 72.8% had no voids, 78.5% were homogenously obturated and 82.1% were adequately tapered. 46.5% of radiographs satisfied all criteria (Excellent), 27.8% satisfied 2 criteria (Good) whereas an insignificant 1.2% satisfied none of the criteria (Poor). Thus overall 74.3% were of acceptable quality. Root canal treatment undertaken by FDS students, are of acceptable radiographic quality.
Influence of SiN composition on program and erase characteristics of SANOS-type flash memories

Composition of the silicon-nitride charge trap layer strongly impacts electron and hole trap properties. This significantly impacts charge trap flash memory performance and reliability. Important trade-offs between Program/Erase (P/E) levels (memory window) and retention loss is shown and critical trends identified. Increasing the Si-richness of the SiN layer improves memory window by increasing erase efficiency. E-state retention characteristics are improved but at the expense of higher P-state retention loss.
The Topology of Synonymy and Homonymy Networks

Semantic networks have been used successfully to explain access to the mental lexicon. Topological analyses of these networks have focused on acquisition and generation. We extend this work to look at models that distinguish semantic relations. We find the scale-free properties of association networks are not found in synonymy-homonymy networks, and that this is consistent with studies of childhood acquisition of these relationships. We further find that distributional models of language acquisition display similar topological properties to these networks.
Comparative evaluation of pregnancy outcome in gonadotrophin-clomiphene combination vs clomiphene alone in polycystic ovarian syndrome and unexplained infertility–A prospective clinical trial

OBJECTIVES: A large prospective clinical trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of single dose uFSH and clomiphene citrate combination with clomiphene citrate alone for ovulation induction to improve the pregnancy rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a randomized, prospective clinical trial. Totally, 1527 infertile women (4381 cycles) with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) (n=911/2573 cycles) and unexplained infertility (n=616/1808 cycles) were randomized into two groups. Group A received single dose of uFSH on D3 of menstrual cycle along with clomiphene. Group B received clomiphene only for ovulation induction. We compared the pregnancy rate and miscarriage rate between two groups. RESULTS: Group A had a pregnancy rate of 17% compared to 8.3% of Group B which was significantly higher (P=0.0001). The miscarriage rate was 11% in Group A and 10% in Group B which was not significant (P=0.99). Pregnancy rates in PCOS women were 22% in Group A and 9.3% in Group B which shows significantly higher pregnancy rate (P=0.0001) in anovulatory infertility. But in unexplained infertility, there was no significant difference in pregnancy rate between Group A (11%) and Group B(6.3%). Miscarriage rates were 8.8% and 9.5% in Group A and Group B, respectively, in PCOS women and 14% and 13% in women with unexplained infertility. CONCLUSION: Addition of single dose of uFSH improves pregnancy outcome particularly in anovulatory infertility (WHO II). Correction of unexplained infertility may need more than simple correction of possible subtle ovulatory effect.
Advances in Brief The Potent Carcinogen Dibenzo [ a , / ] pyrene Is Metabolically Activated to Fjord-Region ll , 12-Diol 13 , 14-Epoxides in Human Mammary Carcinoma MCF-7 Cell Cultures

Dibenzo[a,/]pyrene (DB[a,/]P), an environmental hydrocarbon and very potent carcinogen in rodent bioassays, could be activated to DNA-binding intermediates in cells through formation of three different regioisomeric bayor fjord-region diol-epoxides or other more highly oxidized metaboUtes. The mechanism of metabolic activation of DB[a,/]P in the human mammary carcinoma cell line MCF-7 was elucidated by analyzing the DB[a,/]P-DNA adducts formed by [3SS]phosphorothioate postlabeling, immobilized boronate chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography. Six DB[a,/]P-DNA adducts were detected. Comparison with those formed in cells by DB[a,/]P-11,12-diol and by reaction of DNA with synand anti-(benzylic hydroxyl and epoxide oxygen cis and trans, respectively) DB[a,/]P-11,12-dioi-13,14-epoxide (DB[a,/]PDE) demonstrated that all DB[a,/]P-DNA adducts in MCF-7 cells were formed by these diolepoxide isomers. Cellular DNA contained large amounts of two synand one anti.DB[a,1]PDE.DNA adducts and small amounts of one synand two anti-DB[a,I]PDE-DNA adducts. The ability of human cells to activate DB[a,/]P to its fjord-region ll,12-diol 13,14-epoxides suggests that environmental exposure to DB[a,/]P could pose a risk for humans.
Critical evaluation and thermodynamic modeling of phase equilibria in the Fe-Ca-Mg-Mn-Al-Si-O system

The knowledge of phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of liquid and solid oxides can help us better understand metallurgical, ceramic or geological processes. The main aim of the present study is the critical evaluation and thermodynamic optimization of solid and liquid (MnO-Al2O3 based) oxides which are of interest to the steelmaking and ferro-Mn industries. These newly developed databases coupled with the previous databases can be used along with any software for Gibbs energy minimization to predict the phase relationships and the thermodynamic properties of any relevant system. Usually, thermodynamic databases can save both cost and time, which, otherwise would have been spent to optimize the existing process and develop any new process. The production of steels with higher amounts of manganese and aluminum has gained considerable importance in the recent past. Steels with high concentration of manganese and aluminum like TWIP steel and TRIP steel have exceptional properties which classify them as special steels; needless to say the various range of applications they can cater to. Ferromanganese, which contains a large amount of manganese, is also a very useful product required in the production of high manganese steels. The production of these alloys results in the generation of slags which are rich in MnO and Al2O3. Hence, knowledge of the phase relations between these two components is of utmost importance in order to maximize the efficiency of the production process. Only a very good knowledge of Gibbs energy of all the phases present in the binary system MnO-Al2O3 can allow us to predict the correct equilibrium conditions during the production process. The critical evaluation and thermodynamic optimization of all the available phase diagram data and thermodynamic properties of the system Mn-Al-O have been carried out in the first part of the present work. Thermodynamic modeling for different phases such as slag, spinel (cubic and tetragonal) and bixbyite has been performed using Modified Quasichemical Model, Compound Energy Formalism and random mixing model, respectively. The sublattice structure of solid solution phases were properly taken into account in the thermodynamic modeling and their thermodynamic properties and structural data were reproduced using the physically meaningful model parameters. All the reliable experimental data of the Mn-Al-O system were reproduced within error limits from room temperature to above the liquidus temperatures at all compositions and oxygen partial pressure ranging from metal saturation to air. The present MnAl2O4-Mn3O4 spinel solutions can be integrated with all the other spinel solutions developed earlier to obtain an extensive spinel solution database. This database along with the software for Gibbs energy minimization can be utilized to perform various calculations and predict the phase relations at any given condition. In the next part of the present work, the binary MnO-Al2O3 system was extended to the higher order systems like MnO-Al2O3-SiO2,…
Mammaglobin and CRxA‐01 in pleural effusion cytology

The most common causes of malignant pleural effusions in women are metastatic lung carcinomas and breast carcinomas. It is often very difficult to distinguish between breast carcinomas and other metastatic carcinomas when they share a similar morphology and a similar cytokeratin profile (CK7‐positive/CK20‐negative [CK7+/CK20−]). To better differentiate between metastatic mammary carcinomas and other metastatic carcinomas in pleural effusion cytology, the authors studied the potential use of a novel antibody, CRxA‐01, which was identified by a cDNA subtraction library, together with a well characterized antibody against mammaglobin.