Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cortical connections of the second somatosensory area and the parietal ventral area in macaque monkeys

To gain insight into how cortical fields process somatic inputs and ultimately contribute to complex abilities such as tactile object perception, we examined the pattern of connections of two areas in the lateral sulcus of macaque monkeys: the second somatosensory area (S2), and the parietal ventral area (PV). Neuroanatomical tracers were injected into electrophysiologically and/or architectonically defined locations, and labeled cell bodies were identified in cortex ipsilateral and contralateral to the injection site. Transported tracer was related to architectonically defined boundaries so that the full complement of connections of S2 and PV could be appreciated. Our results indicate that S2 is densely interconnected with the primary somatosensory area (3b), PV, and area 7b of the ipsilateral hemisphere, and with S2, 7b, and 3b in the opposite hemisphere. PV is interconnected with areas 3b and 7b, with the parietal rostroventral area, premotor cortex, posterior parietal cortex, and with the medial auditory belt areas. Contralateral connections were restricted to PV in the opposite hemisphere. These data indicate that S2 and PV have unique and overlapping patterns of connections, and that they comprise part of a network that processes both cutaneous and proprioceptive inputs necessary for tactile discrimination and recognition. Although more data are needed, these patterns of interconnections of cortical fields and thalamic nuclei suggest that the somatosensory system may not be segregated into two separate streams of information processing, as has been hypothesized for the visual system. Rather, some fields may be involved in a variety of functions that require motor and sensory integration. J. Comp. Neurol. 462:382–399, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
on Properties of Selenium in Animal Nutrition

Selenium is a non-metal element with an atomic number of 34 (Berzelius, 1818; Kabata-Pendias, 1997). This trace element is present in the earth’s crust at an average of 90 μg/kg and levels are greater in carbonate rocks, volcanic and sedimentary soils (global average 0.4 mg/kg) and may subsequently then accumulate in various plants (Mehdi et al. 2013). The properties of Se lie between sulphur and tellurium and it exists in 5 oxidation states (–2, 0, +2, +4 and +6) with chemical forms such as selenide, selenite and selenate and is often associated with sulphur containing compounds (Wallschläger and Feldmann, 2009; Mehdi et al. 2013). The nutritional value of Se was established in 1957 (Oldfield, 2002). Selenium is an essential trace element, and its importance for animal health and productivity has been well confirmed. It affects many physiological functions. As a component of mammalian enzymes such as glutathione peroxidases (Reich and Hondal, 2016) and selenoproteins (Allmang and Krol, 2006), it have a key role in a variety of biological processes including antioxidant defense (Tapiero et al. 2003), fertility (Foresta et al. 2002; Kommisrud et al. 2005), thyroid metabolism (Arthur et al. 1993; Arthur and Beckett, 1999), immune function (Spallholz, 1990; Turner and Finch, 1991; Shini et al. 2015), carcinogenesis (Rayman, 2005), endocrine function (Kohrle et al. 2005), cardiovascular disease (Salonen et al. 1982) and muscle development and function (Brown and Arthur, 2001).
Trends in Hospitalization and In-Hospital Mortality with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Complicated By Venous Thromboembolism

Background: Hospitalized patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are at increased risk of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), Including Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE), and these conditions are associated with increased in-hospital mortality, morbidities and longer length of stay. Our goal is to learn trends in Hospitalization and In-Hospital Outcomes with IBD Complicated by VTE.
Voting under uncertainty: the effect of information in the Scottish independence referendum

ABSTRACT Despite extensive research on campaign effects, the issue of whether information can actually influence vote choice in a campaign remains debatable. This study provides novel evidence of how issue-based arguments influenced voting preferences in the campaign for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. The findings, based on a lab experiment and a follow-up survey with the experimental subjects, show that provision of information lead to a one-sided persuasion effect, by increasing the support for independence mainly through reduction of indecision. This effect occurred regardless of the possibility to select the arguments and found further confirmation in the actual increase of Yes votes in the referendum. Additional analyses reveal that personal economic expectations significantly moderated the effect of information, since the support for independence increased only among those who did not expect future economic gains. In line with prospect theory, these results suggest that risk-based calculations and economic perceptions prove important determinants of voting decisions, especially in a context of asymmetrical vote choice between an uncertain “Yes for a change” and a safe “No for the status quo”.
Targeting Brutons Tyrosine Kinase in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia at the Crossroad between Intrinsic and Extrinsic Pro-survival Signals

Chemo immunotherapies for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) showed a positive impact on clinical outcome, but many patients relapsed or become refractory to the available treatments. The main goal of the researchers in CLL is the identification of specific targets in order to develop new therapeutic strategies to cure the disease. The Bcell receptor-signalling pathway is necessary for survival of malignant B cells and its related molecules recently become new targets for therapy. Moreover, leukemic microenvironment delivers survival signals to neoplastic cells also overcoming the apoptotic effect induced by traditional drugs. In this context, the investigation of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk) is useful in: i) dissecting CLL pathogenesis; ii) finding new therapeutic approaches striking simultaneously intrinsic as well as extrinsic pro-survival signals in CLL. This paper will review these main topics.
Botulinum Toxin Policy

 Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis; applicable whether congenital, due to child birth injury, or traumatic injury). For this use, cervical dystonia must be associated with sustained head tilt or abnormal posturing with limited range of motion in the neck AND a history of recurrent involuntary contraction of one or more of the muscles of the neck, e.g., sternocleidomastoid, splenius, trapezius, or posterior cervical muscles*. (See additional details in Policy Guidelines section.)  Strabismus*  Blepharospasm or facial nerve (VII) disorders (including hemifacial spasm)*  Upper limb spasticity*  Prevention (treatment) of chronic migraine headache in the following situations*:
Characterization of the voice source by the DCT for speaker information

Extracting speaker-specific information from speech is of great interest to both researchers and developers alike, since speaker recognition technology finds application in a wide range of areas, primary among them being forensics and biometric security systems. Several models and techniques have been employed to extract speaker information from the speech signal. Speech production is generally modeled as an excitation source followed by a filter. Physiologically, the source corresponds to the vocal fold vibrations and the filter corresponds to the spectrum-shaping vocal tract. Vocal tract-based features like the melfrequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs) and linear prediction cepstral coefficients have been shown to contain speaker information. However, high speed videos of the larynx show that the vocal folds of different individuals vibrate differently. Voice source (VS)-based features have also been shown to perform well in speaker recognition tasks, thereby revealing that the VS does contain speaker information. Moreover, a combination of the vocal tract and VS-based features has been shown to give an improved performance, showing that the latter contains supplementary speaker information. In this study, the focus is on extracting speaker information from the VS. The existing techniques for the same are reviewed, and it is observed that the features which are obtained by fitting a time-domain model on the VS perform poorly than those obtained by simple transformations of the VS. Here, an attempt is made to propose an alternate way of characterizing the VS to extract speaker information, and to study the merits and shortcomings of the proposed speaker-specific features. The VS cannot be measured directly. Thus, to characterize the VS, we first need an estimate of the VS, and the integrated linear prediction residual (ILPR) extracted from the speech signal is used as the VS estimate in this study. The voice source linear prediction iii
Nondegeneracy and the Jacobi fields of rotationally symmetric solutions to the Cahn-Hillard equation

In this paper we study rotationally symmetric solutions of the Cahn-Hilliard equation in $\mathbb R^3$ constructed by the authors. These solutions form a one parameter family analog to the family of Delaunay surfaces and in fact the zero level sets of their blowdowns approach these surfaces. Presently we go a step further and show that their stability properties are inherited from the stability properties of the Delaunay surfaces. Our main result states that the rotationally symmetric solutions are non degenerate and that they have exactly $6$ Jacobi fields of temperate growth coming from the natural invariances of the problem (3 translations and 2 rotations) and the variation of the Delaunay parameter.
Crossed-Brain Representation of Verbal and Nonverbal Functions

A 74-year-old, left-handed man presented with a rapidly evolving loss of strength in his right leg associated with difficulty in walking. MR images disclosed an extensive left hemisphere tumor. A neuropsychological examination revealed that language was broadly normal but that the patient presented with severe nonlinguistic abnormalities, including hemineglect (both somatic and spatial), constructional defects, and general spatial disturbances; symptoms were usually associated with right hemisphere pathologies. No ideomotor apraxia was found. The implications of crossed-brain representations of verbal and nonverbal functions are analyzed.
Effective tobacco dependence treatment.

MORE THAN AT ANY TIME IN the past, clinicians, public health professionals, and policy makers now possess sufficient evidence to implement effective tobacco dependence treatment programs and policies. We review key findings of great relevance to treating tobacco dependence: clinical, health system, and community interventions can each independently foster tobacco cessation. A transdisciplinary approach that incorporates all of these components holds the greatest promise for reducing population-based rates of tobacco use. If these interventions are implemented broadly, a larger proportion of the 46 million US adult smokers will try to quit. Among those who do try, the likelihood of successful cessation will increase substantially.
Influence of Continuous Venovenous Hemofiltration and Continuous Venovenous Hemodiafiltration on the Disposition of Doripenem

ABSTRACT The pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of a single 1-hour, 500-mg intravenous infusion of doripenem were assessed in dialysis-dependent subjects with stage 5 chronic kidney disease undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) via 12-hour continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) (n = 6) or continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) (n = 5). Healthy volunteers were also assessed (n = 12). Concentrations of doripenem and the primary metabolite doripenem-M-1 were measured in plasma and ultrafiltrate or ultrafiltrate/dialysate by a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. In dialysis-dependent subjects, levels of systemic exposure to doripenem and doripenem-M-1 were approximately 3- and 5-fold greater, respectively, than those in healthy subjects: for doripenem, 98 μg·h/ml for CVVH and 77 μg·h/ml for CVVHDF versus 32 μg·h/ml for healthy subjects, and for doripenem-M-1, 24 μg·h/ml for CVVH and 22 μg·h/ml for CVVHDF versus 4.7 μg·h/ml for healthy subjects. The mean sieving coefficients and saturation coefficients were >0.67 for both doripenem and doripenem-M-1. During CVVH and CVVHDF, respectively, the percentages of administered doripenem dose removed were 38% and 29%, and clearances of doripenem were 22 and 25 ml/min. Both CVVH and CVVHDF efficiently removed doripenem and doripenem-M-1. Despite significant removal of drug by CVVH and CVVHDF, a single 1-hour, 500-mg doripenem infusion produced significantly higher plasma concentrations of doripenem, higher systemic exposure (area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 12 h after the start of infusion [AUC0-12]), and longer half-life (t 1/2) in subjects receiving CVVH or CVVHDF than in healthy volunteers. The recovery of drug in ultrafiltrate and ultrafiltrate/dialysate and the enhanced rate of reduction of plasma concentrations indicate that CVVH and CVVHDF significantly augmented residual total body clearance of doripenem in subjects receiving CRRT. Doripenem dosage regimens for patients receiving CRRT thus need to be adjusted.
Lupin kernel fibre foods improve bowel function and beneficially modify some putative faecal risk factors for colon cancer in men

Consumption of some dietary fibres may benefit bowel health; however, the effect of Australian sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) kernel fibre (LKFibre) is unknown. The present study examined the effect of a high-fibre diet containing LKFibre on bowel function and faecal putative risk factors for colon cancer compared to a control diet without LKFibre. Thirty-eight free-living, healthy men consumed an LKFibre and a control diet for 1 month each in a single-blind, randomized, crossover study. Depending on subject energy intake, the LKFibre diet was designed to provide 17–30g/d fibre (in experimental foods) above that of the control diet. Bowel function self-perception, frequency of defecation, transit time, faecal output, pH and moisture, faecal levels of SCFA and ammonia, and faecal bacterial β-glucuronidase activity were assessed. In comparison to the control diet, the LKFibre diet increased frequency of defecation by 0·13 events/d (P=0·047), increased faecal output by 21% (P=0·020) and increased faecal moisture content by 1·6% units (P=0·027), whilst decreasing transit time by 17% (P=0·012) and decreasing faecal pH by 0·26 units (P<0·001). Faecal butyrate concentration was increased by 16% (P=0·006), butyrate output was increased by 40% (P=0·002)and β-glucuronidase activity was lowered by 1·4μmol/h per g wet faeces compared to the control diet (P<0·001). Addition of LKFibre to the diet incorporated into food products improved some markers of healthy bowel function and colon cancer risk in men.
The Impact of Peer Tutors' Use of Indirect Feedback and Instructions

: During collaborative learning, computer-supported or otherwise, students balance task-oriented goals with the interpersonal goals of relationship-building; these goals may conflict, negatively impacting learning. In peer tutoring, for instance, tutors may avoid providing feedback to their partners to avoid the face-threat to their tutee. In this paper, we explore how the interpersonal closeness between tutor and tutee impacts tutors’ use of indirectness with feedback and instructions, and the impact those moves have on tutees’ problem-solving. We found that stranger tutors use more indirect instructions and provide more positive feedback to their tutee than friend tutors, and that stranger tutees attempted and solved more problems when their tutors used indirect instructions. We found no effect for dyads of friends, suggesting that interpersonal closeness reduces the face-threat of direct instructions. These results demonstrate that designers of CSCL tools should incorporate awareness of students’ relationships into their systems, as that relationship impacts students’ collaborative learning behaviors.
Temperature gradient affects differentiation of gene expression and SNP allele frequencies in the dominant Lake Baikal zooplankton species

Local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity are main mechanisms of organisms’ resilience in changing environments. Both are affected by gene flow and are expected to be weak in zooplankton populations inhabiting large continuous water bodies and strongly affected by currents. Lake Baikal, the deepest and one of the coldest lakes on Earth, experienced epilimnion temperature increase during the last 100 years, exposing Baikal's zooplankton to novel selective pressures. We obtained a partial transcriptome of Epischura baikalensis (Copepoda: Calanoida), the dominant component of Baikal's zooplankton, and estimated SNP allele frequencies and transcript abundances in samples from regions of Baikal that differ in multiyear average surface temperatures. The strongest signal in both SNP and transcript abundance differentiation is the SW‐NE gradient along the 600+ km long axis of the lake, suggesting isolation by distance. SNP differentiation is stronger for nonsynonymous than synonymous SNPs and is paralleled by differential survival during a laboratory exposure to increased temperature, indicating directional selection operating on the temperature gradient. Transcript abundance, generally collinear with the SNP differentiation, shows samples from the warmest, less deep location clustering together with the southernmost samples. Differential expression is more frequent among transcripts orthologous to candidate thermal response genes previously identified in model arthropods, including genes encoding cytoskeleton proteins, heat‐shock proteins, proteases, enzymes of central energy metabolism, lipid and antioxidant pathways. We conclude that the pivotal endemic zooplankton species in Lake Baikal exists under temperature‐mediated selection and possesses both genetic variation and plasticity to respond to novel temperature‐related environmental pressures.
Molecular Biology of Barrett’s Adenocarcinoma

ObjectiveTo review the current knowledge on the genetic alterations involved in the development and progression of Barrett’s esophagus-associated neoplastic lesions. Summary Background DataBarrett’s esophagus (BE) is a premalignant condition in which the normal squamous epithelium of the esophagus is replaced by metaplastic columnar epithelium. BE predisposes patients to the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Endoscopic surveillance can detect esophageal adenocarcinomas when they are early and curable, but most of the adenocarcinomas are detected at an advanced stage. Despite advances in multimodal therapy, the prognosis for invasive esophageal adenocarcinoma is poor. A better understanding of the molecular evolution of the Barrett’s metaplasia to dysplasia to adenocarcinoma sequence may allow improved diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis. MethodsThe authors reviewed data from the published literature to address what is known about the molecular changes thought to be important in the pathogenesis of BE-associated neoplastic lesions. ResultsThe progression of Barrett’s metaplasia to adenocarcinoma is associated with several changes in gene structure, gene expression, and protein structure. Some of the molecular alterations already showed promise as markers for early cancer detection or prognostication. Among these, alterations in the p53 and p16 genes and cell cycle abnormalities or aneuploidy appear to be the most important and well-characterized molecular changes. However, the exact sequence of events is not known, and probably multiple molecular pathways interact and are involved in the progression of BE to adenocarcinoma. ConclusionsFurther research into the molecular biology of BE-associated adenocarcinoma will enhance our understanding of the genetic events critical for the initiation and progression of Barrett’s adenocarcinoma, leading to more effective surveillance and treatment.
A Lipid Receptor Sorts Polyomavirus from the Endolysosome to the Endoplasmic Reticulum to Cause Infection

The mechanisms by which receptors guide intracellular virus transport are poorly characterized. The murine polyomavirus (Py) binds to the lipid receptor ganglioside GD1a and traffics to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) where it enters the cytosol and then the nucleus to initiate infection. How Py reaches the ER is unclear. We show that Py is transported initially to the endolysosome where the low pH imparts a conformational change that enhances its subsequent ER-to-cytosol membrane penetration. GD1a stimulates not viral binding or entry, but rather sorting of Py from late endosomes and/or lysosomes to the ER, suggesting that GD1a binding is responsible for ER targeting. Consistent with this, an artificial particle coated with a GD1a antibody is transported to the ER. Our results provide a rationale for transport of Py through the endolysosome, demonstrate a novel endolysosome-to-ER transport pathway that is regulated by a lipid, and implicate ganglioside binding as a general ER targeting mechanism.
The Schistosoma mansoni Tegumental-Allergen-Like (TAL) Protein Family: Influence of Developmental Expression on Human IgE Responses

Background A human IgE response to Sm22.6 (a dominant IgE target in Schistosoma mansoni) is associated with the development of partial immunity. Located inside the tegument, the molecule belongs to a family of proteins from parasitic platyhelminths, the Tegument-Allergen-Like proteins (TALs). In addition to containing dynein-light-chain domains, these TALs also contain EF-hand domains similar to those found in numerous EF-hand allergens. Methodology/Principal Findings S. mansoni genome searches revealed 13 members (SmTAL1-13) within the species. Recent microarray data demonstrated they have a wide range of life-cycle transcriptional profiles. We expressed SmTAL1 (Sm22.6), SmTAL2, 3, 4, 5 and 13 as recombinant proteins and measured IgE and IgG4 in 200 infected males (7–60 years) from a schistosomiasis endemic region in Uganda. For SmTAL1 and 3 (transcribed in schistosomula through adult-worms and adult-worms, respectively) and SmTAL5 (transcribed in cercariae through adult-worms), detectable IgE responses were rare in 7–9 year olds, but increased with age. At all ages, IgE to SmTAL2 (expressed constitutively), was rare while anti-SmTAL2 IgG4 was common. Levels of IgE and IgG4 to SmTAL4 and 13 (transcribed predominantly in the cercariae/skin stage) were all low. Conclusions We have not measured SmTAL protein abundance or exposure in live parasites, but the antibody data suggests to us that, in endemic areas, there is priming and boosting of IgE to adult-worm SmTALs by occasional death of long-lived worms, desensitization to egg SmTALs through continuous exposure to dying eggs and low immunogenicity of larval SmTALs due to immunosuppression in the skin by the parasite. Of these, it is the gradual increase in IgE to the worm antigens that parallels age-dependent immunity seen in endemic areas.