Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Arithmetic and the Brain This Review Comes from a Themed Issue on Cognitive Neuroscience Edited the Intraparietal Sulcus and Number Sense Number Sense in the Animal Brain

Recent studies in human neuroimaging, primate neurophysiology, and developmental neuropsychology indicate that the human ability for arithmetic has a tangible cerebral substrate. The human intraparietal sulcus is systematically activated in all number tasks and could host a central amodal representation of quantity. Areas of the precentral and inferior prefrontal cortex also activate when subjects engage in mental calculation. A monkey analogue of these parieto-frontal regions has recently been identified, and a neuronal population code for number has been characterized. Finally, pathologies of this system, leading to acalculia in adults or to developmental dyscalculia in children, are beginning to be understood, thus paving the way for brain-oriented intervention studies. Abbreviations fMRI functional magnetic resonance imaging HIPS horizontal segment of IPS IPS intraparietal sulcus Introduction Number theory is a complex achievement of the human mind. However, the core concept of arithmetic number is simple, and all human cultures have at least a few words for numbers. Seven years ago, I proposed the hypothesis that 'number sense' is a basic capacity of the human brain [1]: dedicated brain circuits, inherited from our evolutionary history, are engaged in recognizing numerosity (the number of objects in a set), and provide us with a basic intuition that guides the acquisition of formal arithmetic. The purpose of the present review is to re-evaluate this hypothesis in the light of recent findings in cognitive neuroscience. Progress has been fast in several domains, which are each reviewed in turn: neuroimaging of number processing in humans, animal models of the cerebral bases of number sense and developmental psychology of basic numerical abilities and their disorders. Which brain areas are engaged when we compute 7 À 4 or 3 Â 7? Modern neuroimaging confirms that a reproducible set of parietal, prefrontal and cingulate areas is systematically activated (over and above the activations related to stimulus identification and response output) whenever subjects are asked to perform a calculation [2,3 ,4–8]. A recent meta-analysis indicates that the horizontal segment of the bilateral intraparietal sulcus (HIPS), in particular , is implicated in most neuroimaging studies of number processing, with a reproducibility of 5–7 mm in standardized coordinates [9 ]. The precentral sulcus and inferior frontal gyrus are also frequently co-activated [10]. Yet some studies have observed dissociations between these areas; for instance, the inferior frontal activation varies with the time pressure imposed, whereas the HIPS activation varies with the number of operands involved [11]. …
Clinical Interventions in Aging Dovepress Effects of Free Leucine Supplementation and Resistance Training on Muscle Strength and Functional Status in Older Adults: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To assess the effect of free leucine supplementation combined with resistance training versus resistance training only on muscle strength and functional status in older adults. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study with two intervention groups. Thirty older adults were randomly assigned to receive either 10 g leucine/ day (leucine group [LG], n=15) or a placebo (control group [CG], n=15), plus resistance training over a 12-week period. Maximal overcoming isometric leg strength, functional status, nutritional status, body composition, health-related quality of life, depression, and dietary intake were assessed at 4 and 12 weeks. Missing data at 12 weeks were handled using mixed models for repeated measurements for data imputation. Results: Twenty-four subjects completed the 4-week assessment and eleven completed the 12-week intervention. Clinically significant gains were found in isometric leg strength at both assessment time points. Analysis of the effect size also showed how participants in LG outper-formed those in CG for chair stands and the timed up and go test. No significant changes were observed for the rest of the outcomes. Conclusion: Our combined analysis showed moderate changes in isometric leg muscle strength and certain components of functional status. The magnitude of changes found on these outcomes should be qualified as a positive effect of the concomitant intervention.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Unfolded Protein Response and Altered T Cell Differentiation in Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Background Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) play important roles in chronic intestinal inflammation. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in preterm infants and is characterized by acute intestinal inflammation and necrosis. The objective of the study is to investigate the role of ER stress and the UPR in NEC patients. Methods Ileal tissues from NEC and control patients were obtained during surgical resection and/or at stoma closure. Splicing of XBP1 was detected using PCR, and gene expression was quantified using qPCR and Western blot. Results Splicing of XBP1 was only detected in a subset of acute NEC (A-NEC) patients, and not in NEC patients who had undergone reanastomosis (R-NEC). The other ER stress and the UPR pathways, PERK and ATF6, were not activated in NEC patients. A-NEC patients showing XBP1 splicing (A-NEC-XBP1s) had increased mucosal expression of GRP78, CHOP, IL6 and IL8. Similar results were obtained by inducing ER stress and the UPR in vitro. A-NEC-XBP1s patients showed altered T cell differentiation indicated by decreased mucosal expression of RORC, IL17A and FOXP3. A-NEC-XBP1s patients additionally showed more severe morphological damage and a worse surgical outcome. Compared with A-NEC patients, R-NEC patients showed lower mucosal IL6 and IL8 expression and higher mucosal FOXP3 expression. Conclusions XBP1 splicing, ER stress and the UPR in NEC are associated with increased IL6 and IL8 expression levels, altered T cell differentiation and severe epithelial injury.
Distinct Mode of Interaction of a Novel Ketolide Antibiotic That Displays Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity

ABSTRACT Ketolides represent the latest generation of macrolide antibiotics, displaying improved activities against some erythromycin-resistant strains, while maintaining their activity against erythromycin-susceptible ones. In this study, we present a new ketolide, K-1325, that carries an alkyl-aryl side chain at C-13 of the lactone ring. According to our genetic and biochemical studies, K-1325 binds within the nascent polypeptide exit tunnel, at a site previously described as the primary attachment site of all macrolide antibiotics. Compared with telithromycin, K-1325 displays enhanced antimicrobial activity against wild-type Escherichia coli strains, as well as against strains bearing the U2609C mutation in 23S rRNA. Chemical protection experiments showed that the alkyl-aryl side chain of K-1325 interacts specifically with helix 35 of 23S rRNA, a fact leading to an increased affinity of U2609C mutant ribosomes for the drug and rationalizing the enhanced effectiveness of this new ketolide.
Endoscopic, Deep Mural Implantation of Enteryx for the Treatment of GERD: 6-Month Follow-up of a Multicenter Trial

OBJECTIVES:This prospective, multicenter, single-arm study evaluated the safety and efficacy of the endoscopic implantation of Enteryx, a biocompatible, non-biodegradable liquid polymer for the treatment of GERD.METHODS:Eighty-five patients with heartburn symptoms responsive to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use were enrolled. Inclusion requirements were HRQL score ≤ 11 on PPI and ≥ 20 off PPI, and 24-hour PH probe with ≥ 5% total time at PH ≤ 4. Patients with a hiatus hernia > 3 cm, grade 3 or 4 esophagitis, or esophageal motility disorder were excluded. Using a 4-mm needle tipped catheter during standard endoscopy, implants were made in 3–4 quadrants deep into the wall of the cardia. Use of PPI medications, pH-metry, manometry, GERD symptoms, and patient quality of life were assessed over a 6-month follow-up period.RESULTS:At 6 months, PPI use was eliminated in 74% and reduced by > 50% in 10% of patients. The median HRQL score improved from 24.0 pre-implant (baseline off PPIs) to 4.0 at 6 months (p < 0.001). Mean total esophageal acid exposure time was 9.5% pretherapy and 6.7% at 6 months (p < 0.001). Mean LES length increased from 2.0 cm at baseline to 3.0 cm posttherapy (p = 0.003). There were no clinically serious adverse events. Transient mild-to-moderate chest pain commonly occurred after implantation.CONCLUSIONS:The endoscopic implantation of Enteryx is a safe and effective therapy for eliminating or decreasing the need for PPI medications, improving GERD symptoms and patient quality of life, and decreasing esophageal acid exposure among patients suffering from GERD.
Toward blueprints for network architecture , biophysical dynamics , and signal transduction

We review mathematical aspects of biophysical dynamics, signal transduction and network architecture that have been used to uncover functionally significant relations between the dynamics of single neurons and the networks they compose. We focus on examples that combine insights from these three areas to expand our understanding of systems neuroscience. These range from single neuron coding to models of decision making and electrosensory discrimination by networks and populations, as well as coincidence detection in pairs of dendrites and the dynamics of large networks of excitable dendritic spines. We conclude by describing some of the challenges that lie ahead as the applied mathematics community seeks to provide the tools that will ultimately underpin systems neuroscience.
Interim analyses from a randomised controlled trial to improve visual processing speed in older adults: the Iowa Healthy and Active Minds Study

Objectives The Iowa Healthy and Active Minds Study is a four-arm randomised controlled trial of a visual processing speed training programme (Road Tour). This article presents the preplanned interim results immediately after training (6–8 weeks post-randomisation) for the primary outcome. Design Within two age strata (50–64 vs ≥65), 681 men and women attending general internal and family medicine clinics were randomised to four training groups: (1) supervised, on-site standard (10 h) dose of Road Tour training; (2) supervised, on-site standard dose of Road Tour training with 4 h of subsequent booster training scheduled to occur at 11 months post-randomisation (ie, no booster training had occurred at the time of this interim analysis); (3) supervised, on-site standard dose of attention control (crossword puzzles) training and (4) self-administered, at-home standard dose of Road Tour training. The primary outcome was the Useful Field of View (UFOV) test. Three intent-to-treat interim analyses were conducted, including (1) multiple linear regression models of composite UFOV scores using Blom rank transformations, (2) general linear mixed effects models and (3) multiple logistic regression models among the 620 participants (91%) with complete data. Results In the linear regression analyses of both age strata, random assignment to any Road Tour training group versus the attention control group was significant (p<0.001), with an effect size of −0.558 (adjusted for the Blom rank transformed UFOV score at randomisation). Similar results were obtained for each Road Tour group and within each age stratum and from the general linear and logistic regression models. Conclusions Assignment to a standard dose of Road Tour training yielded medium-sized post-training improvements in visual processing speed. Road Tour was equally effective whether administered under laboratory supervision or self-administered in the patient's home and for participants in both age strata (50–64 vs ≥65). Clinical trial registration number NCT01165463.
Sensitivity Check of Internal Sensor for Power Transformer Partial Discharge Measurements

The UHF partial discharge measurement technique is under research in order to be used for the detection, identification and localization of discharging defects within a power transformer. However, it requires installed dielectric windows on the transformer tank for the placement of the UHF sensors, a feature not available in all transformers especially old ones that have a higher risk of failure. Therefore, it is necessary to develop UHF sensors that can be used in the case of transformers without dielectric windows. In this paper such a sensor in its early design stages is studied, which can be inserted in a transformer from one of its valves
A theoretical and empirical study of computing earnings per share

In this dissertation, I propose a theoretic foundation to compute earnings per share (EPS) for firms with both common shares and dilutive securities outstanding. I derive a new EPS measure, market EPS, which is defined as the expectation of the future earnings per share. From the view of investors, market EPS naturally captures EPS information in stock prices. It is compared to basic EPS and diluted EPS, which are suggested in the dual presentation under the current U.S. rule. The comparisons show that market EPS is below the range defined by basic EPS and diluted EPS as long as the expected future abnormal earnings is zero. This indicates a weakness behind the thinking of the current rule. I also find that the diluted EPS by the treasury stock method overstates market EPS more than that by the if-converted method. In addition, given all conditions the same, the upward bias of diluted EPS of growth firms is smaller than that of non-growth firms. To support the proposed theory, I conduct an empirical study using a dataset containing 3130 firm-year employee stock option plans from 1997 to 2006. The results show that diluted EPS under the rule is, on average, larger than market EPS by 1%. Furthermore, the bias is larger for firms that are heavy users of employee stock options and for firms that have higher earnings volatility.
An Efficient Denoising Approach for Random-Valued Impulse Noise in Digital Images

An efficient edge-preserving algorithm for removal of random-valued impulse noise from corrupted images is proposed in this paper. We employ an efficient impulse noise detector to detect the noisy pixels, and an edge-preserving filter to reconstruct the intensity values of noisy pixels. Extensive experimental results show that the proposed technique not only preserves the edge features, but also obtains excellent performances in terms of quantitative evaluation and visual quality. Since our algorithm requires only low computational complexity, it is very suitable to be applied to many real-time applications.
Understanding the mechanism of ice binding by type III antifreeze proteins.

Type III antifreeze proteins (AFPs) are present in the body fluids of some polar fishes where they inhibit ice growth at subzero temperatures. Previous studies of the structure of type III AFP by NMR and X-ray identified a remarkably flat surface on the protein containing amino acids that were demonstrated to be important for interaction with ice by mutational studies. It was proposed that this protein surface binds onto the (1 0 [\bar 1] 0) plane of ice with the key amino acids interacting directly with the water molecules in the ice crystal. Here, we show that the mechanism of type III AFP interaction with ice crystals is more complex than that proposed previously. We report a high-resolution X-ray structure of type III AFP refined at 1.15 A resolution with individual anisotropic temperature factors. We report the results of ice-etching experiments that show a broad surface coverage, suggesting that type III AFP binds to a set of planes that are parallel with or inclined at a small angle to the crystallographic c-axis of the ice crystal. Our modelling studies, performed with the refined structure, confirm that type III AFP can make energetically favourable interactions with several ice surfaces.
Study of anti diabetic effect of a compound medicinal plant prescription in normal and diabetic rabbits.

Alleged antidiabetic property of a folkioric prescription containing Bergenia ligulata (Pakhan bed), Asteracantha longifolia (Tal Makhana), Cinnamomum cassia (Taj) and Argyria cuneater (Samundar Sokh) has been evaluated in rabbits after its oral administration. The indigenous drug prescription exerted a significant hypoglycaemic effect in both normal and diabetic rabbits. In normal rabbits, oral administration of 1 and 2 g/kg body weight doses of the compound powder caused maximum decrease in blood glucose level at 10 and 24 hour intervals after its administration. In addition the 2 g/kg dose also produced a fall in blood sugar at 4 hours. In the alloxan treated diabetic rabbits, the 2 g/kg dose only coul4 produce a significant decrease in blood glucose levels at 10 and 24 hours. The maximum decrease in blood glucose was observed at 24 hours at all dosage levels in normal as well as diabetic rabbits. It is conceivable that this folk medicine contains some hypoglycaemic principles which can reduce the blood glucose levels of diabetics. The treated rabbits did not show any signs of acute toxicity which encourages the possible use of this compound medicinal plant prescription by diabetic patients (JPMA 34 : 239, 1984).
Replication fitness determines high virulence of influenza A virus in mice carrying functional Mx1 resistance gene

The IFN-induced resistance factor Mx1 is a critical component of innate immunity against influenza A viruses (FLUAV) in mice. Animals carrying a wild-type Mx1 gene (Mx1+/+) differ from regular laboratory mice (Mx1−/−) in that they are highly resistant to infection with standard FLUAV strains. We identified an extraordinary variant of the FLUAV strain, A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) (designated hvPR8), which is unusually virulent in Mx1+/+ mice. hvPR8 was well controlled in Mx1+/+ but not Mx1−/− mice provided that the animals were treated with IFN before infection, indicating that hvPR8 exhibits normal sensitivity to growth restriction by Mx1. hvPR8 multiplied much faster than standard PR8 early in infection because of highly efficient viral gene expression in infected cells. Studies with reassortant viruses containing defined genome segments of both hvPR8 and standard PR8 demonstrated that the HA, neuraminidase, and polymerase genes of hvPR8 all contributed to virulence, indicating that efficient host cell entry and early gene expression renders hvPR8 highly pathogenic. These results reveal a surprisingly simple concept of how influenza viruses may gain virulence and illustrate that high speed of virus growth can outcompete the antiviral response of the infected host.
Metabolic syndrome parameters in adolescents may be determinants for the future periodontal diseases.

AIM The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases even in adolescents. The evidence that MetS is associated with the periodontal diseases in adolescents has been understudied. Therefore, our aim was to assess the association between MetS parameters and gingivitis in adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 941 participants (590 boys, 351 girls), aged 12-18 years was selected from the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional and nationally representative survey, which had had information on waist circumference, blood pressure, serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and the fasting blood sugar and community periodontal Index (CPI). RESULTS The number of positive parameters of MetS showed significant positive correlation with gingivitis; adjusted and crude ORs with one positive parameters of MetS were 1.92 (95% CI: 1.21-3.04) and 1.88(95% CI: 1.28-2.76), respectively. And adjusted OR with three or more positive parameters of MetS was 3.29 (95% CI: 1.24-8.71). Among five parameters of MetS, Low HDL-cholesterol showed significant association with gingivitis (crude OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.20-3.73; adjusted OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.24-3.12). CONCLUSIONS Having more positive parameters of MetS and low HDL-cholesterol parameter had an independent relationship with the prevalence of gingivitis, which may be determinants for the future periodontal diseases even in adolescents.
Acoustic differences between German and Dutch labiodentals

The present article is a follow-up study of the investigation of labiodentals in German and Dutch by Hamann & Sennema (2005), where we looked at the perception of the Dutch labiodental three-way contrast by German listeners without any knowledge of Dutch and German learners of Dutch. The results of this previous study suggested that the German voiced labiodental fricative /v/ is perceptually closer to the Dutch approximant // than to the corresponding Dutch voiced labiodental fricative /v/. These perceptual indications are attested by the acoustic findings in the present study. German /v/ has a similar harmonicity median and a similar centre of gravity to Dutch //, but differs from Dutch /v/ in these parameters. With respect to the acoustic parameter of duration, German /v/ lies closer to the Dutch /v/ than to the Dutch //.
Jitter-induced power/ground noise in CMOS PLLs: a design perspective

CMOS phase-locked loops (PLL) are ubiquitous in RF and mixed-signal integrated circuits. PLLs are very sensitive to noise fluctuations on the power and ground rails. In this paper, a general comprehensive stochastic model of the power/ground (P/G) noise in VLSI circuits is presented. This is followed by calculation of the phase noise of the voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) in terms of the statistical properties of supply noise. The PLL timing jitter is predicted in response to the VCO phase noise. Next, the design of a low power, 2.5 V, 0.25 /spl mu/ CMOS PLL clock generator with a lock range of 100 MHz-400 MHz is described. Our mathematical method is utilized to study the jitter-induced P/G noise in this PLL. A comparison between the results obtained by our mathematical model and those obtained by HSPICE simulation prove the accuracy of the predicted model.
Role of the glycine site of the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor in synaptic plasticity induced by pairing

In the hippocampal CA1 region of the rat, activity‐dependent plasticity requires substantial postsynaptic depolarization and activation of the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate glutamate receptor subtype (NMDAR). Exogenous and endogenous compounds selectively modulate NMDAR function by acting at the glycine coagonist site. Here we investigate the modulatory role of the glycine site in the induction of bidirectional synaptic plasticity. Plasticity was induced by pairing low‐frequency afferent pulses with different levels of postsynaptic depolarization in the absence and presence of glycine site compounds. We found strong dependence of glycine site agonist modulation on membrane voltage during induction. Thus, d‐serine and glycine were more effective in enhancing long‐term potentiation (LTP) during pairing of small depolarization (−60 or −50 mV) with subthreshold EPSCs than during pairing of stronger depolarization (−40 mV) with suprathreshold synaptic responses. The glycine site role in bidirectional synaptic plasticity was studied with the selective antagonist 7‐chlorokynurenic acid. Blockade of the glycine site during the pairing reversed the direction of plasticity from LTP towards long‐term depression. The magnitude of depression was dependent on antagonist concentration and the level of depolarization during the pairing. Thus, these experiments demonstrate the role of the glycine site in the induction of bidirectional synaptic plasticity.