Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Typical and Atypical Development of Functional Connectivity in the Face Network

Extensive studies have demonstrated that face recognition performance does not reach adult levels until adolescence. However, there is no consensus on whether such prolonged improvement stems from development of general cognitive factors or face-specific mechanisms. Here, we used behavioral experiments and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to evaluate these two hypotheses. With a large cohort of children (n = 379), we found that the ability of face-specific recognition in humans increased with age throughout childhood and into late adolescence in both face memory and face perception. Neurally, to circumvent the potential problem of age differences in task performance, attention, or cognitive strategies in task-state fMRI studies, we measured the resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) between the occipital face area (OFA) and fusiform face area (FFA) in human brain and found that the OFA-FFA RSFC increased until 11–13 years of age. Moreover, the OFA-FFA RSFC was selectively impaired in adults with developmental prosopagnosia (DP). In contrast, no age-related changes or differences between DP and normal adults were observed for RSFCs in the object system. Finally, the OFA-FFA RSFC matured earlier than face selectivity in either the OFA or FFA. These results suggest the critical role of the OFA-FFA RSFC in the development of face recognition. Together, our findings support the hypothesis that prolonged development of face recognition is face specific, not domain general. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT There is long-standing debate on whether the prolonged age-related improvement in face recognition performance stems from development of general cognitive factors or face-specific mechanisms. Here, we provide novel evidence for protracted development of face-specific mechanisms. Specifically, the resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) between the fusiform face area and occipital face area, two core brain areas in the face network, increased until 11–13 years of age and was selectively impaired in adults with developmental prosopagnosia. These results suggested the importance of the face network RSFC in the development of face recognition. Our study invites a broader investigation of whether the development of other cognitive abilities is similarly guided by the development of connectivity within the corresponding neural networks.
Understanding the costs of the Food Corporation of India.

The debate on food subsidies in India affects millions of consumers and producers and is of immense importance in a country in which chronic hunger and malnutrition affects a majority of the population. In this paper the author first examines the volume of the food subsidy over the last 3 decades. Secondly using data for the 1990s from the accounts of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) the author examines the components of the food grain subsidy the relative contribution of different components to total costs and the growth in different components during the current decade. Thirdly the author attempts to compare the efficiency of the FCI with that of private trade. The data from FCI performance budgets show clearly that the increase in procurement price was a critical factor in the increase in economic costs of rice and wheat. The procurement price however is a variable over which the FCI has no control as the central government sets the procurement price based on the recommendations of the Commission on Agriculture Costs and Prices. Despite the absolute increase in many components of costs there was an improvement in the operational efficiency of the FCI during the 1990s. Lastly no unambiguous finding emerged from a comparison of wholesale market prices and economic costs of the FCI. The FCI compared favorably with private traders in the distribution of rice in a large number of states. In the states of northern and central India however private traders had lower prices for grain. The presence of systematic rural-urban price differences indicated the imperfections of grain markets. (authors)
Selective enhancement of beta-adrenergic receptor signaling by overexpression of adenylyl cyclase type 6: colocalization of receptor and adenylyl cyclase in caveolae of cardiac myocytes.

We investigated the effect of adenovirally mediated overexpression of adenylyl cyclase type 6 (AC6), a major form of AC expressed in mammalian heart, on G protein-coupled receptor regulation of cAMP production in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. Following gene transfer of AC6, isoproterenol- and forskolin-stimulated increases in cAMP were markedly enhanced, whereas basal levels of cAMP and responses to several other agonists that stimulate cAMP formation, e. g. , prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), H(2) agonist, glucagon, and A(2) agonist were not increased. Studies to test whether the selective enhancement in beta-adrenergic receptor (AR) response might result from inhibition of AC6 by Galpha(i) and Gbetagamma indicated that pertussis toxin-sensitive inhibition by the muscarinic cholinergic agonist carbachol was unaltered in myocytes overexpressing AC6. Pertussis toxin treatment failed to reveal an enhancement by AC6 overexpression of basal or PGE(2)-stimulated cAMP. Immunoblot analysis of membrane fractions indicated that beta(1)-AR and AC6 are expressed in fractions enriched in caveolin-3 and morphologic caveolae. The data suggest that loss of G(i)-mediated inhibition is not the mechanism for enhancement of beta-AR-stimulated cAMP formation and that key components of beta-AR-mediated activation of AC exist in caveolae of cardiac myocytes, providing a means by which beta-AR response is selectively enhanced by increasing AC6 expression.
The Information Transmission between China and the US Agricultural Commodity Markets

This study examines both long-run and short-run linkages between futures and spot prices for a wide range of agricultural commodities in China and the US. We use the Johansen cointegration test to examine the long-run equilibrium relationship in both multivariate and bivariate contexts. The VECM model is used to examine the information transmission in the short-run. Finally, we use Granger causality test to investigate how the information transmission pattern changes under different economic conditions. We find long-run equilibrium relationships between spot and futures prices in the Chinese markets, as well as the futures prices in China and the US. The long-run relationship is consistent with the LOP theory, which indicates that prices of identical assets in different markets should have the same stream of future cash flows after all adjustments. The short-run analyses show the robust bidirectional relationship between futures and spot prices in China, and the futures prices in China and the US. The findings indicate that Chinese agricultural commodity futures played a significant role in the global commodity futures markets. The GFC subsample results are mixed. In general, the domestic information becomes more important compared to the information in the international markets during the crisis and post crisis periods. Whereas, the US futures markets play important price discovery role than Chinese ones during and after crisis in the bivariate context. The findings of this study contribute to the existing literature on information transmission in agriculture commodity markets in the emerging nations by including the futures markets in China and the futures markets of USA, which is a global dominant market. Study also includes the underlying asset market to provide the relationship among all three asset markets. The findings of this study may have important implication for policy makers in emerging markets who seek to develop policies for stability of the commodity prices.
Lipid levels in anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE Anorexia nervosa is a chronic disorder characterized by the patient's refusal to maintain body weight and a myriad of medical complications. Two frequently cited and poorly understood complications are hypercholesterolemia and hypercarotenemia. We therefore measured fasting cholesterol and beta-carotene levels in a cohort of moderately severe anorectics. METHOD All subjects were female and met DSM-IV criteria for anorexia nervosa. Lipid profiles and beta-carotene levels were determined in 23 female anorexics. RESULTS The mean total cholesterol for this group of anorectics was 179.3 mg/dl. Low-density lipoprotein values (LDL) ranged from 47 to 173, with a mean of 104.1 mg/dl. The mean high-density lipoprotein value (HDL) was 51.5 mg/dl. Beta-carotene levels were all normal. DISCUSSION We conclude that total and LDL cholesterol in anorexia are well within the range of normal, and HDL levels are favorably high. Further, hypercarotenemia was not associated with anorexia nervosa.
The Chromosomal Passenger Complex Is Required for Meiotic Acentrosomal Spindle Assembly and Chromosome Biorientation

DURING meiosis in the females of many species, spindle assembly occurs in the absence of the microtubule-organizing centers called centrosomes. In the absence of centrosomes, the nature of the chromosome-based signal that recruits microtubules to promote spindle assembly as well as how spindle bipolarity is established and the chromosomes orient correctly toward the poles is not known. To address these questions, we focused on the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC). We have found that the CPC localizes in a ring around the meiotic chromosomes that is aligned with the axis of the spindle at all stages. Using new methods that dramatically increase the effectiveness of RNA interference in the germline, we show that the CPC interacts with Drosophila oocyte chromosomes and is required for the assembly of spindle microtubules. Furthermore, chromosome biorientation and the localization of the central spindle kinesin-6 protein Subito, which is required for spindle bipolarity, depend on the CPC components Aurora B and Incenp. Based on these data we propose that the ring of CPC around the chromosomes regulates multiple aspects of meiotic cell division including spindle assembly, the establishment of bipolarity, the recruitment of important spindle organization factors, and the biorientation of homologous chromosomes.
Age, Sex, and Ethnic Variations in Serum Insulin Concentrations Among U.S. Youth

OBJECTIVE—Distributions of serum concentrations of insulin among adolescents and young adults are poorly understood in the U.S. The objective of this study was to describe the distribution of serum insulin across demographic characteristics of U.S. adolescents and young adults. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A total of 1,791 male and female subjects aged 12–19 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys for 1999–2002 were included in the analyses. RESULTS—Among male participants, serum concentrations of insulin increased from age 12 to 14 years before decreasing. Among female participants, concentrations were highest at age 13 years before decreasing steadily through age 19 years. Among participants aged 12–17 years but not those aged 18–19 years, females had higher mean log-transformed concentrations than males (P, Wald, F = 0.038 and 0.125, respectively) after adjusting for age and ethnicity. After adjusting for age and BMI percentile, mean log-transformed concentrations were higher in African-American females aged 12–17 years than in white or Mexican-American participants. No significant ethnic differences were found among female participants aged 18–19 years or male participants aged 12–19 years. Concentrations of insulin increased strongly with increasing levels of BMI. CONCLUSIONS—These results provide detailed information about serum concentrations of insulin in a representative sample of U.S. adolescents and young adults and may be useful to monitor future trends of this risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Humoral and cellular immune parameters before and during immunosuppressive therapy of a patient with stiff-man syndrome and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVES Humoral and cellular immune reactivity are reported for two neuroendocrine autoantigens—glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and the protein tyrosine phosphatase IA-2—in a patient with the autoimmune type of stiff-man syndrome and insulin dependent diabetes (IDDM). METHODS Antibodies and T cell proliferation against GAD and IA-2 and cytokine release of antigen stimulated T cells (IFN-γ) were determined before and several times during immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone. RESULTS Raised GAD antibodies against full length GAD65 or chimeric constructs were detected before therapy and they remained at a high concentration despite a marked clinical improvement during cortisone treatment. Antibodies to IA-2 were undetectable, but weak T cell responses to both GAD and IA-2 were seen before therapy and once on reduction of high cortisone dosages when the patient showed signs of clinical deterioration. Cytokine profiles showed increased IFN-γ production after stimulation with GAD or IA-2 suggesting increased activation of TH1 cells. CONCLUSION Immunosuppressive therapy —even with extremely high doses of 500 mg a day—does not lead to the reduction of antibody concentrations in the periphery nor to a switch in epitope recognition of such antibodies despite clinical improvement. The amount of T cell reactivity to various antigens, however, may be a useful marker to monitor the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
The β3‐adrenoceptor agonist SR58611A ameliorates experimental colitis in rats

Abstract β3‐Adrenoceptor agonists protect against experimental gastric ulcers. We investigated the effects of the β3‐adrenoceptor agonist SR58611A on 2,4‐dinitrobenzene sulphonic acid‐induced colitis in rats and analysed the expression of β3‐adrenoceptors in the colonic wall. SR58611A was administered orally (1–10 mg kg−1) for 7 days, starting the day before induction of colitis. Colitis was assessed by macroscopic and histological scores, tissue myeloperoxidase activity, interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) levels. Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analysis were used to examine the expression of β3‐adrenoceptors. SR58611A significantly reduced the severity of colitis as well as the tissue levels of TNF‐α, IL‐1β and IL‐6. Colitis was associated with a decreased expression of β3‐adrenoceptor mRNA in the mucosal/submucosal layer of distal colon and this reduction was not affected by SR58611A. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed β3‐adrenoceptors within the muscularis externa, in myenteric neurons and nerve fibres and in the submucosa. β3‐Adrenoceptor immunoreactivity was decreased in inflamed tissues compared to controls, particularly in the myenteric plexus; this reduction was counteracted by SR58611A. Amelioration of experimental colitis by the selective β3‐adrenoceptor agonist SR58611A suggests that β3‐adrenoceptors may represent a therapeutic target in gut inflammation.
The Effects of ZENECA ZD8731, an Angiotensin II Antagonist, on Renin Expression by Juxtaglomerular Cells in the Rat: Comparison of Protein and mRNA Expression as Detected by Immunohistochemistry and In Situ Hybridization

Changes in the mRNA and protein expression of renin-secreting cells in the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) were examined in the rat following administration of ZENECA ZD8731, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Doses of 0 or 90 mg/kg were administered daily by gavage for 26 wk. JGA hypertrophy was apparent in histological sections. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated an increase in the number of renin-containing cells in both the afferent arterioles and the interlobular arteries. Similarly, renin mRNA expression, demonstrated by in situ hybridization, had extended to more proximal segments of the afferent arterioles and was also present in efferent arterioles and interlobular arteries. In conclusion, JGA hypertrophy occurred as a result of antagonism of the angiotensin II receptor. Associated with JGA hypertrophy was increased expression of both renin and renin mRNA, indicative of stimulated renin synthesis caused by an exaggerated pharmacological response of renin-secreting cells to the loss of feedback inhibition by angiotensin II.
Relation of Age, Race, and Allotype to Immunoglobulin Subclass Concentrations

ABSTRACT: Concentrations of IgG1, IgG2, and total IgG were measured by a solid phase radioimmunoassay in sera from 36 healthy adults and 114 healthy children. As expected, IgG2 and total IgG had a positive correlation with age in children. In addition to age, several other factors were associated with significant differences in serum subclass concentrations. Female children had higher concentrations of IgG1 than males, and black subjects had significantly higher concentrations of IgG1, IgG2, and total IgG than whites. Although Km(1) and Gm(23) immunoglobulin allotypes had no relation to subclass concentrations when tested as single factors, the Km(1) allotype interacted significantly with race so that Km(1)-positive black children had higher IgG2 concentrations than other subjects. Our findings may explain, in part, recent observations of an association of the Km(1) allotype with altered immune responses of blacks to certain vaccines containing bacterial polysaccharides. In addition, our data indicate the need to control factors such as sex, race, and allotype in studies of subclass concentrations or immune responses.
Labor Market Returns to Community College Awards: Evidence from Michigan. A CAPSEE Working Paper.

We examine the relative labor market gains experienced by first-time college students who enrolled in five community colleges in Michigan in 2003 and 2004. We track credentials, credits, earnings, and employment for these students through 2011. We compare labor market outcomes of those who earned a credential (associate degree or certificate) to those who enrolled but did not earn a credential. The data sources consist of administrative records data from the colleges, Unemployment Insurance earnings data from the State of Michigan, and enrollment and graduation data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Our analytic sample consists of 20,581 students. We find that students who were awarded a long-term certificate (referred to as a “diploma” in some states, including North Carolina) earned $2,500 to $3,600 more per year than did those without a credential, with the larger returns concentrated among men. For associate degrees, the estimated returns were $9,400 for women and $5,600 for men. Women saw little gain when awarded a short-term certificate, while men gained $5,200 per year. Estimated returns were highest in health-related and technical fields.
Reconstructing preferences in a voting context

In this chapter, we aim to describe the two kinds of influence a voting method has on individual preferences. Experimental data on approval voting and evaluation voting collected during the 2007 French presidential elections enable to bring into light the filtering effects (restriction of ballot information, strategic behaviors), and the endogenous effect of voting rules. In particular, we stress that the endogenous effect of a voting rule encourages individuals to express others-regarding preferences instead of self-regarding ones. Following Frankfurt (1971), Sen (1977) and Goodin (1986), we call the former metaranking - ranking on rankings of preferences.
A dimethylmaleic acid–melittin‐polylysine conjugate with reduced toxicity, pH‐triggered endosomolytic activity and enhanced gene transfer potential

Poor endosomal release is one major barrier of gene delivery. Endosomolytic polyethylenimine‐melittin conjugates have shown to enhance gene transfer efficiency; however, cytotoxicity due to their general membrane‐destabilizing properties limits their application. To overcome this drawback we grafted a polycation with a masked pH‐responsive melittin derivate and investigated lytic activity, gene transfer efficiency and cytotoxicity of the resulting conjugate.
Politically Connected Firms, Legal Enforcement, and Analyst Forecast Attributes

We study the association between a firm's political connection and the earnings forecasts of analysts in an international context. We find that analysts experience more difficulties in predicting the earnings of firms with political connection than they do those of firms without it. However, in those jurisdictions that have effective law enforcement, earnings forecasts are less influenced by a firm's political connections. Our findings contribute to the literature by identifying political connection as an additional dimension of forecasting difficulty. The effect of political connection on the forecasts of financial analysts can be mitigated only in Jurisdictions with effective legal enforcement.
Patterns of Chromosomal Abnormalities that Can Improve Diagnosis of Uterine Smooth Muscle Tumors.

BACKGROUND/AIM Compared to leiomyomas, smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP), and leiomyosarcomas (LMS) originating from the Muellerian duct are very rare. Their molecular pathogenesis remains poorly understood. The present article aims at performing genetic analyses of these tumors that may help assist histopathological examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten tumors (four STUMP and six LMS) were investigated by copy number arrays. RESULTS Two tumors, both classified as STUMP were shown to carry MED12 mutations with one of them presenting with a detectable copy number alteration. All other tumors had multiple copy number changes with a clear predominance of losses. Five chromosomal arms (1p, 13q, 14q, 16q, 22q) were affected by overlapping lost segments in at least four tumors including two cases with biallelic losses of the retinoblastoma gene locus. CONCLUSION Besides the general presence of copy number alterations and particular genetic alterations, heterogeneity and ongoing karyotypic evolution indicate malignancy or approaching malignancy.
Synthetic lac Operator Substitutions for Studying the Nitrate- and Nitrite-Responsive NarX-NarL and NarQ-NarP Two-Component Regulatory Systems of Escherichia coli K-12

ABSTRACT The NarX and NarQ sensor-histidine kinases control phosphorylation of the NarL and NarP response regulators in response to the respiratory oxidants nitrate and nitrite. Target operon transcription is activated by the Fnr protein in response to anaerobiosis, and it is further activated and/or repressed by the phospho-NarL and phospho-NarP proteins, which bind to heptamer DNA sequences. The location and arrangement of heptamers vary widely among different target operon control regions. We have constructed a series of monocopy lac operon control region constructs in which the primary operator O1-lac has been replaced by 7-2-7 heptamer pairs from the nrfA, nirB, napF, and fdnG operon control regions. These constructs provide tools for dissecting various aspects of ligand interactions with sensor-kinases, sensor interactions with response regulators, and phospho-response regulator interactions with DNA targets. Expression of the lacZ gene from these constructs was repressed to various degrees by nitrate and nitrite. In response to nitrate, the nrfA and nirB operon 7-2-7 heptamer pairs at operator O1 each mediated greater than 100-fold repression of lacZ gene expression, whereas the napF operon 7-2-7 heptamer pair mediated approximately tenfold repression. Introduction of narL, narP, narX, and narQ null alleles in various combinations allowed the in vivo interactions between different sensor-regulator pairs to be evaluated and compared.