Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Localization of Syntactic and Semantic Brain Responses using Magnetoencephalography

Electrophysiological methods have been used to study the temporal sequence of syntactic and semantic processing during sentence comprehension. Two responses associated with syntactic violations are the left anterior negativity (LAN) and the P600. A response to semantic violation is the N400. Although the sources of the N400 response have been identified in the left (and right) temporal lobe, the neural signatures of the LAN and P600 have not been revealed. The present study used magnetoencephalography to localize sources of syntactic and semantic activation in Finnish sentence reading. Participants were presented with sentences that ended in normally inf lected nouns, nouns in an unacceptable case, verbs instead of nouns, or nouns that were correctly inflected but made no sense in the context. Around 400 msec, semantically anomalous last words evoked strong activation in the left superior temporal lobe with significant activation also for word class errors (N400). Weaker activation was seen for the semantic errors in the right hemisphere. Later, 600-800 msec after word onset, the strongest activation was seen to word class and morphosyntactic errors (P600). Activation was significantly weaker to semantically anomalous and correct words. The P600 syntactic activation was localized to bilateral sources in the temporal lobe, posterior to the N400 sources. The results suggest that the same general region of the superior temporal cortex gives rise to both LAN and N400 with bilateral reactivity to semantic manipulation and a left hemisphere effect to syntactic manipulation. The bilateral P600 response was sensitive to syntactic but not semantic factors.
Off-label use of atypical antipsychotics in personality disorders

Introduction: Personality disorders are among the most persistent and challenging disorders to treat within psychiatry. There is emerging evidence that some personality disorders, particularly borderline personality disorder and, to a lesser extent, schizotypal personality disorder, may benefit from treatment with atypical antipsychotics as well as mood stabilizers. This review examines the evidence for atypical antipsychotics for personality disorders and discusses strengths and limitations of this approach. Areas covered: Searches of Medline and PsycInfo yielded 57 articles related to use of atypical antipsychotics for treatment of personality disorders. Most were relatively small randomized, controlled trials examining atypical antipsychotics for borderline personality disorder; however, the search also yielded two Cochrane reviews examining pharmacotherapy for borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder as well as three other meta-analyses. Expert opinion: There is some evidence that atypical antipsychotics are effective for treating symptom domains in personality disorders, in particular psychotic-like symptoms, impulsivity, aggression and anger. There is no evidence that they improve overall illness severity. Given the high rate of comorbidity between personality disorders and axis I disorders, atypical antipsychotics are best used when these symptom domains are prominent and there is a comorbid axis I condition for which an atypical antipsychotic is indicated.
Derivation of a clinical prediction score for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension after acute pulmonary embolism

Essentials Predicting chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) after pulmonary embolism is hard. We studied 772 patients with pulmonary embolism who were followed for CTEPH (incidence 2.8%). Logistic regression analysis revealed 7 easily collectable clinical variables that combined predict CTEPH. Our score identifies patients at low (0.38%) or higher (10%) risk of CTEPH.
Context–dependent interactions of left posterior inferior frontal gyrus in a local visual search task unrelated to language

The Embedded Figures Task (EFT) involves search for a target hidden in a complex geometric pattern. Even though the EFT is designed to probe local visual search functions, not language–related processes, neuropsychological studies have demonstrated a strong association between aphasia and impairment on this task. A potential explanation for this relationship was offered by a recent functional MRI study (Manjaly et al., 2003), which demonstrated that a part of the left posterior inferior frontal gyrus (pIFG), overlapping with Broca's region, is crucially involved in the execution of the EFT. This result suggested that pIFG, an area strongly associated with language–related functions, is also part of a network subserving cognitive functions unrelated to language. In this study, we tested this conjecture by analysing the data of Manjaly et al. for context–dependent functional interactions of the pIFG during execution of the EFT. The results showed that during EFT, compared to a similar visual matching task with minimal local search components, pIFG changed its interactions with areas commonly involved in visuospatial processing: Increased contributions to neural activity in left posterior parietal cortex, cerebellar vermis, and extrastriate areas bilaterally, as well as decreased contributions to bilateral temporo–parietal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and left dorsal premotor cortex were found. These findings demonstrate that left pIFG can be involved in nonlanguage processes. More generally, however, they provide a concrete example of the notion that there is no general one–to–one mapping between cognitive functions and the activations of individual areas. Instead, it is the spatiotemporal pattern of functional interactions between areas that is linked to a particular cognitive context.
The Human Fecal Microbiota Metabolizes Deoxynivalenol and Deoxynivalenol-3-Glucoside and May Be Responsible for Urinary Deepoxy-Deoxynivalenol

ABSTRACT Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a potent mycotoxin produced by Fusarium molds and affects intestinal nutrient absorption and barrier function in experimental and farm animals. Free DON and the plant metabolite DON-3-β-d-glucoside (D3G) are frequently found in wheat and maize. D3G is stable in the upper human gut, but some human intestinal bacteria release DON from D3G in vitro. Furthermore, some bacteria derived from animal digestive systems degrade DON to a less toxic metabolite, deepoxy-deoxynivalenol (DOM-1). The metabolism of D3G and DON by the human microbiota has not been fully assessed. We therefore conducted in vitro batch culture experiments assessing the activity of the human fecal microbiota to release DON from D3G. We also studied detoxification of DON to DOM-1 by the microbiota and its potential effect on urinary DON excretion in humans. Fecal slurry from five volunteers was spiked with DON or D3G and incubated anaerobically (from 1 h to 7 days), and mycotoxins were extracted into acetonitrile. Mycotoxins were detected in fecal extracts and urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The fecal microbiota released DON from D3G very efficiently, with hydrolysis peaking after 4 to 6 h. The fecal microbiota from one volunteer transformed DON to DOM-1. Urine from the same volunteer also contained DOM-1 (4.7% of DON), whereas DOM-1 was not detectable in urine from other volunteers. Our results confirm that the fecal microbiota releases DON from its glycosylated form, hence increasing the toxic burden in exposed individuals. Furthermore, this is first evidence that the human fecal microbiota of one volunteer detoxifies DON, resulting in the appearance of DOM-1 in urine.
Atypical Regulation of Hepatic Adenylyl Cyclase and Adrenergic Receptors During a Critical Developmental Period: Agonists Evoke Supersensitivity Accompanied by Failure of Receptor Down-Regulation

Ordinarily, β-adrenergic receptors and responses linked to the receptors increase with development but in the liver, β-receptors are higher in the fetus and neonate than in adulthood. We examined how hepaticβ-receptor signaling mediated through adenylyl cyclase is regulated in rats of different ages. In each case, animals were pretreated with isoproterenol for 4 d, and on the 5th d, hepatic membrane preparations were examined for adenylyl cyclase activity and receptor binding capabilities. Uniquely in 6-d-old animals, the cyclase response to isoproterenol was enhanced by chronic pretreatment, caused by heterologous sensitization mediated through effects on total catalytic activity (increased response to forskolin-Mn2+) and on G-protein coupling (enhanced effect of fluoride and increased GTP dependence of basal activity). Isoproterenol pretreatment failed to cause β-receptor down-regulation in 6-d-old animals, but by 15 d of age, down-regulation was detected along with slight desensitization of the cyclase response. However, at 25 d, neither effect was present. In adulthood, repeated isoproterenol administration failed to cause cyclase desensitization but did reduce β-receptor numbers; the loss of receptors was still unusual in that β-receptor down-regulation could be achieved with either isoproterenol or with methoxamine, an α-receptor agonist. The results indicate that, early in development, hepaticβ-receptor-mediated responses are enhanced, not desensitized, after chronic stimulation. These effects would foster responsiveness of hepatic gluconeogenesis in the face of the massive adrenergic stimulation associated with the transition from fetal to neonatal life. In adulthood, when receptor numbers are far lower than in the neonate, the inability to desensitize the signaling cascade despite receptor down-regulation would serve to maintain the response to catecholamines.
Comparative analysis of genetic variability among Borrelia burgdorferi isolates from Europe and the United States by restriction enzyme analysis, gene restriction fragment length polymorphism, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

The genomes of 62 North American and European Borrelia burgdorferi isolates were examined by restriction endonuclease analysis (REA), gene probe restriction fragment length polymorphism, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Hybridization of restriction fragments with the immunologically relevant 83-kDa antigen gene revealed polymorphisms and divided the isolates into three major groups. Group I included all but two of the American isolates and some of the European isolates. One of two Californian isolates (DN 127) and one Ixodes dammini isolate from New York (strain 25015), previously described as atypical, were distinct from the isolates in the three groups. Plasmid profile analysis and REA, the method with the highest level of discrimination, revealed extensive heterogeneity among isolates of the same major group. Our study demonstrates the usefulness of the 83-kDa antigen gene probe for dividing the isolates into major genogroups, whereas REA and plasmid profile analysis allow for a distinction of individual strains within these groups.
Assessing the Synchronicity and Nature of Australian State Business Cycles

This paper assesses the synchronicity and nature of Australian state business cycles. To this end, I develop a time‐varying parameter panel Bayesian vector autoregression (BVAR) with a novel common stochastic volatility factor in the error structure, which is estimated in an efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. The common stochastic volatility factor reveals that macroeconomic volatility was more pronounced during the Asian financial crisis than during the more recent global financial crisis. Next, the panel BVAR's common, state‐ and variable‐specific indicators capture several interesting economic facts. In particular, the fluctuations of the common indicator closely follow the trend line of the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development composite leading indicators for Australia, making it a good proxy for nationwide business cycle fluctuations. Furthermore, despite significant co‐movements of Australian state and territory business cycles during times of economic contractions, the state indicators suggest that the average degree of synchronisation across the Australian state and territory cycles in the 2000s is only half of that in the 1990s. Given that aggregate macroeconomic activity is determined by cumulative activity of each of the states, the results suggests that the federal government should consider granting state governments greater autonomy in handling state‐specific cyclical fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Anti-EGFR Targeted Monoclonal Antibody Isotype Influences Antitumor Cellular Immunity in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Purpose: EGF receptor (EGFR) is highly overexpressed on several cancers and two targeted anti-EGFR antibodies which differ by isotype are FDA-approved for clinical use. Cetuximab (IgG1 isotype) inhibits downstream signaling of EGFR and activates antitumor, cellular immune mechanisms. As panitumumab (IgG2 isotype) may inhibit downstream EGFR signaling similar to cetuximab, it might also induce adaptive immunity. Experimental Design: We measured in vitro activation of cellular components of the innate and adaptive immune systems. We also studied the in vivo activation of components of the adaptive immune system in patient specimens from two recent clinical trials using cetuximab or panitumumab. Results: Both monoclonal antibodies (mAb) primarily activate natural killer (NK) cells, although cetuximab is significantly more potent than panitumumab. Cetuximab-activated neutrophils mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) tumor cells, and interestingly, this effect was FcγRIIa- and FcγRIIIa genotype–dependent. Panitumumab may activate monocytes through CD32 (FcγRIIa); however, monocytes activated by either mAb are not able to mediate ADCC. Cetuximab enhanced dendritic cell (DC) maturation to a greater extent than panitumumab, which was associated with improved tumor antigen cross-presentation by cetuximab compared with panitumumab. This correlated with increased EGFR-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cells in patients treated with cetuximab compared with those treated with panitumumab. Conclusions: Although panitumumab effectively inhibits EGFR signaling to a similar extent as cetuximab, it is less effective at triggering antitumor, cellular immune mechanisms which may be crucial for effective therapy of HNSCC. Clin Cancer Res; 22(21); 5229–37. ©2016 AACR.
Late Onset Anorexia Nervosa: Two Case Reports

Objective: Some patients develop an eating disorder at a late age. It is worth investigating why this syndrome develops at such widely different ages. Methods: Two Japanese cases of late onset anorexia nervosa are reported. Results: In these late onset cases, anorexia developed out of sadness over a loss such as bereavement, divorce, and fear or anxiety for the future. In addition, these two patients didn't demonstrate a fear of aging or of losing their attractiveness and sexuality, nor did they develop a dissociative disturbance based on an early traumatic history of sexual abuse in PTSD. Conclusion: Although the clinical features are similar, there appear to be differences between late onset and adolescent cases in psychological mechanisms.
An Exploration of Leaders' Experience with the Informal Learning Process during Role Transition at a K-12 Private, Non-Profit, Co-Educational, Bilingual School in Jordan.

The 21 Century workforce must be flexible, adaptable, and innovative to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing job market. Organizations play an important role in supporting the professional growth of its employees by offering various kinds of formal and informal professional development opportunities. While formal learning may be beneficial to individual employees, the learning that takes place within these structured training programs is not always disseminated to other members within the organization. If organizations create more informal adult learning opportunities, with an emphasis on workplace learning, then the transfer of knowledge between individuals within the organization might increase thus broadening employees’ knowledge, skills, and conceptual understanding in the workplace context. Therefore, the purpose of this doctoral thesis was to explore informal adult learning in the workplace as a potentially untapped mode of professional development in organizations. Using the more knowledgeable other (MKO) and zone of proximal development (ZPD) from Lev Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory as the theoretical framework, this Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study sought out to answer the following research question: “What are the experiences of newly, internally-promoted leaders of a K-12 private, non-profit, co-educational, bilingual school in Jordan; and how do they make sense of their firsthand experience with informal adult learning interactions as a mode of professional development in the workplace? ” The study provided a platform for five participants to share their reflections from their learning experiences during a critical transition time in their professional careers. Their personal recounts with regard to seeking support from colleagues, as well as them assuming the role as supporters for their colleagues identified that an individual’s attitude towards learning determines if, when, how frequently, with whom and to what extent she
Data from 11 Years of Molecular Typing Infectious Bronchitis Virus Field Isolates

Abstract In 1993, a new molecular typing method for infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) was introduced. This method uses reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the spike gene to obtain RFLP patterns that correlate with serotype. Using that test at the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center (PDRC, University of Georgia, Athens, GA), we have identified a total of 1523 IBV isolates in the past 11 yr. The data were obtained from clinical samples submitted to our laboratory from birds with clinical signs characteristic of IBV infection. The samples are primarily from the southeastern United States but are also from many other states as well as from outside the United States. Most of the isolations occurred during July, followed by May, April, November, October, and January. The fewest number of isolates identified on an annual basis was 20 in 2003. An unusually high number of isolations occurred in 1997 (318 isolations) and 1999 (246 isolations), which coincided with the GAV variant virus and GA98 variant virus outbreaks respectively. By far, the Ark-DPI strain was the most frequently identified type of IBV and ranged from 23% to 65% of total isolations per year. Ark-like isolates, defined as having a similar but unique RFLP pattern from the Ark-DPI vaccine strain were identified every year of the study except in 1996. In addition, new Ark-like isolates continued to emerge each year (except in the year 2000) beginning in 1997, reflecting the ability of that IBV type to undergo genetic drift. Eighty-two different variant viruses were identified although only two (GAV and GA98) became persistent and caused widespread disease. Some viruses tended to be geographically restricted to a given area (CAV in California and MX97-8147 in Mexico), whereas others were widespread (Ark-DPI, Conn, DE072, and Mass). The Florida, Gray, Holte, Iowa, and JMK types were not detected during the 11-yr period, and no foreign virus types were detected in the United States. These data show that IBV variant viruses are consistently circulating in commercial poultry and are capable of causing disease outbreaks. Our observations highlight the importance of constantly monitoring IBV as well as other coronaviruses like severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus that have the ability to change and emerge to cause disease in a susceptible host.
Preoperative predictors of distant recurrence in patients with clinical stage IA lung adenocarcinoma undergoing complete resection.

OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify patients with clinical Stage IA lung adenocarcinoma who are at high risk for distant recurrence to preoperatively organize treatment strategies. METHODS We analyzed correlations between preoperative clinical factors and the incidence of distant recurrence in 609 patients with clinical Stage IA lung adenocarcinoma that had been completely resected at four institutions. We excluded 24 patients with only locoregional recurrence and analyzed data from 585 patients. RESULTS Distant recurrence after complete resection was identified in 34 patients during a median follow-up period of 41.4 months. Multivariate Cox analysis identified solid tumor size on high-resolution computed tomography and the maximum standardized uptake value on F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography as independent predictors for distant recurrence-free survival. Receiver operating characteristic analyses showed that solid tumor size ≥1.7 cm and the maximum standardized uptake value ≥3.3 were optimal criteria with which to detect patients at high risk for distant recurrence. In fact, 3-year distant recurrence rates were higher in patients who met the criteria for high risk (n = 85) than those who did not (n = 500) (28.1% vs. 3.7%; P < 0.001). A similar trend was also found in patients with pathological node negative. CONCLUSIONS Solid tumor size on high-resolution computed tomography and the maximum standardized uptake value on F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography were clinical predictors of distant recurrence among patients with clinical Stage IA lung adenocarcinoma. Our findings might be useful to determine personalized therapeutic strategies including systemic therapy.
The prebiotic effects of biscuits containing partially hydrolysed guar gum and fructo-oligosaccharides – a human volunteer study

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that target selected groups of the human colonic microflora, thus having the ability to alter the composition towards a more ‘beneficial’ community, i.e. selectively increasing populations of bifidobacteria and/or lactobacilli. In the present study the prebiotic potential of partially hydrolysed guar gum (PHGG) and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) in a biscuit was assessed in human volunteers. Fluorescent in situ hybridization using oligonucleotide probes targeting Bacteroides spp. , Bifidobacterium spp. , Clostridium spp. and Lactobacillus–Enterococcus spp. were used for the bacteriology and total bacteria were enumerated using the fluorescent stain 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. Thirty-one volunteers consumed daily either three experimental biscuits (providing a total (g/d) of 6·6 FOS and 3·4 PHGG) or three placebo biscuits for two 21-d crossover periods. Bifidobacteria significantly increased in number on ingestion of the experimental biscuits compared with pre-treatment and placebo population levels. Bifidobacterial numbers returned to pretreatment levels within 7 d of the cessation of intake of experimental biscuits. A correlation was observed between the initial faecal bifidobacterial numbers and the magnitude of bifidogenesis, with volunteers who possessed low initial population levels of bifidobacteria experiencing the greatest increase in bifidogenesis. No changes were observed in the other bacterial groups monitored during the trial. Thus, the prebiotic nature of FOS and PHGG was maintained in a final food product as evidenced from the selective increase in bifidobacterial numbers.