Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Specialization of the Specialized: Electrophysiological Investigations in Professional Musicians

Abstract: Several event‐related brain potential (ERP) studies examining the processing of auditory stimuli by professional musicians compared with non‐musicians are reviewed. In the first study, musicians (string players) and non‐musicians attended to one of two streams of auditory stimuli characterized by a specific pitch. Musicians showed a prolonged ERP attention effect, the late portion of which was more frontally distributed than was that of the non‐musicians. In the second study, we investigated auditory spatial processing in conductors, pianists, and nonmusicians. Only the conductors showed behavioral selectivity of sound sources located in the peripheral auditory space. In addition, this group showed a negative/positive mismatch response for deviant stimuli occurring outside the focus of spatial attention. Finally, a group of drummers was compared to woodwind players and nonmusicians in a passive listening task. A real continuous drum sequence was manipulated so that some beats were anticipated by 80 ms. The drummers showed a mismatch response not only for the anticipated beats but also for the subsequent beats, suggesting a more complex representation of the temporal aspects stimulus sequence in this subject group. Together, these studies suggest qualitative differences of the neural correlates of auditory processing between musicians and non‐musicians. Moreover, these differences appear to be shaped by the specific training of a musician.
Regulation and deregulation of E2F1 in postmitotic neurons differentiated from embryonal carcinoma P19 cells.

Neurons withdraw from the cell cycle immediately after differentiation from their proliferative precursors. E2F1, a principal transcription factor that promotes cell cycle progression, must be silenced in neurons. We investigated the E2F1 system in postmitotic neurons derived from murine embryonal carcinoma P19 cells. P19 cells highly expressed the E2F1 gene during neural differentiation, and enriched neurons contained a high abundance of E2F1 mRNA. In contrast, postmitotic neurons possessed extremely low levels of E2F1 protein as assessed by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay and Western blotting. A recombinant E2F1 fusion protein was ubiquitinated in vitro when incubated with neuronal lysates. In addition, treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 increased the endogenous level of E2F1 protein in neurons. These results suggest that the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway contributes, at least in part, to the downregulation of E2F1 protein in postmitotic neurons. Adenovirus-mediated transfer of E2F1 cDNA into postmitotic neurons induced both bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and chromatin condensation, suggesting that deregulated E2F1 expression causes both aberrant S-phase entry and apoptosis of postmitotic neurons. Thus, downregulation of endogenous E2F1 protein in postmitotic neurons may be indispensable for the prevention of their reentry into the cell cycle.
Heuristic algorithms for the Maximum Colorful Subtree problem

In metabolomics, small molecules are structurally elucidated using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS); this resulted in the computational Maximum Colorful Subtree problem, which is NP-hard. Unfortunately, data from a single metabolite requires us to solve hundreds or thousands of instances of this problem; and in a single Liquid Chromatography MS/MS run, hundreds or thousands of metabolites are measured. Here, we comprehensively evaluate the performance of several heuristic algorithms for the problem against an exact algorithm. We put particular emphasis on whether a heuristic is able to rank candidates such that the correct solution is ranked highly. We propose this "intermediate" evaluation because evaluating the approximating quality of heuristics is misleading: Even a slightly suboptimal solution can be structurally very different from the true solution. On the other hand, we cannot structurally evaluate against the ground truth, as this is unknown. We find that particularly one of the heuristics consistently ranks the correct solution in a favorable position. Integrating the heuristic into the analysis pipeline results in a speedup of 10-fold or more, without sacrificing accuracy.
Reporting and interpretation of randomized controlled trials with statistically nonsignificant results for primary outcomes.

CONTEXT Previous studies indicate that the interpretation of trial results can be distorted by authors of published reports. OBJECTIVE To identify the nature and frequency of distorted presentation or "spin" (ie, specific reporting strategies, whatever their motive, to highlight that the experimental treatment is beneficial, despite a statistically nonsignificant difference for the primary outcome, or to distract the reader from statistically nonsignificant results) in published reports of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with statistically nonsignificant results for primary outcomes. DATA SOURCES March 2007 search of MEDLINE via PubMed using the Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategy to identify reports of RCTs published in December 2006. STUDY SELECTION Articles were included if they were parallel-group RCTs with a clearly identified primary outcome showing statistically nonsignificant results (ie, P > or = .05). DATA EXTRACTION Two readers appraised each selected article using a pretested, standardized data abstraction form developed in a pilot test. RESULTS From the 616 published reports of RCTs examined, 72 were eligible and appraised. The title was reported with spin in 13 articles (18.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 10.0%-28.9%). Spin was identified in the Results and Conclusions sections of the abstracts of 27 (37.5%; 95% CI, 26.4%-49.7%) and 42 (58.3%; 95% CI, 46.1%-69.8%) reports, respectively, with the conclusions of 17 (23.6%; 95% CI, 14.4%-35.1%) focusing only on treatment effectiveness. Spin was identified in the main-text Results, Discussion, and Conclusions sections of 21 (29.2%; 95% CI, 19.0%-41.1%), 31 (43.1%; 95% CI, 31.4%-55.3%), and 36 (50.0%; 95% CI, 38.0%-62.0%) reports, respectively. More than 40% of the reports had spin in at least 2 of these sections in the main text. CONCLUSION In this representative sample of RCTs published in 2006 with statistically nonsignificant primary outcomes, the reporting and interpretation of findings was frequently inconsistent with the results.
System design and network architecture for a millimeter-wave mobile broadband (MMB) system

Evolution beyond 4G (LTE and mobile WiMAX) is crucial in keeping up with the exponential growth of mobile data traffic. In this paper, we describe a millimeter-wave mobile broadband (MMB) system that utilizes frequencies in the 3–300 GHz spectrum as a candidate for next generation mobile communication. A few key concepts in MMB network architecture such as the MMB inter-BS backhaul link, MMB base station grid, and hybrid MMB + 4G system are described. We demonstrate the feasibility of using millimeter waves to provide Giga bps data rate at a distance up to 1 km for mobility up to 350 kmph. We also discuss a few aspects of MMB air interface design such as beamforming, multiple access, and adaptive modulation and coding.
Some kinetic characteristics of immobilized protomers and native dimers of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase: an examination of the enzyme mechanism.

Some kinetic characteristics of immobilized native mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase dimers and immobilized protomers, prepared by direct immobilization under conditions yielding complete dissociation without substantial unfolding, were compared to those of native soluble enzyme. Enzyme was covalently immobilized to derivatized porous glass by using a technique which permitted subsequent release of bound enzyme with 0.2 M hydroxylamine at room temperature and pH 7. Kinetic properties of enzyme released from both immobilized dimers and protomers were the same as those for native soluble enzyme, indicating that the immobilization reaction per se did not affect the structure. Both immobilized native dimers and the immobilized protomers exhibited activity with a pH dependence similar to that of native soluble enzyme. The effects of diffusional inhibition were demonstrated for both forms of the immobilized enzyme, especially for the NADH----NAD+ reaction direction. Intrinsic Michaelis constants of both immobilized forms, obtained by extrapolation of apparent values, were similar to those of the soluble enzyme. Furthermore, the effects of inhibitors and effectors with the immobilized forms were the same as those with native soluble enzyme. For example, substrate inhibition was observed with oxalacetate, the inhibitor hydroxymalonate was competitive with ketomalonate and uncompetitive with L-malate, and inhibition was observed with citrate in the NADH----NAD+ direction. Thus, immobilization did not appear to suppress the conformational equilibria of either protomers or dimers. More significantly, the kinetic characteristics of the immobilized protomer were indistinguishable from those of the dimer. Hence, a reciprocating mechanism involving subunit interactions cannot be invoked to explain the allosteric behavior of this dimeric enzyme. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The R‐type pyocin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is related to P2 phage, and the F‐type is related to lambda phage

Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces three types of bacteriocins: R‐, F‐ and S‐type pyocins. The S‐type pyocin is a colicin‐like protein, whereas the R‐type pyocin resembles a contractile but non‐flexible tail structure of bacteriophage, and the F‐type a flexible but non‐contractile one. As genetically related phages exist for each type, these pyocins have been thought to be variations of defective phage. In the present study, the nucleotide sequence of R2 pyocin genes, along with those for F2 pyocin, which are located downstream of the R2 gene cluster on the chromosome of P. aeruginosa PAO1, was analysed in order to elucidate the relationship between the pyocins and bacteriophages. The results clearly demonstrated that the R‐type pyocin is derived from a common ancestral origin with P2 phage and the F‐type from λ phage. This notion was supported by identification of a lysis gene cassette similar to those for bacteriophages. The gene organization of the R2 and F2 pyocin gene cluster, however, suggested that both pyocins are not simple defective phages, but are phage tails that have been evolutionarily specialized as bacteriocins. A systematic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of P. aeruginosa strains that produce various subtypes of R and F pyocins revealed that the genes for every subtype are located between trpE and trpG in the same or very similar gene organization as for R2 and F2 pyocins, but with alterations in genes that determine the receptor specificity.
Voltage‐dependent interaction of open‐channel blocking molecules with gating of NMDA receptors in rat cortical neurons.

1. The mechanisms by which four adamantane derivatives (IEM‐1857, ‐1592, ‐1460 and ‐1754) block the open NMDA‐activated channel were studied at membrane voltages (Vm) from ‐170 to +30 mV. The rate constants of channel block (k+) and of channel unblock (k‐) were measured from the fully resolvable flicker of single‐channel currents induced by each compound. 2. The k+ of each compound exhibited a similar exponential dependence on voltage over the Vm range studied. 3. The k‐ of IEM‐1857 and IEM‐1592 over the Vm range studied, and of IEM‐1754 and IEM‐1460 from ‐30 to ‐90 mV, exhibited similar exponential dependencies on voltage. However, the k‐ of IEM‐1754 and IEM‐1460 at Vm values more hyperpolarized than ‐90 mV were much more steeply voltage dependent, suggesting that at these Vm values the two drugs can occupy a deeper binding site. 4. Each of the drugs induced a concentration‐dependent prolongation of the mean burst length at ‐90 mV, suggesting that while blocking they can interfere with channel closure. 5. The prolongation of mean burst length induced by the largest drug (IEM‐1857) increased with hyperpolarization. The increase was consistent at each Vm with the predictions of the sequential scheme of block, suggesting that channel closure is prevented when IEM‐1857 is bound. The prolongation of burst length induced by the smallest drug (IEM‐1754) was less than predicted by the sequential scheme and the deviation increased with hyperpolarization. 6. The IEM‐1857 concentration‐dependence of number of blockages per unit open time had a slope equal to k+ at ‐150 mV. The IEM‐1754 concentration‐dependence of number of blockages per unit open time revealed a slope about two times less than k+ for this compound at ‐150 mV. 7. The mean patch current was not significantly altered by 3 microM IEM‐1857 at Vm values from ‐90 to ‐150 mV, as expected of a drug that prevents channel closure when blocking. Mean patch current significantly decreased with hyperpolarization beyond ‐90 mV in the presence of 1 microM IEM‐1754. 8. The data suggest that there are two blocking sites at different depths within the NMDA‐activated channel. Channel closure is prevented when any of the IEM drugs occupy the shallow blocking site. Channel closure is permitted during occupation of a deeper blocking site that can be reached only by the smaller IEM drugs at hyperpolarized voltages.
Contribution of Salt Bridges Toward Protein Thermostability

Abstract We present an extensive study of the structural factors suggested to be responsible for thermostability, in 18 nonredundant families of thermophilic and mesophilic proteins. Each of these 18 families consists of homologous thermophilic-mesophile pairs, with high resolution crystal structures for both pair-members available in the Protein Data Bank (PDB). We observe that both the thermophilic and the mesophilic proteins have similar hydrophobicities, oligomeric states, and hydrogen bonds. On the other hand, salt bridges increase in most of the thermophilic proteins. Yet, on the other hand, salt bridges have been proposed to destabilize protein structures. Hence, here we seek to understand why do salt bridges occur more frequently in thermophilic proteins. Investigating this problem, we focus on the glutamate dehydrogenase family. Computation of the electrostatic contribution of salt bridge energies by solving the Poisson equation in a continuum solvent medium, shows that the salt bridges in the glutamate dehydrogenase from the hyperthermophile Pyrococcus furiosus are highly stabilizing. In contrast, the salt bridges in the mesophilic Clostridium symbiosum glutamate dehydrogenase contribute only marginally to protein stability. The presence of a larger number of salt bridges cooperatively enhances their strength. Our results indicate that salt bridges and their networks may have an important role in rigidifying the protein structure at high temperatures. Formation of salt bridge networks may help in explaining the increased occurrence and stability of salt bridges in hyperthermophiles.
Conservation genetics of the European brown bear ‐ a study using excremental PCR of nuclear and mitochondrial sequences

In the Brenta area of northern Italy, a brown bear Ursus arctos population is rapidly going extinct. Restocking of the population is planned. In order to study the genetics of this highly vulnerable population with a minimum of stress to the animals we have developed a PCR‐based method that allows the study of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences from droppings collected in the field. This method is generally applicable to animals in the wild. Using excremental as well as hair samples, we show that the Brenta population is monomorphic for one mitochondrial lineage and that female as well as male bears exist in the area. In addition, 70 samples from other parts of Europe were studied. As others have previously reported, the mitochondrial gene pool of European bears is divided into two major clades, one with a western and the other with an eastern distribution. Whereas populations generally belong to either one or the other mitochondrial clade, the Romanian population contains both clades. The bears in the Brenta belong to the western clade. The implications for the management of brown bears in the Brenta and elsewhere in Europe are discussed.
Australian clinical trials of omeprazole in the management of reflux oesophagitis.

Two multicentre clinical trials of omeprazole in peptic oesophagitis were recently completed in Australia. In the first trial, omeprazole, 20 or 40 mg daily (n = 31), was compared with placebo (n = 32) in 63 patients. After 4 weeks, 81% of the omeprazole-treated patients were healed, as determined endoscopically, compared with 6% of the placebo-treated patients (p less than 0.0001). When the two doses of omeprazole were compared, there was a significant therapeutic advantage for the 40 mg dose at 4 weeks but by 8 weeks there was no significant difference between the two doses. This study included a 6-month surveillance phase in 107 endoscopically healed patients after cessation of omeprazole therapy. By 6 months, erosive or ulcerative oesophagitis had recurred in 82% of these patients. In the second trial, 165 patients with erosive or ulcerative oesophagitis were first healed with omeprazole, 20 mg daily. Of these patients, 159 were then enrolled in a maintenance therapy trial and randomized to three groups: ranitidine, 150 mg b.i. d. , omeprazole, 20 mg daily, or omeprazole weekend therapy (i.e. omeprazole, 20 mg daily, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only). Patients were followed for a maximum period of 12 months or until relapse. Neither ranitidine nor weekend therapy with omeprazole was effective in maintaining patients in remission. However, omeprazole, 20 mg daily, was a highly effective maintenance therapy with 89% of patients in remission after 12 months compared with only 25 and 32% for ranitidine and weekend omeprazole, respectively. All three regimens were well tolerated.
Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG Prime-Recombinant Adenovirus Boost Vaccination in Rhesus Monkeys Elicits Robust Polyfunctional Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Specific T-Cell Responses

ABSTRACT While mycobacteria have been proposed as vaccine vectors because of their persistence and safety, little has been done systematically to optimize their immunogenicity in nonhuman primates. We successfully generated recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG (rBCG) expressing simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Gag and Pol as multigenic, nonintegrating vectors, but rBCG-expressing SIV Env was unstable. A dose and route determination study in rhesus monkeys revealed that intramuscular administration of rBCG was associated with local reactogenicity, whereas intravenous and intradermal administration of 106 to 108 CFU of rBCG was well tolerated. After single or repeat rBCG inoculations, monkeys developed high-frequency gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunospot responses against BCG purified protein derivative. However, the same animals developed only modest SIV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses. Nevertheless, high-frequency SIV-specific cellular responses were observed in the rBCG-primed monkeys after boosting with recombinant adenovirus 5 (rAd5) expressing the SIV antigens. These cellular responses were of greater magnitude and more persistent than those generated after vaccination with rAd5 alone. The vaccine-elicited cellular responses were predominantly polyfunctional CD8+ T cells. These findings support the further exploration of mycobacteria as priming vaccine vectors.
Attitude and position determination scheme of lunar rovers basing on the celestial vectors observation

In lunar exploration mission, it is very critical to determine the attitude and position of the lunar rover with a high degree of accuracy both for exploration achievement of scientific goals and for safe navigation. In this paper we address the problem of determining the attitude and position on the moon surface and provide a celestial navigation algorithm for lunar rover autonomous navigation. A CCD sun sensor is used to provide lunar rovers a vector observation by sun imaging and sun vector is computed in the lunar navigation frame using ephemeris data. A CCD earth sensor is designed to provide another vector observation, the image processing and earth centroid computation based on nonlinear least square is described. Finally, the attitude estimate using q-method and the position propagation is presented, simulation experiments are conducted, that corroborate the presented algorithm.
Consequences of Collaborative Governance in CSR: An Empirical Illustration of Strategic Responses to Institutional Pluralism and Some Theoretical Implications

Collaborative governance (CG) is becoming the common currency of decision-making, able to surmount existing institutional constraints to effectively address challenges related to sustainability and social and environmental corporate behavior. CG approaches may however result in institutional complexity. As an illustration of CG in the domain of corporate social responsibility (CSR), the ISO 26000 standard is a legitimate point of reference for organizations worldwide. The standard represents a pluralistic institutional logic that resonates several tensions arising from the domain it tries to standardize, the nature of its development process, its interpretation of CSR and the type of standard it represents. This article aims to identify and examine strategic responses to ISO 26000 by various standards-related organizations (including national standardization institutes, certification organizations, and service providers) and to contribute to the understanding of strategic responses of organizations to pluralistic institutional logics that result from CG.
THE INNATE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO SECONDARY PERITONITIS

ABSTRACT Secondary peritonitis continues to cause high morbidity and mortality despite improvements in medical and surgical therapy. This review combines data from published literature, focusing on molecular patterns of inflammation in pathophysiology and prognosis during peritonitis. Orchestration of the innate immune response is essential. To clear the microbial infection, activation and attraction of leukocytes are essential and beneficial, just like the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Exaggeration of these inflammatory systems leads to tissue damage and organ failure. Nonsurvivors have increased proinflammation, complement activation, coagulation, and chemotaxis. In these patients, anti-inflammatory systems are decreased in blood and lungs, whereas the abdominal compartment shows decreased neutrophil activation and decreased or stationary chemokine and cytokine levels. A later down-regulation of proinflammatory mediators with concomitant overexpression of anti-inflammatory mediators leads to immunoparalysis and failure to clear residual bacterial load, resulting in the occurrence of superimposed infections. Thus, in patients with adverse outcome, the inflammatory reaction is no longer contained within the abdomen, and the inflammatory response has shifted to other compartments. For the understanding of the host response to secondary peritonitis, it is essential to realize that the defense systems presumably are expressed differently and, in part, autonomously in different compartments.