Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute neuropsychological effects of methylphenidate in stimulant drug-naïve boys with ADHD II--broader executive and non-executive domains.

BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence supports methylphenidate-induced enhancement of neuropsychological functioning in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study was designed to investigate the acute effects of the psychostimulant drug, methylphenidate (MPH), on neuropsychological performance in stimulant naïve boys with ADHD. METHODS Seventy-three drug-naïve boys (age 7-15) with ADHD (combined type) completed neuropsychological tasks from the CANTAB battery under randomised, placebo controlled, double-blind conditions following an acute challenge with either placebo (n = 24), . 3 (n = 25) or . 6 (n = 24) mg/kg oral MPH. RESULTS MPH did not impair performance on any task. MPH (.6 mg/kg) lengthened response latencies on a task of Spatial Recognition, shortened response times on a Reaction Time task and restored performance on a Delayed Matching to Sample visual, non-working memory task. Contrary to predictions, MPH did not enhance performance on tasks with a prominent executive component, including Go/NoGo, Spatial Working Memory, Stockings of Cambridge and Attentional Set shifting tasks. CONCLUSIONS Acute administration of MPH to drug-naïve boys with ADHD did not impair neuropsychological performance. Acute MPH enhanced performance on some aspects of non-executive functioning. MPH-induced slowing of responding on a relatively complex Spatial Recognition memory task and quickened responding on a reaction time task requiring less cognitive resources suggests that MPH may act by improving self-regulatory ability. MPH may not exert its effects on neuropsychological functioning by enhancing executive processes.
Smooth muscle sparklet Ca(v) channels defined: 1.2 is the number.

Systemic blood pressure and tissue blood flow are regulated by the contractile status of smooth muscle cells located within the wall of small arteries and arterioles. One important signal that regulates arterial smooth muscle cell contractility is the intracellular calcium ion (Ca2+) concentration. Although Ca2+ was once considered to act only as a global intracellular signaling element, research performed over the past decade has revealed Ca2+ to act in a far more dynamic and versatile manner than previously thought possible.
When does the inner-face advantage in familiar face recognition arise and why?

Known faces are recognized better from their inner than outer parts (Ellis, Shepherd, & Davies, 1979). This has previously been demonstrated with cropped images. Using a blurring technique to defocus different parts of the face image systematically, we confirmed the effect for adults viewing famous faces (Experiment1). Children aged 5–13 years showed an outer-face advantage (Experiments 2 and 3). The inner-face advantage was found only at 15 years (Experiment 3). Experiment 4 showed an outer-face advantage in familiar face recognition when the viewers were adolescents with a mental age of under 10 years. The emergence of the inner-face advantage is a developmental rather than a maturational phenomenon. We discuss the implications of the failure to show a qualitatively adult-like pattern of face recognition before adolescence in relation to theories and models of face recognition.
The noncoherent least squares phase difference sequence estimator for continuous phase modulation

The noncoherent least squares phase difference sequence estimator (LSPDSE) is presented for continuous phase modulation in an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel. The applications to Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK) and binary continuous phase frequency shift keying (2CPFSK) are considered. >
Oxygenic photosynthesis without galactolipids

Significance Cyanobacteria, as well as chloroplasts of plants and algae, are the sites of photosynthesis that produces oxygen. Photosynthetic membranes, also known as thylakoid membranes, in these organisms contain galactolipids, without exception, as the major components. Galactolipids are thus believed to be important for photosynthesis or at least for the formation of the flattened shape of thylakoid membranes. The biosynthetic pathway of galactolipids is definitely different in plants and cyanobacteria. Here we identified the final piece of the long-sought gene for the galactolipid synthesis in cyanobacteria, namely monoglucosyldiacylglycerol epimerase, which converts glucolipid to galactolipid. Cyanobacterial mutants in which this gene is disrupted still formed authentic thylakoid membranes without galactolipids and kept the ability to grow photosynthetically, indicating that galactolipids are not essential for either oxygenic photosynthesis or the development of the thylakoid membrane structure. The thylakoid membranes of oxygenic photosynthetic organisms are dominated by the galactolipids monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG). In cyanobacteria, MGDG is synthesized via monoglucosyldiacylglycerol (GlcDG). However, the putative epimerase involved in the conversion of GlcDG to MGDG has not been identified. Here we report the identification of the gene for the glucolipid epimerase (mgdE) by comparative genomic analysis. Knockout mutants of mgdE in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 lacked both MGDG and DGDG and accumulated GlcDG. The mutants did possess thylakoid membranes and showed normal maximal photosynthetic activity, albeit with reduced utilization of light energy. These results cast doubt on the long-standing belief that oxygenic photosynthesis is absolutely dependent on galactolipids.
Adaptive nonlinear design plant uncertainty cancellation for a multirotor

This paper presents the design of an adaptive augmentation for cascaded outer-loop path and inner-loop acceleration tracking controllers. The adaptive augmentation is based on a nonlinear design plant and uses model reference adaptive control (MRAC). The outer-loop position controller is a nonlinear model predictive controller (NMPC) with velocity adjustment which incorporates the states and control input constraints. Acceleration tracking is achieved by using nonlinear dynamic inversion with dynamic thrust extension. To increase robustness to uncertainties, an adaptive augmentation scheme is proposed. In contrast to classical MRAC, where the augmentation drives the system towards a desired closed-loop behavior, the plant dynamics are driven towards a nonlinear design plant. This approach decouples baseline control and design of adaptation. Simulation results are shown to illustrate the robustness of the adaptive augmentation.
Role of extracellular calcium in in vitro uptake and intraphagocytic location of macrolides

We compared the uptakes and intracellular locations of four 14-membered-ring macrolides (roxithromycin, dirithromycin, erythromycin, and erythromycylamine) in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) in vitro. Intracellular location was assessed by cell fractionation and uptake kinetics in cytoplasts (granule-poor PMNs). Trapping of dirithromycin within PMN granules (up to 80% at 30 min) was significantly more marked than the intracellular trapping of the other drugs (erythromycylamine, 45% +/- 5.1%; erythromycin, 42% +/- 3.7%; roxithromycin, 35% +/- 3.0%). A new finding was that, in the absence of extracellular calcium, the uptakes of all of the macrolides by PMNs and cytoplasts were significantly impaired, by about 50% (PMN) and 90% (cytoplasts). Furthermore, inorganic Ca2+ channel blockers inhibited macrolide uptake in a concentration-dependent manner, with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 1.6 to 2.0 mM and 29 to 35 microM, respectively, for Ni2+ and La3+. The intracellular distributions of the drugs were unchanged in the presence of Ni2+ and La3+ and in Ca(2+)-free medium supplemented with ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid. The organic Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine had no effect on macrolide uptake, whereas verapamil inhibited it in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. These data show the importance of extracellular Ca2+ in macrolide uptake by phagocytes and suggest a link with Ca2+ channels or a Ca2+ channel-operated mechanism.
Variational methods for compressive sampling

We consider two natural extensions of the standard (lower case script "L")1 minimization framework for compressive sampling. The two methods, one based on penalizing second-order derivatives and one based on the redundant wavelet transform, can also be viewed as variational methods which extend the basic total-variation recovery program. A numerical example illustrates that these methods tend to produce smoother images than the standard recovery programs.
Trauma, Genes, and the Neurobiology of Personality Disorders

Abstract: A model for personality dysfunction posits an interaction between inherited susceptibility and environmental factors such as childhood trauma. Core biological vulnerabilities in personality include dimensions of affective instability, impulsive aggression, and cognition/perceptual domains. For the dimension of impulsive aggression, often seen in borderline personality disorder (BPD), the underlying neurobiology involves deficits in central serotonin function and alterations in specific brain regions in the cingulate and the medial and orbital prefrontal cortex. The role of trauma in the development of personality disorder and especially for BPD remains unclear. Although recent studies suggest that BPD is not a trauma‐spectrum disorder and that it is biologically distinct from posttraumatic stress disorder, high rates of childhood abuse and neglect do exist for individuals with personality dysfunction. Personality symptom clusters seem to be unrelated to specific abuses, but they may relate to more enduring aspects of interpersonal and family environments in childhood. Whereas twin and family studies indicate a partially heritable basis for impulsive aggression, studies of serotonin‐related genes to date suggest only modest contributions to behavior. Gene‐environment interactions involving childhood maltreatment are demonstrated in recent studies on antisocial behaviors and aggressive rhesus monkeys and highlight the need for further research in this important area.
Effects of pectin on fermentation characteristics, carbohydrate utilization, and microbial community composition in the gastrointestinal tract of weaning pigs

SCOPE We aimed to investigate the effects of three different soluble pectins on the digestion of other consumed carbohydrates, and the consequent alterations of microbiota composition and SCFA levels in the intestine of pigs. METHODS AND RESULTS Piglets were fed a low-methyl esterified pectin enriched diet (LMP), a high-methyl esterified pectin enriched diet (HMP), a hydrothermal treated soybean meal enriched diet (aSBM) or a control diet (CONT). LMP significantly decreased the ileal digestibility of starch resulting in more starch fermentation in the proximal colon. In the ileum, low-methyl esterified pectin present was more efficiently fermented by the microbiota than high-methyl esterified pectin present which was mainly fermented by the microbiota in the proximal colon. Treated soybean meal was mainly fermented in the proximal colon and shifted the fermentation of cereal dietary fiber to more distal parts, resulting in high SCFA levels in the mid colon. LMP, HMP, and aSBM decreased the relative abundance of the genus Lactobacillus and increased that of Prevotella in the colon. CONCLUSION The LMP, HMP, and aSBM, differently affected the digestion processes compared to the control diet and shaped the colonic microbiota from a Lactobacillus-dominating flora to a Prevotella-dominating community, with potential health-promoting effects.
Safety and success of precut biliary sphincterotomy: Is it linked to experience or expertise?

AIM To determine the rates of success and complications of precut biliary sphincterotomy (PBS) based on prior experience and to compare the complication rates between PBS and standard endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES). METHODS A retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected non-randomized data at an academic tertiary referral center. The study included all patients in an eight-year period who underwent PBS and ES by a single endoscopist who had no formal training in PBS. The main outcome measures of the study were success and complications of PBS with a comparison to complications of ES. RESULTS A total of 2939 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies (ERCPs) were performed during the study period, including 818 (28%) ES and 150 (5%) PBS procedures. Selective biliary cannulation via PBS was successful at the first attempt in 75% of the patients. Cannulation was achieved in an additional 13% of the patients at a subsequent attempt (total 87%). Complication rate from PBS was 45% higher than ES, but did not differ significantly [7% (10/50) vs 5% (38/818), P = 0.29]. None of the complications from PBS was severe. A significant trend towards increasing success existed with regard to the endoscopistos first attempt at precut (P = 0.0393, Cochran-Armitage exact test for trend, Z = -1.7588). CONCLUSION Despite the lack of specific training in this technique, PBS was performed with a high success rate and a complication rate similar to or less than reports from other experienced centers. These results suggest that endoscopic experience and perhaps innate endoscopic skill may play an important role in the outcome of this procedure.
IMPACT OF CURRENT DIABETES THERAPIES ON MACROVASCULAR

Managing diabetes and cardiovascular disease, in addition to improving macrovascular outcomes in people with diabetes, requires attention to the multiple risk factors that contribute to both diseases. Numerous studies have shown that controlling lipids, blood pressure, glucose, and other cardiovascular risk factors associated with insulin resistance reduce the risk for cardiovascular events and death from cardiovascular causes in people with diabetes. This article reviews some of the studies that have demonstrated the cardiovascular benefits of controlling lipids, blood pressure, and glucose, and explains how and why insulin resistance is deleterious to the cardiovascular system. It also discusses interventions to improve insulin sensitivity, with special attention to the benefits of metformin and the glitazones and the importance of redistributing adipose tissue from the viscera to subcutaneous areas outside the abdominal cavity. Recent and ongoing studies in diabetes and prediabetes are also addressed. (Adv Stud Med. 2006;6(10A):S926-S932) Abetter understanding of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and the strong link b e t ween them has changed the approach to the management of both diseases. Instead of focusing primarily on glucose control in diabetes or relieving anginal symptoms in cardiovascular disease, today’s approach is to manage the multiple risk factors that contribute to both diseases, particularly those risk factors that are shared by both and/or worsen the prognosis with regard to macrovascular complications. The underlying premise for this approach is that diabetes itself is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Therefore, earlier detection and appropriate management of diabetes and prediabetes should reduce the risk for cardiovascular events and death from cardiovascular causes. Indeed, numerous studies have shown that controlling lipids, blood pressure, glucose, and other cardiovascular risk factors associated with insulin resistance improves outcomes with regard to macrovascular complications in people with diabetes.
Multiple Axis‐Aligned Filters for Rendering of Combined Distribution Effects

Distribution effects such as diffuse global illumination, soft shadows and depth of field, are most accurately rendered using Monte Carlo ray or path tracing. However, physically accurate algorithms can take hours to converge to a noise‐free image. A recent body of work has begun to bridge this gap, showing that both individual and multiple effects can be achieved accurately and efficiently. These methods use sparse sampling, GPU raytracers, and adaptive filtering for reconstruction. They are based on a Fourier analysis, which models distribution effects as a wedge in the frequency domain. The wedge can be approximated as a single large axis‐aligned filter, which is fast but retains a large area outside the wedge, and therefore requires a higher sampling rate; or a tighter sheared filter, which is slow to compute. The state‐of‐the‐art fast sheared filtering method combines low sampling rate and efficient filtering, but has been demonstrated for individual distribution effects only, and is limited by high‐dimensional data storage and processing.
Modulation of p47PHOX activity by site-specific phosphorylation: Akt-dependent activation of the NADPH oxidase

The leukocyte NADPH oxidase catalyzes the reduction of oxygen to O\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document} \begin{equation*}{\mathrm{_{2}^{-}}}\end{equation*}\end{document} at the expense of NADPH. Extensive phosphorylation of the oxidase subunit p47PHOX occurs during the activation of the enzyme in intact cells. p47PHOX carrying certain serine-to-alanine mutations fails to support NADPH oxidase activity in intact cells, suggesting that the phosphorylation of specific serines on p47PHOX is required for the activation of the oxidase. Earlier studies with both intact cells and a kinase-dependent, cell-free system have suggested that protein kinase C can phosphorylate those serines of p47PHOX whose phosphorylation is necessary for its activity. Work with inhibitors suggested that a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent pathway also can activate the oxidase. Phosphorylation of p47PHOX by Akt (protein kinase B), whose activation depends on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, could be the final step in such a pathway. We now find that Akt activates the oxidase in vitro by phosphorylating serines S304 and S328 of p47PHOX. These results suggest that Akt could participate in the activation of the leukocyte NADPH oxidase.
Japanese Listeners' Perceptions of Phonotactic Violations

The canonical form for Japanese words is (Consonant)Vowel(Consonant) Vowel~. However, a regular process of high vowel devoicing between voiceless consonants and word-finally after voiceless consonants results in consonant clusters and word-final consonants, apparent violations of that phonotactic pattern. We investigated Japanese adults' perceptions of these violations, asking them to rate both canonical and noncanonical nonsense forms on a scale of goodness. Results indicate that adults show evidence of being guided in making their judgments by an implicit understanding of both typical canonical forms and appropriate contexts for vowel devoicing.
A prototype system for observing the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation – scientific basis, measurement and risk mitigation strategies, and first results

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) carries up to one quarter of the global northward heat transport in the Subtropical North Atlantic. A system monitoring the strength of the MOC volume transport has been operating since April 2004. The core of this system is an array of moored sensors measuring density, bottom pressure and ocean currents. A strategy to mitigate risks of possible partial failures of the array is presented, relying on backup and complementary measurements. The MOC is decomposed into five components, making use of the continuous moored observations, and of cable measurements across the Straits of Florida, and wind stress data. The components compensate for each other, indicating that the system is working reliably. The year-long average strength of the MOC is 18.7±5.6 Sv, with wind-driven and density-inferred transports contributing equally to the variability. Numerical simulations suggest that the surprisingly fast density changes at the western boundary are partially linked to westward propagating planetary waves
Frequency of generalized transducing phages in natural isolates of the Salmonella typhimurium complex

From 85 natural isolates of the Salmonella typhimurium complex, including the Salmonella reference collection A (P. Beltran, S. A. Plock, N. H. Smith, T. S. Whittam, D. C. Old, and R. K. Selander, J. Gen. Microbiol. 137:601-606, 1991), 65 strains (76.5%) released 71 different temperate phages. Forty-three (93.5%) of 46 tested phages were able to transduce the chromosomal markers his+ and trp+ and the cloning vector pBR325.
Lever Insertion as a Salient Stimulus Promoting Insensitivity to Outcome Devaluation

Flexible and efficient decision-making in complex environments can be achieved through constant interactions between the goal-directed and habitual systems. While goal-directed behavior is considered dependent upon Response-Outcome (R-O) associations, habits instead rely on Stimulus-Response (S-R) associations. However, the stimuli that support the S-R association underlying habitual responding in typical instrumental procedures are poorly defined. To resolve this issue, we designed a discrete-trials procedure, in which rats must wait for lever insertion and complete a sequence of five lever presses to obtain a reward (20% sucrose or grain-based pellets). Lever insertion thus constituted an audio-visual stimulus signaling the opportunity for reward. Using sensory-specific satiety-induced devaluation, we found that rats trained with grain-based pellets remained sensitive to outcome devaluation over the course of training with this procedure whereas rats trained with a solution of 20% sucrose rapidly developed habit, and that insensitivity to outcome devaluation in rats trained with sucrose did not result from a bias in general satiety. Importantly, although rats trained with pellets were sensitive to satiety-induced devaluation, their performance was not affected by degradation of instrumental contingency and devaluation by conditioned taste aversion (CTA), suggesting that these rats may also have developed habitual responding. To test whether the discrete-trials procedure biases subjects towards habitual responding, we compared discrete-trials to free-running instrumental responding, and found that rats trained with sucrose in a fixed-ratio 5 (FR5) procedure with continuous presentation of the lever were goal-directed. Together, these results demonstrate that discrete presentations of a stimulus predictive of reward availability promoted the formation of S-R habit in rats trained with liquid sucrose. Further research is necessary to explain inconsistencies in sensitivity to outcome devaluation when rats are trained with grain-based pellets.