The mean response bias for nonsymbolic and symbolic arithmetic problems.

<p>Observed data (3a, from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0031180#pone.0031180-Knops1" target="_blank">[5]</a>) and simulated data (3b). This bias reflects the average difference between the chosen result and the correct value, both represented on a log scale (following <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0031180#pone.0031180-Knops1" target="_blank">[5]</a>). A negative bias indicates underestimation, and a positive bias indicates overestimation.</p

Schematic diagram and operation of the Spatial Arithmetic Model (SAM).

<p>(a). The two operands of an arithmetic problem are mapped onto two spatial input layers (dotted arrows) by a power compression function. The basis function layer combines these two inputs and sends activation to the spatial output layer. Then the activation from the spatial output layer is transformed to the corresponding arithmetic result (dotted arrow). In addition, spatial representations are sent to a movement detection layer (dashed arrows). (b). Addition is implemented by spatial vector addition on a compressed mapping between number and space, leading to overestimation; subtraction is implemented by spatial vector subtraction on a compressed mapping between number and space, leading to underestimation.</p

Post-Translational Modification of Bionanoparticles as a Modular Platform for Biosensor Assembly

Context driven biosensor assembly with modular targeting and detection moieties is gaining significant attentions. Although protein-based nanoparticles have emerged as an excellent platform for biosensor assembly, current strategies of decorating bionanoparticles with targeting and detection moieties often suffer from unfavorable spacing and orientation as well as bionanoparticle aggregation. Herein, we report a highly modular post-translational modification approach for biosensor assembly based on sortase A-mediated ligation. This approach enables the simultaneous modifications of the Bacillus stearothermophilus E2 nanoparticles with different functional moieties for antibody, enzyme, DNA aptamer, and dye decoration. The resulting easy-purification platform offers a high degree of targeting and detection modularity with signal amplification. This flexibility is demonstrated for the detection of both immobilized antigens and cancer cells

Lewis Acid Assisted Diels–Alder Reaction with Regio- and Stereoselectivity: <i>Anti</i>-1,4-Adducts with Rigid Scaffolds and Their Application in Explosives Sensing

Unusual <i>anti</i>-1,4-adducts of anthracene derivatives and <i>anti</i>-adducts of inert arenes with rigid scaffolds have been obtained via AlCl₃-assisted Diels–Alder reaction in good to excellent yields under mild conditions. Further derivation of 1,4-adducts gave π-conjugated polymers which could act as sensors of explosive species. This highly efficient synthesis method provides versatile approaches to solid-state emissive π-conjugated polymers

Lewis Acid Assisted Diels–Alder Reaction with Regio- and Stereoselectivity: <i>Anti</i>-1,4-Adducts with Rigid Scaffolds and Their Application in Explosives Sensing

Unusual <i>anti</i>-1,4-adducts of anthracene derivatives and <i>anti</i>-adducts of inert arenes with rigid scaffolds have been obtained via AlCl₃-assisted Diels–Alder reaction in good to excellent yields under mild conditions. Further derivation of 1,4-adducts gave π-conjugated polymers which could act as sensors of explosive species. This highly efficient synthesis method provides versatile approaches to solid-state emissive π-conjugated polymers

Lewis Acid Assisted Diels–Alder Reaction with Regio- and Stereoselectivity: <i>Anti</i>-1,4-Adducts with Rigid Scaffolds and Their Application in Explosives Sensing

Unusual <i>anti</i>-1,4-adducts of anthracene derivatives and <i>anti</i>-adducts of inert arenes with rigid scaffolds have been obtained via AlCl₃-assisted Diels–Alder reaction in good to excellent yields under mild conditions. Further derivation of 1,4-adducts gave π-conjugated polymers which could act as sensors of explosive species. This highly efficient synthesis method provides versatile approaches to solid-state emissive π-conjugated polymers

Insulin Therapy and Risk of Prostate Cancer: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

<div><p>Background</p><p>Previous observational studies have shown that insulin therapy may modify the risk of prostate cancer (PCa). However, these studies yielded controversial results. Thus, we performed this meta-analysis to determine whether insulin use was associated with PCa risk in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).</p> <p>Method</p><p>A literature search was carried out in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library Central database between January 1966 and January 2013. Fixed-effect and random-effect models were used to estimate pooled relative risks (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were also performed. </p> <p>Result</p><p>A total of 11 (10 cohorts, and one case–control) studies published between 2007 and 2013 were included in the meta-analysis, representing data for 205,523 male subjects and 7,053 PCa cases. There were five studies investigating the influence of insulin and other glucose-lowering agents on the risk of PCa , and six studies investigating the influence of glargine and non-glargine insulin. Insulin use was not associated with PCa risk when compared with other glucose-lowering agents (RR=0.89, 95% CI, 0.72-1.09). Use of insulin glargine did not contribute to susceptibility to PCa as compared with use of non-glargine insulin (RR=1.26, 95% CI, 0.86-1.84). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of present results, since no individual study affected the pooled result significantly. </p> <p>Conclusions</p><p>Our results suggest that, there may be no significant association between insulin use and risk of PCa as compared with other glucose-lowering agents in patients with DM, and there was no substantial evidence for increase risk of PCa among insulin glargine users as compared to non-glargine insulin users. Further studies are warranted to validate these conclusions.</p> </div

Clinical analgesic efficacy of dexamethasone as a local anesthetic adjuvant for transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block: A meta-analysis

<div><p>Background</p><p>Perineural dexamethasone has been shown to prolong the duration of local anesthetic (LA) effect in regional anesthesia; however, the use of perineural dexamethasone as an adjuvant to to the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block remains controversial. This meta-analysis sought to assess the efficacy of dexamethasone in prolonging the TAP block and enhancing recovery after abdominal surgery.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We identified and analyzed 9 RCTs published on or before September 30, 2017, regardless of the original language, after searching the following 6 bibliographic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, Springer, Ovid, and the Cochrane Library. databases. These studies compared the effects of perineural dexamethasone mixed with local anesthetic versus local anesthetic alone in the TAP block. The Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias Tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality of each RCT. The primary outcomes were the time until the first request for postoperative analgesics and the analog pain scores at 2, 6, 12, and 24 h after surgery. The secondary outcomes were the analgesic consumption and the incidence of nausea and vomiting on the first day after surgery. We used Trial Sequential Analysis (TSA) to control for random errors.</p><p>Results</p><p>Perineural dexamethasone prolonged the duration of LA effect in the TAP block [mean difference (MD): 2.98 h; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.19 to 3.78] and reduced analog pain scores at 2 h [MD: -1.15; 95% CI: -2.14 to -0.16], 6 h [MD: -0.97; 95% CI: -1.51 to -0.44], and 12 h [MD: -0.93; 95% CI: -1.14 to -0.72] postoperatively. Furthermore, the use of perineural dexamethasone was associated with less analgesic consumption [standard mean difference: -1.29; 95% CI: -1.88 to -0.70] and a lower incidence of nausea and vomiting [odds ratio: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.49] on the first day after surgery.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Dexamethasone prolongs the LA effect when used as an adjuvant in the TAP block and improves the analgesic effects of the block.</p></div

Current <i>i</i>_<i>q</i> waveform at L₀ = L.

(a) Traditional model current iq; (b) Improved model current iq.</p

Lewis Acid Assisted Diels–Alder Reaction with Regio- and Stereoselectivity: <i>Anti</i>-1,4-Adducts with Rigid Scaffolds and Their Application in Explosives Sensing

Unusual <i>anti</i>-1,4-adducts of anthracene derivatives and <i>anti</i>-adducts of inert arenes with rigid scaffolds have been obtained via AlCl₃-assisted Diels–Alder reaction in good to excellent yields under mild conditions. Further derivation of 1,4-adducts gave π-conjugated polymers which could act as sensors of explosive species. This highly efficient synthesis method provides versatile approaches to solid-state emissive π-conjugated polymers