Efficient and cost-effective bacterial mRNA sequencing from low input samples through ribosomal RNA depletion.

Background: RNA sequencing is a powerful approach to quantify the genome-wide distribution of mRNA molecules in a population to gain deeper understanding of cellular functions and phenotypes. However, unlike eukaryotic cells, mRNA sequencing of bacterial samples is more challenging due to the absence of a poly-A tail that typically enables efficient capture and enrichment of mRNA from the abundant rRNA molecules in a cell. Moreover, bacterial cells frequently contain 100-fold lower quantities of RNA compared to mammalian cells, which further complicates mRNA sequencing from non-cultivable and non-model bacterial species.

Learning to discriminate frequency modulation rate can benefit and worsen pitch acuity.

Participants were trained to discriminate frequency modulation rates (FM-rate training) or Gabor patch orientations (visual training) in a same-different task for two different training lengths. Test discriminations involved trains of FM sweeps with identical modulation rates, but different frequencies. FM-rate training enhanced test accuracy (relative to visual) when sweep trains contained frequencies similar to training.

Temporal dynamics in auditory perceptual learning: impact of sequencing and incidental learning.

Training can improve perceptual sensitivities. We examined whether the temporal dynamics and the incidental versus intentional nature of training are important. Within the context of a birdsong rate discrimination task, we examined whether the sequencing of pretesting exposure to the stimuli mattered.

Evoked-potential changes following discrimination learning involving complex sounds.

Objective: Perceptual sensitivities are malleable via learning, even in adults. We trained adults to discriminate complex sounds (periodic, frequency-modulated sweep trains) using two different training procedures, and used psychoacoustic tests and evoked potential measures (the N1-P2 complex) to assess changes in both perceptual and neural sensitivities.

Methods: Training took place either on a single day, or daily across eight days, and involved discrimination of pairs of stimuli using a single-interval, forced-choice task.

Multidimensional processing of dynamic sounds: more than meets the ear.

Strong cross-modal interactions exist between visual and auditory processing. The relative contributions of perceptual versus decision-related processes to such interactions are only beginning to be understood. We used methodological and statistical approaches to control for potential decision-related contributions such as response interference, decisional criterion shift, and strategy selection.

Emotional modulation of the late positive potential (LPP) generalizes to Chinese individuals.

Late positive potential (LPP) is an event-related potential (ERP) component involved in emotional processing that has been consistently observed in Caucasians. Previous studies have demonstrated that emotionally arousing pictures typically elicit larger LPPs than neutral pictures. In the present study, we examined whether the emotional content effect on LPPs generalizes to Chinese individuals.

The effect of prolonged ED stay on outcome in patients with necrotizing fasciitis.

Objective: Overcrowding in hospitals, especially in EDs, is a serious problem in the United States, Europe, and Taiwan. However, the association between prolonged ED boarding stay and mortality in patients with necrotizing fasciitis remains underinvestigated.

Methods: This was a retrospective study.

The easy-to-hard effect in human (Homo sapiens) and rat (Rattus norvegicus) auditory identification.

The authors examined whether progressively training humans and rats to perform a difficult auditory identification task led to larger improvements than extensive training with highly similar sounds (the easy-to-hard effect). Practice improved humans' ability to distinguish sounds regardless of the training regimen. However, progressively trained subjects were more accurate and showed more generalization, despite significantly less training with the stimuli that were the most difficult to distinguish.