Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of mental imagery and attempted movements in patients with disorders of consciousness using EEG

Further development of an EEG based communication device for patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) could benefit from addressing the following gaps in knowledge—first, an evaluation of different types of motor imagery; second, an evaluation of passive feet movement as a mean of an initial classifier setup; and third, rapid delivery of biased feedback. To that end we investigated whether complex and/or familiar mental imagery, passive, and attempted feet movement can be reliably detected in patients with DoC using EEG recordings, aiming to provide them with a means of communication. Six patients in a minimally conscious state (MCS) took part in this study. The patients were verbally instructed to perform different mental imagery tasks (sport, navigation), as well as attempted feet movements, to induce distinctive event-related (de)synchronization (ERD/S) patterns in the EEG. Offline classification accuracies above chance level were reached in all three tasks (i.e., attempted feet, sport, and navigation), with motor tasks yielding significant (p < 0.05) results more often than navigation (sport: 10 out of 18 sessions; attempted feet: 7 out of 14 sessions; navigation: 4 out of 12 sessions). The passive feet movements, evaluated in one patient, yielded mixed results: whereas time-frequency analysis revealed task-related EEG changes over neurophysiological plausible cortical areas, the classification results were not significant enough (p < 0.05) to setup an initial classifier for the detection of attempted movements. Concluding, the results presented in this study are consistent with the current state of the art in similar studies, to which we contributed by comparing different types of mental tasks, notably complex motor imagery and attempted feet movements, within patients. Furthermore, we explored new venues, such as an evaluation of passive feet movement as a mean of an initial classifier setup, and rapid delivery of biased feedback.
Long-term results of intravitreal bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularisation in pathological myopia

Aim To evaluate the long-term results and prognostic factors of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) for myopic choroidal neovascularisation (mCNV). Methods Thirty-two eyes of 30 patients with mCNV were included in a prospective case series. Treatment consisted of three monthly 1.25 mg IVB injections. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and CNV area were compared before and after treatment. Prognostic factors included in the regression analyses were age, axial length, baseline BCVA, pretreatment CNV area, CNV location and peripapillary atrophy area. Results Results were evaluated at 2 years for 32 eyes and at 3 years for 27 eyes. Mean (±SD) baseline BCVA had improved significantly from 30.1 (±15.6) letters to 45.4 (±13.0) letters at 3 years (p<0.0001), with a better outcome in eyes with juxtafoveal CNV (40.4 ± 13.5 vs. 54.0 ± 5.8, p=0.001). Baseline BCVA correlated positively with final BCVA (β= 0.560, p=0.001), while age showed a negative correlation (β= −0.399, p=0.01). CNV area decreased from 0.63 (±0.71) mm2 at baseline to 0.40 (±0.57) mm2 at 3 years (p<0.0001). Peripapillary atrophy area was the only significant contributing determinant for re-treatment (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.42, p=0.04). Conclusions A regimen of three monthly IVB injections yielded effective and sustained results in the treatment of mCNV at 3 years of follow-up. Initial BCVA and age were the factors that correlated independently with BCVA outcome.
Will Isomalto-Oligosaccharides, a Well-Established Functional Food in Asia, Break through the European and American Market? The Status of Knowledge on these Prebiotics

This critical review article presents the current state of knowledge on isomalto-oligosaccharides, some well known functional oligosaccharides in Asia, to evaluate their potential as emergent prebiotics in the American and European functional food market. It includes first a unique inventory of the different families of compounds which have been considered as IMOs and their specific structure. A description has been given of the different production methods including the involved enzymes and their specific activities, the substrates, and the types of IMOs produced. Considering the structural complexity of IMO products, specific characterization methods are described, as well as purification methods which enable the body to get rid of digestible oligosaccharides. Finally, an extensive review of their techno-functional and nutritional properties enables placing IMOs inside the growing prebiotic market. This review is of particular interest considering that IMO commercialization in America and Europe is a topical subject due to the recent submission by Bioneutra Inc. (Canada) of a novel food file to the UK Food Standards Agency, as well as several patents for IMO production.
The impact of HIV on oral health and subsequent use of dental services.

OBJECTIVE This study examined differences in health and access to dental services among a nationally representative sample of patients with HIV using Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. METHODS This investigation is a longitudinal study that used structural equation modeling to analyze data from the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study, a probability sample of 2,864 adults under treatment for HIV infection. Key predisposing variables included sex, drug use, race/ethnicity, education, and age. Enabling factors included income, insurance, and regular source of care. Need factors included mental, physical, and oral health. Dependent variables included whether a respondent utilized dental services and number of visits. RESULTS More education, dental insurance, usual source of dental care, and poor oral health predicted a higher probability of having a dental visit. African Americans, Hispanics, those exposed to HIV through drug use or heterosexual contact, and those in poor physical health were less likely to have a dental visit. Of those who visited dental professionals, older persons, those with dental insurance, and those in worse oral health had more visits. African Americans and persons in poor mental health had fewer visits. CONCLUSIONS Persons with more HIV-related symptoms and a diagnosis of AIDS have a greater need for dental care than those with fewer symptoms and without AIDS, but more pressing needs for physical and mental health services limit their access to dental services. Providers should better attend to the oral health needs of persons with HIV who are in poor physical and mental health.
Selenoprotein levels in patients with colorectal adenomas and cancer

OBJECTIVES:Selenium is a trace mineral that, as a constituent of certain selenoproteins, acts as an antioxidant. Results of studies addressing a cancer protective effect of selenium have been controversial. The present study measured selenoprotein-P, extracellular glutathione peroxidase, and plasma selenium in patients with colon cancer and adenomatous colon polyps to determine whether patients who develop colorectal adenomas or cancer are selenium deficient.METHODS:Patients who presented to an endoscopy center for colonoscopy or who were referred to our institution with a newly diagnosed colorectal cancer were offered enrollment in the trial. Each patient underwent phlebotomy, usually immediately after colonoscopy. In all, 103 patients were enrolled in the study. Of these, 33 patients were found to have colorectal cancer, 35 adenomatous colon polyps, and 17 normal examinations. A total of 18 patients had other diagnoses and were not included in the study group.RESULTS:The mean age for the colorectal cancer group was 69 yr, for the adenomatous colon polyp group 62 yr, and for the normal group was 56 yr. The adenomatous colon polyp and normal groups were predominantly female. Based on one way analysis of variance tests, there was no significant difference in selenoprotein-P or plasma selenium levels or extracellular glutathione peroxidase activity among the three groups (p = 0.28, 0.098, and 0.35 respectively). CONCLUSIONS:The present data suggest that patients with adenomatous colon polyps and those with colorectal cancer are not selenium deficient.
User involvement in software development and system success: a systematic literature review

Context: In the last four decades involving users in the software development process is claimed to have a positive impact on the success of that software. However, previous reviews on this topic have produced conflicting results. Objectives: Our aim is to present a review on user involvement in software development process and investigate its relationship to software system success. Methods: For our exploration, we performed a Systematic Literature Review using the guidelines provided in the Evidence Based Software Engineering literature. Results: 87 relevant empirical studies were selected and reviewed that investigate various perspectives and concepts of user involvement in software development process during the period of 1980--2012. Among 87 studies reviewed, 59 report that user involvement positively contributes to system success, 7 suggest a negative contribution and 21 are uncertain. Conclusions: Our results show an overall positive impact of user involvement on system success. It also suggests that the relationship between user involvement and system success is neither direct nor simple, and it depends on many different factors and conditions surrounding systems development processes.
Spatial Working Memory and Arithmetic Deficits in Children With Nonverbal Learning Difficulties

Visuospatial working memory and its involvement in arithmetic were examined in two groups of 7- to 11-year-olds: one comprising children described by teachers as displaying symptoms of nonverbal learning difficulties (N = 21), the other a control group without learning disabilities (N = 21). The two groups were matched for verbal abilities, age, gender, and sociocultural level. The children were presented with a visuospatial working memory battery of recognition tests involving visual, spatial-sequential and spatial-simultaneous processes, and two arithmetic tasks (number ordering and written calculations). The two groups were found to differ on some spatial tasks but not in the visual working memory tasks. On the arithmetic tasks, the children with nonverbal learning difficulties made more errors than controls in calculation and were slower in number ordering. A discriminant function analysis confirmed the crucial role of spatial-sequential working memory in distinguishing between the two groups. Results are discussed with reference to spatial working memory and arithmetic difficulties in nonverbal learning disabilities. Implications for the relationship between visuospatial working memory and arithmetic are also considered.
Crystal Structures of Pinoresinol-Lariciresinol and Phenylcoumaran Benzylic Ether Reductases and Their Relationship to Isoflavone Reductases*

Despite the importance of plant lignans and isoflavonoids in human health protection (e.g. for both treatment and prevention of onset of various cancers) as well as in plant biology (e.g. in defense functions and in heartwood development), systematic studies on the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis have only recently begun. In this investigation, three NADPH-dependent aromatic alcohol reductases were comprehensively studied, namely pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductase (PLR), phenylcoumaran benzylic ether reductase (PCBER), and isoflavone reductase (IFR), which are involved in central steps to the various important bioactive lignans and isoflavonoids. Of particular interest was in determining how differing regio- and enantiospecificities are achieved with the different enzymes, despite each apparently going through similar enone intermediates. Initially, the three-dimensional x-ray crystal structures of both PLR_Tp1 and PCBER_Pt1 were solved and refined to 2.5 and 2.2 Å resolutions, respectively. Not only do they share high gene sequence similarity, but their structures are similar, having a continuous α/β NADPH-binding domain and a smaller substrate-binding domain. IFR (whose crystal structure is not yet obtained) was also compared (modeled) with PLR and PCBER and was deduced to have the same overall basic structure. The basis for the distinct enantio-specific and regio-specific reactions of PCBER, PLR, and IFR, as well as the reaction mechanism and participating residues involved (as identified by site-directed mutagenesis), are discussed.
The Non-Specificity of the Duquenois-Levine Field Test for Marijuana

The purpose of this study is to determine the specificity, or lack thereof, of the Duquenois-Levine (D-L) field test kit in the identification of marijuana. Out of the forty-two samples tested, patchouli, spearmint, and eucalyptus tested positive for marijuana using the D-L field test. From these results, it can be concluded that the test is non-specific and can yield false positives. Therefore, it cannot be legitimately used for the prosecution or conviction of an individual for violations of the anti-marijuana laws as it does not provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt of the presence of marijuana. In fact, law enforcement personnel and the test kit manufacturer claim that the D-L field test is a specific, identification test with near perfect accuracy. In court, police officers testify falsely to the identification of marijuana in a seized substance based solely on the D-L test and other non-specific, screening tests leading to convictions. The result is the denial of the Constitutionally-guaranteed right to a fair trial, due process and countless wrongful marijuana convictions.
Variation in leaf flushing date influences autumnal senescence and next year’s flushing date in two temperate tree species

Significance Leaf phenology of temperate ecosystems is shifting in response to global warming. This affects surface albedo, ecosystem carbon balance, and evapotranspiration, and the response of leaf phenology to climatic drivers has therefore received particular interest. However, despite considerable effort, models have failed to accurately reproduce phenology patterns, likely because mechanistic understanding is incomplete. Here, we show that earlier leaf flushing in response to a warm winter translated into earlier leaf senescence and even earlier leaf flushing in the following year. This legacy effect of winter warming on leaf phenology has important implications for understanding and modelling leaf phenology and its impact on ecosystem functioning, especially in relation to global warming, and is likely to open new research lines. Recent temperature increases have elicited strong phenological shifts in temperate tree species, with subsequent effects on photosynthesis. Here, we assess the impact of advanced leaf flushing in a winter warming experiment on the current year’s senescence and next year’s leaf flushing dates in two common tree species: Quercus robur L. and Fagus sylvatica L. Results suggest that earlier leaf flushing translated into earlier senescence, thereby partially offsetting the lengthening of the growing season. Moreover, saplings that were warmed in winter–spring 2009–2010 still exhibited earlier leaf flushing in 2011, even though the saplings had been exposed to similar ambient conditions for almost 1 y. Interestingly, for both species similar trends were found in mature trees using a long-term series of phenological records gathered from various locations in Europe. We hypothesize that this long-term legacy effect is related to an advancement of the endormancy phase (chilling phase) in response to the earlier autumnal senescence. Given the importance of phenology in plant and ecosystem functioning, and the prediction of more frequent extremely warm winters, our observations and postulated underlying mechanisms should be tested in other species.
Distributed Time-Sensitive Task Selection in Mobile Crowdsensing

With the rich set of embedded sensors installed in smartphones, we are witnessing the emergence of many innovative commercial mobile crowdsensing applications, which combine the power of mobile technology with crowdsourcing to effectively collect time-sensitive and location-dependent information. Motivated by these real-world applications, we consider the distributed task selection problem for heterogeneous users with different initial locations, destinations, costs, speeds, and reputation levels. We design a Bayesian asynchronous task selection (BATS) algorithm to help the users plan their task selections based on the incomplete information of the task popularity statistics. We prove its convergence and characterize the computation time for the users’ updates. As a performance benchmark, we consider the ideal case that the service provider centrally allocates the tasks to the users for social surplus maximization. We show that it is an NP-hard problem and propose a greedy centralized algorithm with a lower complexity as the benchmark performance. Simulation results suggest that the BATS scheme achieves the highest Jain's fairness index and coverage, while yielding a user payoff similar to that with the greedy centralized benchmark. Finally, we evaluate the schemes based on some real-world movement time and distance data from Google Maps.
Migration of nerve growth cones requires detergent-resistant membranes in a spatially defined and substrate-dependent manner

Motility of nerve growth cones (GCs) is regulated by region-specific activities of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). CAM activities could be modified by their localization to detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs), specialized microdomains enriched in signaling molecules. This paper deals with a question of whether DRMs are involved in GC migration stimulated by three CAMs; L1, N-cadherin (Ncad), and β1 integrin. We demonstrate that L1 and Ncad are present in DRMs, whereas β1 integrin is exclusively detected in non-DRMs of neurons and that localization of L1 and Ncad to DRMs is developmentally regulated. GC migration mediated by L1 and Ncad but not by β1 integrin is inhibited after DRM disruption by micro-scale chromophore-assisted laser inactivation (micro-CALI) of GM1 gangliosides or by pharmacological treatments that deplete cellular cholesterol or sphingolipids, essential components for DRMs. Characteristic morphology of GCs induced by L1 and Ncad is also affected by micro-CALI–mediated DRM disruption. Micro-CALI within the peripheral domain of GCs, or even within smaller areas such as the filopodia and the lamellipodia, is sufficient to impair their migration. However, micro-CALI within the central domain does not affect GC migration. These results demonstrate the region-specific involvement of DRMs in CAM-dependent GC behavior.
Body-Borne Computers as Extensions of Self

The opportunities for wearable technologies go well beyond always-available information displays or health sensing devices. The concept of the cyborg introduced by Clynes and Kline, along with works in various fields of research and the arts, offers a vision of what technology integrated with the body can offer. This paper identifies different categories of research aimed at augmenting humans. The paper specifically focuses on three areas of augmentation of the human body and its sensorimotor capabilities: physical morphology, skin display, and somatosensory extension. We discuss how such digital extensions relate to the malleable nature of our self-image. We argue that body-borne devices are no longer simply functional apparatus, but offer a direct interplay with the mind. Finally, we also showcase some of our own projects in this area and shed light on future challenges.
Distributional Information: A Powerful Cue for Acquiring Syntactic Categories

Many theorists have dismissed a priori the idea that distributional information could play a significant role in syntactic category acquisition. We demonstrate empirically that such information provides a powerful cue to syntactic category membership, which can be exploited by a variety of simple, psychologically plausible mechanisms. We present a range of results using a large corpus of child-directed speech and explore their psychological implications. While our results show that a considerable amount of information concerning the syntactic categories can be obtained from distributional information alone, we stress that many other sources of information may also be potential contributors to the identification of syntactic classes.
Chicago Unbound Chicago Unbound

This study considers the circumstances under which members of the Muslim American community voluntarily cooperate with police efforts to combat terrorism. Cooperation is defined to include both a general receptivity toward helping the police in anti-terror work, and the specific willingness to alert police to terror related risks in a community. Two perspectives on why people cooperate with law enforcement, both developed with reference to general policing, are compared in the context of anti-terror policing and specifically among members of the Muslim American community. The first is instrumental. It suggests that people cooperate because they see tangible benefits that outweigh any costs. The second perspective is normative. It posits that people respond to their belief that police are a legitimate authority. On this view legitimacy is linked to the fairness and procedural justice of police procedures. Data from a study involving interviews with Muslim Americans in New York City between March and June 2009 strongly support the normative model by finding that the procedural justice of police activities is the primary factor shaping legitimacy and cooperation with the police.
DEVITRIFICATION OF BULK METALLIC GLASSES STUDIED BY NEUTRON AND X-RAY SCATTERING

The structural evolutions during the devitrification of three bulk metallic glasses, including Zr52.5Cu17. 9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 (BAM-11), Zr50Cu40Al10 and Mg65Cu25Tb10, have been studied in-situ by neutron and synchrotron X-ray scattering. By measuring simultaneously the wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) patterns and the small-angle Xray scattering (SAXS) patterns, a good comparison of the structural evolutions at the atomic scale and nano scales during the different transformation stages are achieved. Also the evolutions of pair distribution functions (PDFs) in real space have been measured by neutron and X-ray total scattering. These results are further complemented by ex-situ experiments including DSC, conventional XRD, TEM and SEM. The results show all three samples are amorphous in the as-cast state, and that phase separation precedes crystallization for Zr-based BMGs. BAM-11 devitrifies in two stages; the first stage is related to topological changes within a 2 nm range, and a metastable fcc NiZr2 phase is formed, which transforms to the tetragonal NiZr2 phase in the second stage. Above 690 K, Zr50Cu40Al10 decomposes to form the Cu10Zr7 phase and CuZr2 phase, which transform to the CuZr phase eutectoidly at higher temperature. Mg65Cu25Tb10 devitrifies in three stages, the first stage is related to the formation of icosahedral clusters, the second and third stages are the formation of quasicrystalline phase and further decomposition. Kinetic model and SAXS model are proposed and applied to refine the patterns. The topologies of conventional oxide glasses and BMGs are compared and summarized. The nonperiodic order plays an important role in nanometer scale for BMGs. © Copyright by Ling Yang, 2006