Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Generic Transferable EEG Decoder for Online Detection of Error Potential in Target Selection

Reliable detection of error from electroencephalography (EEG) signals as feedback while performing a discrete target selection task across sessions and subjects has a huge scope in real-time rehabilitative application of Brain-computer Interfacing (BCI). Error Related Potentials (ErrP) are EEG signals which occur when the participant observes an erroneous feedback from the system. ErrP holds significance in such closed-loop system, as BCI is prone to error and we need an effective method of systematic error detection as feedback for correction. In this paper, we have proposed a novel scheme for online detection of error feedback directly from the EEG signal in a transferable environment (i.e., across sessions and across subjects). For this purpose, we have used a P300-speller dataset available on a BCI competition website. The task involves the subject to select a letter of a word which is followed by a feedback period. The feedback period displays the letter selected and, if the selection is wrong, the subject perceives it by the generation of ErrP signal. Our proposed system is designed to detect ErrP present in the EEG from new independent datasets, not involved in its training. Thus, the decoder is trained using EEG features of 16 subjects for single-trial classification and tested on 10 independent subjects. The decoder designed for this task is an ensemble of linear discriminant analysis, quadratic discriminant analysis, and logistic regression classifier. The performance of the decoder is evaluated using accuracy, F1-score, and Area Under the Curve metric and the results obtained is 73.97, 83.53, and 73.18%, respectively.
Effects of simulation education on oral care practices – a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND Implementation of evidence-based oral care protocols, nurse education programmes and assessment tools may reduce the risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia by increasing critical care nurses' knowledge and skills in adhering to current oral care recommendations. AIMS To evaluate the longitudinal effects of single-dose simulation education with structured debriefing and verbal feedback on critical care nurses' knowledge and skills in adhering to current oral care recommendations. DESIGN A randomized controlled trial with repeated measurements. METHOD The data for the study were collected in a single academic centre in a 22-bed adult, mixed, medical-surgical intensive care unit in Finland from February 2012 to March 2014. The effectiveness of simulation education was evaluated through the validated Ventilator Bundle Questionnaire and Observation Schedule at baseline (n = 30) and 24 months (n = 17) after simulation education. Data were analysed using a linear mixed model and intention-to-treat analyses. RESULTS During the study period, the average knowledge score in the intervention group increased significantly (44·0% to 56·0% of the total score) in the final post-intervention measurement (pt = 0·51, pg = 0·002, pt*g = 0·023). However, single-dose simulation education with structured debriefing and verbal feedback had no impact on critical care nurses' skill scores. CONCLUSION Single-dose simulation education had only a minimal effect on critical care nurses' knowledge and skills in adhering to current oral care recommendations. Despite increased awareness, there was no significant difference in oral care practices between the study groups after simulation education. RELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE The need for regularly repeated educational sessions with theoretical training and practical exercises and direct feedback is evident. Certain aspects of oral care, such as prevention of microaspiration of oropharyngeal secretions and moistening of oral mucosa and lips, require more reinforcement than others.
Failure to confirm association between RGS4 haplotypes and schizophrenia in Caucasians

The regulator of G‐protein signaling (RGS) and RGS‐like proteins are a diverse family of over 30 molecules that function as GTPase activating proteins for Gα subunits of the Gq and Gi families of heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide‐binding proteins (G proteins). By accelerating GTPase activity, RGS proteins drive G proteins into their inactive GDP‐bound forms. G‐protein coupled dopamine, metabotropic glutamate, and other neurotransmitter receptors can be modulated by RGS4, the predominant form in brain. The recent finding of decreased RGS4 mRNA expression in post‐mortem brains from schizophrenic patients, coupled with the map position of RGS4 to a region previously linked to schizophrenia, as well as other biological data, prompted the investigation of the gene as a disease candidate. Multiple family‐based and case‐control association studies have been conducted, with modest and conflicting support for particular single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and SNP marker haplotypes. The present case‐control analysis of 568 patients and 689 controls, one of the largest single studies to date, failed to confirm support for association of particular RGS4 SNP alleles, or for association of any particular four, three, or two SNP haplotype. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of Long–Term Consumption of a Probiotic Bacterium, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, in Milk on Dental Caries and Caries Risk in Children

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, ATCC (LGG), has shown antagonism to many bacteria including mutans streptococci. This randomized, double–blind, placebo–controlled intervention study was designed to examine whether milk containing LGG has an effect on caries and the risk of caries in children when compared with normal milk. 594 children, 1–6 years old, from 18 municipal day–care centres were included. The children received the milk with meals from coded containers 5 days a week in the day–care centres for 7 months. The children’s oral health was recorded at baseline and at the end, using WHO criteria. The caries risk was calculated based on clinical and microbiological data, comprising mutans streptococcus levels from dental plaque and saliva. The risk was classified as high if the child had a dmft/DMFT or initial caries score >0, and a mutans streptococcus count ≧105 CFU/ml. The results showed less dental caries in the LGG group and lower mutans streptococcus counts at the end of the study. LGG was found to reduce the risk of caries significantly (OR = 0.56, p = 0.01; controlled for age and gender, OR = 0.51, p = 0.004). The effect was particularly clear in the 3– to 4–year–olds. Thus, milk containing the probiotic LGG bacteria may have beneficial effects on children’s dental health.
Relevancy for Corporates to Engage in the Fight against Hiv/aids in Kinshasa

Johan W de Jager, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa, E-mail: DeJagerJW@tut.ac. za ABSTRACT. Over the years, Africa has become the most HIV/AIDS burdened region worldwide. The epidemic did not spare the workforce as much as all the other social forces of African communities. Success in combating the epidemic requires corporates to join forces with governments and non-profit organisations in addressing the issue. However it is noticed that companies have not been playing their part in the struggle against HIV/AIDS. Product-moment correlation, t-Test and multinomial logistic regression performed on empirical data demonstrated that unemployed people are better exposed to HIV/AIDS information than employed ones as they spend more time at work without exposure to HIV/AIDS messages, and are less likely to engage in risky sexual behaviour. Both female and male-employed are highly sexually active, while female-employed are more likely to being unfaithful. In other words, the workforce is at more risk of acquiring the virus, a fact that leads to the necessity for companies’ intervention. Received: December, 2016 1st Revision: April, 2017 Accepted: June, 2017
Functional Neuroimaging of Human Central Auditory Processing in Normal Subjects and Patients with Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Auditory sensory processing in the human cerebral cortex is disturbed in several neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, ranging from devastating perceptual deficits in neuropsychological syndromes such as cortical deafness and auditory agnosia to the problem of involuntary hallucinatory perception in schizophrenia. With modern non-invasive functional imaging techniques (e.g., PET, fMRI, and MEG), the normal auditory cortical functional anatomy can now be studied in humans in vivo, as well as its disruption in pathological conditions. This article will summarize current knowledge on human central auditory perception in health and disease, with an emphasis on recent functional neuroimaging studies, in the context of clinical and basic neuroscientific knowledge. New strategies include a focus on the role of other, non-temporal brain areas for auditory processing, particularly in the frontal lobes, and the combined use of techniques offering both precise spatial and temporal resolution. One step towards this goal has been the recent development of a silent, event-related fMRI scanning technique.
Effectiveness and safety of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent use in the perioperative period

Introduction: Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are widely used in treating anemia associated with renal failure. They are also now used perioperatively to reduce the use of allogeneic blood transfusions (ABTs) in patients undergoing surgery with anticipated high blood loss. Although they can reduce the risks associated with ABT and improve quality of life, the use of ESAs is still associated with adverse effects. Areas covered: A narrative review is provided on ESAs and a systematic review has been conducted to examine the current evidence for the efficacy and safety of perioperative ESAs use. A search of PubMed and Medline databases has been performed using a combination of search terms including erythropoietin, perioperative, surgical, safety and efficacy. Expert opinion: Current evidence supports the use of perioperative ESAs to reduce the need for ABT. However, large studies assessing safety in anemic patients with chronic renal disease have found adverse effects including cardiovascular, stroke and thromboembolic events. However, whether these concerns can be conferred onto the surgical population remains to be seen as the perioperative dosing strategies have been more variable in timing, dose and duration in comparison with those used for chronic diseases. Future research needs to address the questions of optimal dosing strategies in order to maximize the positive effects and minimize adverse events.
Clinical Findings of Multiple Pregnancy With a Complete Hydatidiform Mole and Coexisting Fetus

Objective. The aim of this series was to evaluate the clinical features, management, and outcomes of multiple pregnancy with a complete hydatidiform mole and coexisting fetus (CHMCF). Methods. Between 1998 and 2008, we investigated 6 women with a diagnosis of a CHMCF. The gestational age at diagnosis, symptoms, serum b‐human chorionic gonadotropin levels, cytogenetic and molecular analysis findings, complications, routes of delivery, and pregnancy outcomes were assessed. Results. All cases were diagnosed before 14 weeks' gestation by sonography. Only 1 ended with the delivery of a live‐born neonate, whereas the other 5 cases required termination of pregnancy (TOP) before 21 weeks' gestation because of severe maternal complications (eg, preeclampsia, thyrotoxicosis, lung metastasis, and heavy bleeding) or intrauterine fetal death. The pathologic diagnosis of a complete hydatidiform mole was confirmed in all cases. Two patients required methotrexate for treatment of persistent trophoblastic disease (PTD). Conclusions. On the basis of our experience, in cases with a normal karyotype and no gross fetal abnormalities on sonography, we carefully recommend continuation of pregnancy as long as maternal complications are absent or controllable. However, updated treatment criteria are still needed, and intensive maternal follow‐up is necessary in the postpartum period because maternal complications during pregnancy and PTD after TOP are not uncommon.
Process of Impulse Buying: A Qualitative Exploration

While emerging markets like India present a highly conducive environment for impulse buying behaviour, they also represent a conundrum due to their cultural and contextual distinctiveness from Western/developed markets. Most existing research in the domain in these markets aims to either (dis)affirm the causal relationships identified in the Western markets or validate the frameworks developed there. This article is an exploratory study that aims to identify the latent factors that restrain, influence or comprise impulse buying process in the Indian context and describes an impulse buying episode in its entirety. This would help to not only highlight similarities or differences from the developed world but, more importantly, also broaden the impulse buying perspective in the emerging markets and allow future research to build upon it empirically.
Study on factors influencing employee retention in companies

Employee retention refers to the ability of the organisation to retain its employees. Great businesses value dedicated workers and know how to retain them. An organisation spends huge amount of money on hiring people and training them still every year many businesses suffer from a huge loss of talent. The paper includes a survey in which 220 employees are questioned on job satisfaction. The sample includes randomly selected employees from different companies located in Delhi/NCR. The study concluded that almost all the employees felt that the company is not doing enough to retain them and they have plans to change the job if it continues. There are many ways a company suffers because of employees. The paper presents potential reasons that may compel an employee to leave a job and also the strategies that can help organisation retain its top performers.
An Interpretation of the Evidence for TeV Emission from GRB 970417a

The Milagrito collaboration recently reported evidence for emission of very high energy gamma rays in the TeV range from one of the BATSE gamma-ray bursts, GRB 970417a. Here I discuss possible interpretations of this result. Taking into account the intergalactic absorption of TeV gamma rays by the cosmic infrared background, I found that the detection rate (one per 54 gamma-ray bursts [GRBs] observed by the Milagrito) and energy fluence can be consistently explained with the redshift of this GRB at z ~ 0.7 and the isotropic total energy in the TeV range, ETeV, iso ≳ 1054 ergs. This energy scale is not unreasonably large, but interestingly similar to the maximum total GRB energy in the sub-MeV range observed to date for GRB 990123. On the other hand, the energy emitted in the ordinary sub-MeV range becomes EMeV, iso ~ 1051 ergs for GRB 970417a, which is much smaller than the total energy in the TeV range by a factor of about 103. I show that the proton-synchrotron model of GRBs provides a possible explanation for these observational results. I also discuss some observational signatures expected in future experiments from this model.
Mineral composition of meconium: effect of prematurity.

OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that the concentration of major essential mineral elements in meconium correlate with gestational age (GA) or birth weight. To verify this premise we determined the concentration in meconium of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, iron, and manganese. METHODS Thirty-four appropriate for age singleton infants without major congenital anomalies were divided into four GA groups (in weeks): 24 to 28; 29 to 33; 34 to 37; 38 to 42, or in birth weight groups (in g): < 1500; 1500-1999; 2000-2499; > or = 2500. Meconium was collected until the appearance of transitional stools and lyophilized for analysis. RESULTS When adjusted for birth weight, the concentrations of calcium, copper, iron and phosphorus were higher in the meconium of 24 to 28 week GA infants than in those of the 38 to 42 week GA newborns. Birth weight adjusted copper concentration was highest in the 29 to 33 week GA group, while the remaining elements did not change across the range of GA. Meconium copper concentration in infants born with < 2000 g was higher than in those born with a weight > or = 2500 g. CONCLUSIONS These results could serve as normative data of a noninvasive examination of the mineral nutritional "history" of the fetus, and, eventually, to better evaluate possible neonatal deficiencies in infants with intrauterine growth retardation or other types of complicated intrauterine courses.
Costs of asthma among US working adults.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of asthma on direct and indirect costs among US working adults. STUDY DESIGN A case-control retrospective analysis was conducted. Data between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2006, among patients aged 18 to 64 years with vs without asthma were extracted from MarketScan Research Databases. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema were excluded, and all patients were required to have 12-month continuous enrollment before and after the index date. Outcomes included direct medical costs, the number of absence days, the number of short-term disability days, and associated indirect costs. METHODS Patients with asthma were propensity score-matched to patients without asthma using nearest neighbor 1:1 with caliper. Subsequent multivariate analysis was conducted on matched samples to examine the marginal effect of asthma on direct and indirect costs. RESULTS A total of 13,379 patients with asthma were propensity score-matched to 13,379 patients without asthma; in each cohort, 3453 patients had absence eligibility, and 8497 patients had short-term disability eligibility. Direct costs for patients with asthma were $3762, and indirect costs were $4572. Compared with the matched cohort without asthma, patients with asthma had $1785 higher direct medical expenditures (P <.001). Incremental indirect costs were $191 for absenteeism (P = .007) and $172 for short-term disability (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Compared with patients without asthma, patients with asthma experience significantly higher direct medical costs and, although modest, significantly higher work loss. Treatments or interventions that prevent or reduce asthma symptoms may have a beneficial effect on medical costs and work absenteeism.
Trypanosoma cruzi Induces Regulatory Dendritic Cells In Vitro

ABSTRACT A main feature of acute infection with Trypanosoma cruzi is the presence of immunological disorders. A previous study demonstrated that acute infection with the virulent RA strain downregulates the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) on antigen-presenting cells and impairs the T-cell stimulatory capacity of splenic dendritic cells (DC). In the present work, we assessed the ability of trypomastigotes (Tp) to modulate the differentiation stage and functionality of bone marrow-derived DC in vitro. We observed that the Tp stage of T. cruzi failed to activate DC, which preserved their low expression of MHC-II and costimulatory molecules, as well as their endocytic activity. We also show that Tp induced transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) secretion by DC and enhanced the gap between interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-12p70 production, showing a higher IL-10/IL-12p70 ratio upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. In addition, we observed that Tp prevented DC full activation induced by LPS, thereby downregulating their MHC-II surface expression and inhibiting their capacity to stimulate lymphocyte proliferation. In vitro IL-10 neutralization during the differentiation process of DC with Tp+LPS showed a reversion of their inhibitory effect during mixed lymphocyte reaction. In contrast, only simultaneous neutralization of IL-10 and TGF-β, after DC differentiation, was involved in the partial restitution of lymphocyte proliferation. Since both TGF-β and IL-10 are immunosuppressive cytokines essential in the modulation of the immune response and important in the induction of tolerance, our results suggest for the first time that Tp are responsible for the generation of regulatory DC in vitro.
Human Macrophage Metalloelastase. GENOMIC ORGANIZATION, CHROMOSOMAL LOCATION, GENE LINKAGE, AND TISSUE-SPECIFIC EXPRESSION (*)

Human macrophage metalloelastase (HME) is a recent addition to the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family that was initially found to be expressed in alveolar macrophages of cigarette smokers. To understand more about HME expression, analysis of the structure and location of the gene was performed. The gene for HME is composed of 10 exons and 9 introns, similar to the stromelysins and collagenases, and HME shares the highly conserved exon size and intron-exon borders with other MMPs. The 13-kilobase (kb) HME gene has been localized by fluorescence in situ hybridization to chromosome 11q22.2-22.3, the same location of the interstitial collagenase and stromelysin genes. We determined that HME and stromelysin 1 genes are physically linked within 62 kb utilizing pulse-field gel electrophoresis. The promoter region of the HME gene contains several features common to other MMP genes including a TATA box 29 bp upstream to the transcription initiation site, an AP-1 motif, and a PEA3 element. HME mRNA is not detectable in normal adult tissues but is induced in rapidly remodeling tissues such as the term placenta. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry of placental tissue demonstrated HME mRNA and protein expression in macrophages and stromal cells. Cell-specific expression and response to inflammatory stimuli such as endotoxin is conferred within 2.8 kb of the HME 5′-flanking sequence as demonstrated by HME promoter-CAT expression constructs. Knowledge of the genomic organization and chromosomal location of HME may allow us to further define mechanisms responsible for cell- and tissue-specific expression of HME.
The influence of the types of NAS provisions and gifts hospitality on auditor independence

Purpose - Auditor independence is regarded as the cornerstone in the auditing profession. But there is lack of research to examine the influence of the types of non-audit services provisions and gift hospitality on auditor independence. This paper aims to fill this gap. Design/methodology/approach - This Hong Kong study differs significantly from prior studies and is the first to examine the perceived independence by encompassing both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Binary logistic regression is used to capture data from Big 4 auditors and financial analysts' viewpoints. Findings - Results indicate that auditor independence decreases as the auditors provide accounting services, internal audit or corporate finance services to the firms. Corporate finance services have the greatest negative impact. However, it contributes new knowledge to the literature that the provisions of taxation services to clients are value-added service and confirms the result in the US study. Receiving gift or hospitality from client has no influence on perceived independence and revokes an early study by Pany and Reckers. There is no expectation gap found between the groups, narrowing the expectation gap theory in the post-Enron and revokes the US and the UK studies. Practical implications - The expectation gap theory seems to be narrowed in the post-Enron environment. It is hoped that a longitudinal study could be conducted in future. Originality/value - This paper adds new contributions to the auditing literature in the Asia Pacific Region and provides better understanding for devising auditing guidelines in Hong Kong and their international counterparts.