Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Hybrid Pre-Processing Techniques for ArtifactsRemoval to Improve the Performance ofElectroencephalogram (EEG) Features Extraction

Electroencephalogram (EEG) blend reflects the summation of the synchronous activity of thousands or millions of neurons that have parallel spatial direction. EEG Signals are extracted from Human Brain. While Extracting an EEG Signals, large amount of data with diverse categories will be collected from the human skull. To investigate and categorize the valuable information from the EEG recordings, computerized methods are required, because removing any of the components would remove too much of useful EEG signal in sequence. EEG Recordings generally not just contains electrical signals from mind, which is polluted with various artifacts. It is the combinations of unwanted mechanisms like Power Line Noise, Electrocardiogram (ECG), Electrooculogram (EOG) and Electromyogram (EMG). Signals in the EEG that are of non-cerebral origin are called artifacts. So, before analyzing the brain signals they need to be preprocessed. The focus of this paper is proposing the development of an integrated artifacts removal technique that can automatically discover and remove the artifacts in order to smooth the progress of EEG Assessment, and the hybrid pre-processing techniques is based on the joint venture of Adaptive Filtering, Wavelet Denoising and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) in order to improve the feature extraction performance of the EEG Signals. This paper converse the comparison with existing techniques, and discuss the advantages of the proposed hybrid pre-processing Technique.
COVID-19 symptom duration predicts immunoglobulin G seropositivity.

OBJECTIVES The study focused on the relationship between routine clinical characteristics and anti-SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in a pilot sample of healthcare workers (HCWs) having suffered COVID-19. The aim was to investigate the existence of readily available predictors of antibodies against COVID-19. METHODS As part of the recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease in 152 HCWs with the mean age of 43.2 years, personal, anthropometric and anamnestic data related to the disease as well as anti-spike immunoglobulin (Ig) levels were obtained. Through descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analyses, relationships of all variables and Ig levels, especially seropositivity of IgG, were investigated. RESULTS The mean interval between the symptom onset and the determination of antibodies was 58 days. IgG seropositivity and IgM seropositivity were noted in 82 % and 49 % of HCWs, respectively. Symptom duration was the only statistically significant predictor of IgG seropositivity. With each day of symptom duration, the probability of IgG seropositivity increased from 1.078 to 1.092 times (p < 0.05). If symptoms lasted longer than 17 days, a majority (almost 80 %) of the subjects demonstrated seropositivity in the following months. CONCLUSION: The presence of IgG immunity may be assumed from symptom duration. Such easy recognizing of seropositive patients may be a useful tool, e.g. in vaccination strategies (Tab. 3, Fig. 1, Ref. 28).
Chimera method applied to the simulation of a freely falling cylinder in a channel

In this paper, we study the motion of a circular cylinder freely falling in a channel under the action of gravity parallel to the wall. The fixed parameters of the study are the cylinder diameter to channel width ratio, D/d = 3.3, and the fluid to particle density ratio, ß = 2. The varying parameters are the initial position (in or out of the middle axis) and the Galileo number (151. Ga. 300). An automatic chimera method is implemented in a Navier-Stokes solver to simulate this moving confined configuration. The presence of the wall accelerates the oscillations of the motion. The initial position has an influence on the amplification of transverse oscillations. If the cylinder is out of the middle axis, transverse oscillations appear earlier and reach rapidly the amplitude of the terminal periodic oscillations. A relation between the Strouhal and Reynolds numbers is proposed.
The influence of attentional biases on multiple working memory precision parameters for children and adults.

Working memory (WM) improves dramatically during childhood but what drives this improvement is not well understood. One influential account thus far has proposed a simple increase in storage capacity. However, recent findings have shown that multiple factors, such as differences in the ability to use attention to enhance the maintenance of internal representations, as well as changes in WM precision, also interact in influencing age-related differences in WM capacity. We aimed to examine whether and how the developing ability to orient attention retrospectively to internal representations influences WM precision. To do so, we employed a paradigm that combined the continuous-recall WM task with the partial-cueing report task. Specifically, 7-year-olds and young adults were asked to reproduce the colour of a probe item in a colour-wheel. The initial memory array, which included the probe item, could be followed by a spatial cue that directed participants' attention to a location in the memory array (a "retro-cue"). Results showed that attentional biases engendered by retro-cues facilitated overall precision compared to uncued baseline performance, for both age groups, although to a smaller degree in 7-year-olds compared to adults. Importantly, investigation of modelling parameters suggested that children demonstrate lower representational quality of items in WM but that spatial attentional cues improve overall precision by increasing the probability of target storage, maintenance and recall, and by reducing misbinding errors as well as random guessing, not by changing representational quality. These results add significantly to our knowledge on the relation between retrospective attention and WM development. Highlights Different lines of research have attributed developmental improvements in WM to changes in capacity, precision, and attentional control. Probabilistic mixture modelling revealed differences in 7-year-olds and adults' WM across all parameters tested. Attentional cues increased the probability of target recall, but not its representational quality, and decreased the likelihood of misbinding errors and random guesses. Findings highlight a flexible model of WM: beyond stringent capacity limits, precision improves with age, with powerful attentional effects. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Bromelain protects against cisplatin-induced ocular toxicity through mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular, biochemical, and histopathological effects of bromelain, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, against cisplatin-induced ocular toxicity. The groups were designed as (1) Control, (2) Cisplatin (7 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), (3) Cisplatin + Bromelain (50 mg/kg, orally for 14 consecutive days), (4) Cisplatin + Bromelain (100 mg/kg, orally for 14 consecutive days). The activity of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidant status (TOS) and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-10, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and 8-OHdG were measured in ocular tissue. The mRNA expression of NF-κB and Caspase-3 was also evaluated. Also, ocular sections were evaluated histopathologically. Bromelain demonstrated a dose-dependent protective effect in cisplatin-induced toxicity by regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and tissue damage. Our results suggested that bromelain may be a potential adjuvant that can protect the eye from cisplatin-induced toxicity.
Normal values of angle and distance between the superior mesenteric artery and aorta in Iraqi population: A single centre study

The diagnosis of the superior mesenteric syndrome depends on measuring the distance and angle between the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and aorta on CT scan in the presence of duodenal compression. Studies examining the normal range of these measurements are scarce and none of them was conducted on the Iraqi population. The aim of this study was to assess the values of aorto‐SMA angle (AMA) and aorto‐SMA distance (AMD) in asymptomatic patients to define the normal range in the Iraqi population and to compare it with the normal published range and different demographical values and body mass index (BMI).
Comparison of two different frailty scales in the longitudinal Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging (SATSA)

Aims: Although up to 25% of older adults are frail, assessing frailty can be difficult, especially in registry data. This study evaluated the utility of a code-based frailty score in registry data by comparing it to a gold-standard frailty score to understand how frailty can be quantified in population data and perhaps better addressed in healthcare. Methods: We compared the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS), a frailty measure based on 109 ICD codes, to a modified version of the Frailty Index (FI) Frailty Index (FI), a self-report frailty measure, and their associations with all-cause mortality both cross-sectionally and longitudinally (follow-up = 36 years) in a Swedish cohort study (n = 1368). Results: The FI and HFRS were weakly correlated (rho = 0.11, p < 0.001). Twenty-two percent (n = 297) of participants were considered frail based on published cut-offs of either measure. Only 3% (n = 35) of participants were classified as frail by both measures; 4% (n = 60) of participants were considered frail by only the HFRS; and 15% (n = 202) of participants were considered frail based only on the FI. Frailty as measured by the HFRS showed greater variance and no clear increase or decrease with age, while frailty as measured by the FI increased steadily with age. In adjusted Cox proportional hazard models, baseline HFRS frailty (HR = 1.17, 95% CI 0.92, 1.49) was not statistically significantly associated with mortality, while FI frailty was (HR = 2.89, 95% CI 1.61, 2.23). These associations were modified by age and sex. Conclusions: The HFRS may not capture the full spectrum of frailty among community-dwelling individuals, particularly at younger ages, in Swedish registry data.
Effect of Minimally Invasive Surfactant Therapy vs Sham Treatment on Death or Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Preterm Infants With Respiratory Distress Syndrome: The OPTIMIST-A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance The benefits of surfactant administration via a thin catheter (minimally invasive surfactant therapy [MIST]) in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome are uncertain. Objective To examine the effect of selective application of MIST at a low fraction of inspired oxygen threshold on survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Design, Setting, and Participants Randomized clinical trial including 485 preterm infants with a gestational age of 25 to 28 weeks who were supported with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and required a fraction of inspired oxygen of 0.30 or greater within 6 hours of birth. The trial was conducted at 33 tertiary-level neonatal intensive care units around the world, with blinding of the clinicians and outcome assessors. Enrollment took place between December 16, 2011, and March 26, 2020; follow-up was completed on December 2, 2020. Interventions Infants were randomized to the MIST group (n = 241) and received exogenous surfactant (200 mg/kg of poractant alfa) via a thin catheter or to the control group (n = 244) and received a sham (control) treatment; CPAP was continued thereafter in both groups unless specified intubation criteria were met. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was the composite of death or physiological BPD assessed at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. The components of the primary outcome (death prior to 36 weeks' postmenstrual age and BPD at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age) also were considered separately. Results Among the 485 infants randomized (median gestational age, 27.3 weeks; 241 [49.7%] female), all completed follow-up. Death or BPD occurred in 105 infants (43.6%) in the MIST group and 121 (49.6%) in the control group (risk difference [RD], -6.3% [95% CI, -14.2% to 1.6%]; relative risk [RR], 0.87 [95% CI, 0.74 to 1.03]; P = .10). Incidence of death before 36 weeks' postmenstrual age did not differ significantly between groups (24 [10.0%] in MIST vs 19 [7.8%] in control; RD, 2.1% [95% CI, -3.6% to 7.8%]; RR, 1.27 [95% CI, 0.63 to 2.57]; P = .51), but incidence of BPD in survivors to 36 weeks' postmenstrual age was lower in the MIST group (81/217 [37.3%] vs 102/225 [45.3%] in the control group; RD, -7.8% [95% CI, -14.9% to -0.7%]; RR, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.70 to 0.98]; P = .03). Serious adverse events occurred in 10.3% of infants in the MIST group and 11.1% in the control group. Conclusions and Relevance Among preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome supported with CPAP, minimally invasive surfactant therapy compared with sham (control) treatment did not significantly reduce the incidence of the composite outcome of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. However, given the statistical uncertainty reflected in the 95% CI, a clinically important effect cannot be excluded. Trial Registration anzctr.org. au Identifier: ACTRN12611000916943.
Secondary school students’ perception of the online teaching experience during COVID‐19: The impact on mental wellbeing and specific learning difficulties

Background Student engagement and concentration is critical for successful learning. Due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of online learning which may affect engagement and concentration, particularly for those students with specific learning difficulties. Aims Students would show lower scores on all the measures of student experience when judging these during online learning versus learning within the classroom. This negative impact of online learning on concentration, engagement, perceived learning, and self‐worth compared to classroom education would be more significant for those with specific learning difficulties. The drop in student experience scores due to online learning would be associated with poorer mental well‐being. Sample Four hundred seven pupils aged 11–18 years at a secondary education school in Wales. Methods A retrospective online survey comparing pupils’ normal classroom experience to learning online during the first national lockdown in the United Kingdom (March–July 2020). Results Pupils’ learning experiences (concentration, engagement, ability to learn, and self‐worth from learning) were significantly lower for online learning compared to the classroom learning. These differences were more marked in students with specific learning difficulties. Perceived ability to learn and engage during classroom and online learning were also associated with mental well‐being. Conclusions The move to online learning appears to have affected students’ ability to concentrate and engage in their schoolwork and appears to have reduced their ability to learn and get self‐worth from their work. These decreases are associated with a decrease in mental well‐being. The effects appear to be exacerbated in some students with specific learning difficulties.
Comparing the affective and social effects of positive reappraisal and minimising reappraisal

ABSTRACT Negative interpersonal events, such as close relationship conflicts, can threaten one’s affective and social well-being. To improve affect and to maintain valuable relationships, individuals could select different reappraisal tactics. One could use positive reappraisal to find potential benefits of the event (e.g. “This conflict helps our relationship grow.”), or use minimising reappraisal to decrease the perceived impact of event (e.g. “This is no big deal.”). These two tactics target distinct appraisal dimensions: valence versus significance. We investigated whether these two reappraisals would show similar or different profiles of affective and social effects in the context of close relationship conflicts. Study 1 was based on a sample of 90 Chinese younger adults. Study 2 was based on a sample of 237 American adults (156 MTurk workers and 81 undergraduates combined). Across two studies, both reappraisals effectively improved affect in response to a recalled conflict. Minimising reappraisal group showed significantly increased affect and relationship satisfaction (Study 1&2), but decreased conflict resolution motivation (Study 2) across time. Positive reappraisal group, on the other hand, showed less pronounced increases in positive affect but increased conflict resolution self-efficacy across time (Study 1&2). We discuss these findings by highlighting within-reappraisal variation and potential trade-offs in pursuing affective and social regulation goals.
LATERAL BUCKLING STRENGTHS OF STEEL ANGLE SECTION BEAMS

The design of unbraced steel angle section beams against biaxial bending and torsion requires the ability to predict their lateral buckling strengths when bent about the major principal axis. Present design code formulations of lateral buckling strength are based on research on doubly symmetric I-section beams, and may be inappropriate for monosymmetric and asymmetric angle section beams. This paper presents close approximations for the elastic lateral buckling moments of equal and unequal angle section beams loaded by uniformly distributed loads which act at or away from the shear center. Small and large twist rotation elastic analyses of angle section beams with initial twist rotations are used with interaction equations for the biaxial bending section moment capacities to investigate present design code formulations for lateral buckling strength. It is found that these code formulations are unnecessarily conservative, especially at high slendernesses, where the moment capacities predicted by them may be less than the minor axis section capacity instead of greater. An improved formulation is proposed which is simpler and more economic than the present formulations. The use of the elastic lateral buckling approximations in the improved design moment capacity formulation is demonstrated in a worked example.
Novel approaches to the assessment and treatment of lamellar macular hole

To analyse morpho‐functional foveal changes in eyes with lamellar macular hole (LMH) by an integrated assessment of short‐wavelength fundus autofluorescence (SW‐FAF) and microperimetry (SW‐FAF/microperimetry integrated assessment) before and after treatment with a technique of double‐inverted flaps of epiretinal proliferation (EP) and internal limiting membrane (ILM).
Alteration of autophagy-related protein 5 (ATG5) levels and Atg5 gene expression in diabetes mellitus with and without complications

Background Autophagy is a catabolic mechanism that involves lysosomal-dependent degradation of unnecessary intracellular components and responsible for normal cellular homeostasis. Autophagy pathway and its key participant ATG5/LC3 are associated with several pathologies such as diabetes mellitus and its complications. Methods Levels and expression of autophagy key components ATG5 and LC3B were analyzed in both human model and murine tissues. One hundred and twenty human subjects were divided into four groups: Healthy (control), diabetes mellitus without complications, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic retinopathy. Additionally, we used kidneys from WT healthy and diabetic nephropathy mice. Lysate derived from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and murine renal cortex lysates were subjected to western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. Results Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis demonstrate that ATG5 protein levels were significantly decreased in diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy (DN), and diabetic retinopathy patients versus healthy controls and in DN mice compared to healthy mice (0.65 ± 0.04; 1.15 ± 0.13 A.U. units, respectively). Quantification of staining area (%) of ATG5 mice tissue expression also decreased in DN versus healthy mice (4.42 ± 1.08%; 10.87 ± 1.01%, respectively). LC3B levels and expression Significant reduction in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in diabetic patients (with or without complications) vs. healthy controls. Renal LC3B levels were lower in DN versus healthy mice (0.36 ± 0.03; 0.68 ± 0.07 A.U. units). Renal LC3B staining quantification revealed significant reduction in DN versus healthy mice (1.7 ± 0.23%; 8.56 ± 1.7%). Conclusion We conclude that ATG5, as well as LC3B, are down regulated in diabetic patients with or without complications. This diminution contributes to deficiencies in the autophagy process.
The South Africa bionic ear-description and preliminary results

Bionic ear is the popular name given to the cochlear implant, a system for the functional electrical stimulation of the cochlea of a profoundly deaf person. The object of this electrical stimulation is to imitate the function of a normally functioning cochlea so that the neural code conducted to the brain is as close as possible to the neural code generated by the cochlea of a hearing person. A bionic ear currently being developed at the University of Pretoria is described. It consists of eight implanted electrodes and a speech processor which is worn externally. A suitable speech processing algorithm was implemented on the TMS 320-10 DSP (digital signal processing). For the evaluation of patient performance, the MAC (minimal auditory capabilities) battery is used. Results at this stage are encouraging, indicating that it is at least possible to aid the patient in lip reading and to put him or her into contact with the rich variety of environmental sounds. It was found that it is possible to produce a cost-effective bionic ear which is as good as or better than imported systems. <<ETX>>
Compression characteristics of non-treated and steam-exploded barley, canola, oat, and wheat straw grinds.

Compaction of low bulk density agricultural biomass is a critical and desirable operation for sustainable and economic availability of feedstock for biofuel industry.A comprehensive study of the compression characteristics (density of pellet and total specific energy required for compression) of ground non-treated and steam-exploded barley, canola, oat, and wheat straw obtained from three hammer mill screen sizes of 6.4, 3.2 and 1.6 mm at 10% moisture content (wb) was conducted. Four preset pressures of 31.6, 63.2, 94.7, and 138.9 MPa were applied using an Instron testing machine to compress samples in a cylindrical die. Ground steam-exploded barley straw at screen sizes of either 3.2 or 1.6 mm produced high density compacts, while ground steam-exploded canola, oat, and wheat straw at screen sizes of 6.4, 3.2 or 1.6 mm produced high density compacts. Steam-exploded barley straw for 3.2 mm at 138.9 MPa produced compacts having 13% higher density and consumed 19% lower total specific energy compared to non-treated straw. Steam-exploded canola straw for 1.6 mm at 138.9 MPa produced compacts having 13% higher density and consumed 22% higher total specific energy compared to non-treated straw. Steam-exploded oat straw for 3.2 mm at 94.7 MPa produced compacts having 19% higher density and consumed 13% higher total specific energy compared to non-treated straw. Steam-exploded wheat straw for 6.4 mm at 138.9 MPa produced compacts having 17% higher density and consumed 17% higher total specific energy compared to non-treated straw. Three compression models, namely: Jones model, Cooper-Eaton model, and Kawakita-Ludde model were considered to determine the pressure-volume and pressure-density relationship of non-treated and steam-exploded straws. Kawakita-Ludde model provided the best fit to the experimental data having R2 values of 0.99 for non-treated straw and 1.00 for steam-exploded biomass samples. The steam-exploded straw had higher porosity than non-treated straw. In addition, the steam-exploded straw was easier to compress since it had lower yield strength or failure stress values compared to non-treated straw.