Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ongoing slow oscillatory phase modulates speech intelligibility in cooperation with motor cortical activity

Neural oscillation is attracting attention as an underlying mechanism for speech recognition. Speech intelligibility is enhanced by the synchronization of speech rhythms and slow neural oscillation, which is typically observed as human scalp electroencephalography (EEG). In addition to the effect of neural oscillation, it has been proposed that speech recognition is enhanced by the identification of a speaker’s motor signals, which are used for speech production. To verify the relationship between the effect of neural oscillation and motor cortical activity, we measured scalp EEG, and simultaneous EEG and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a speech recognition task in which participants were required to recognize spoken words embedded in noise sound. We proposed an index to quantitatively evaluate the EEG phase effect on behavioral performance. The results showed that the delta and theta EEG phase before speech inputs modulated the participant’s response time when conducting speech recognition tasks. The simultaneous EEG-fMRI experiment showed that slow EEG activity was correlated with motor cortical activity. These results suggested that the effect of the slow oscillatory phase was associated with the activity of the motor cortex during speech recognition.
A SURVEY ON AN ABETTOR INVASION IN VARIOUS KERNEL-BASED DATA MINING SYSTEMS

Data Mining is the process of discovering patterns in large datasets for analyzing and summarizing data into useful information. Data mining make contributions in the field of applications such as e-commerce, geo-and environmental sciences, medical field, etc. These applications store huge amount of datasets which must be granted with privacy. Threats and privacy issues are of great concern in the privacy preserving work of kernel-based data mining systems. One of the most significant attacks associated with kernel-based data mining systems are the insider attacks. There is a need of an automated system to assess the risk of data mining applications. This paper, proposes various mechanisms adopted to counter insider attacks. Finally there is a description of the drawbacks within these adopted methods that lead to their failure.
Cortical Areas Related to Attention to 3D Surface Structures Based on Shading: An fMRI Study

The aim of the present study was to determine which cortical areas are activated in relation to attention to a three-dimensional (3D) structure of a surface based on shading. Cortical activities were examined using functional magnetic resonance imaging while subjects discriminated whether the central part of the surface protruded or was recessed based on shading without any binocular disparity cues. Relatively broad cortical areas including both dorsal and ventral visual pathways were recruited when shading was used as a crucial cue for the perception of the 3D structure of a surface. In these cortical areas, however, the right intraparietal area was shown to be commonly activated in all subjects and in all sessions by multisubject conjunction analysis. These results strongly suggest that the intraparietal area plays an important role in perception of the 3D structure of a surface, even when based only on monocular depth cues without binocular disparity cues.
HLA-DRB 1 * 04 / * 13 alleles are associated with vascular disease and antiphospholipid antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus

HLA-DRB1*04/*13 alleles are associated with vascular disease and antiphospholipid antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus Emeli Lundström, Johanna T Gustafsson, Andreas Jönsen, Dag Leonard, Agneta Zickert, Kerstin Elvin, Gunnar Sturfelt, Gunnel Nordmark, Anders A Bengtsson, Ulf Sundin, Henrik Källberg, Johanna K Sandling, Ann-Christine Syvänen, Lars Klareskog, Iva Gunnarsson, Lars Rönnblom, Leonid Padyukov, Elisabet Svenungsson
Determinants of farm household food security in Hawi Gudina district, West Hararghe zone, Oromia Regional National State, Ethiopia

The study was designed to assess the food security status and determine factors influencing food security in Hawi Guddina district. Multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select sample households randomly from six Kebeles by using probability proportional to size. Both primary and secondary data were used. Data were collected primarily through interview schedule from 140 households. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Household calorie acquisition was analyzed to measure household food security status. Out of 140 households, 32.9 and 67.1% were food secure and insecure, respectively. The model was fitted with fifteen variables, of which five were found to be significant. Family size, livestock ownership, distance from market center, access to nonfarm activity and cash crop production were significant variables. The econometric result revealed that the probability of being food secure increase with high livestock ownership, access to nonfarm activity and producing cash crops while large family size and far from market center reduce the probability of household to be food secure. The study findings recommends, promotion of family planning program, develop infrastructure, provision of nonfarm activity and agricultural input and training for community should be considered to improve household’s food security. Key words: Binary Logit model, determinants of food security, farm household.
A needs assessment of medical school faculty: Caring for the caretakers

Introduction: We conducted an assessment of need for faculty development and mentoring in a medical school to guide program planning and use of scarce resources. Methods: A multifaceted approach included semi‐structured interviews, nominal group process, and a 36‐item questionnaire to reach all faculty in the school, including senior administrators. Results: With a 72% response rate, we validated the questionnaire and, using principal components analysis, identified and prioritized the eight interpretable subdimensions: personal growth, achieving balance, teaching, professional networking, research, administrative skills, career progression, and diversity/ethics. All groups of faculty prioritized learning for sustaining their vitality, balancing their personal and professional lives, finding meaning in their work, relationships, and personal growth. Senior administrators prioritized the following for faculty: time management, an institutional outlook, teamwork, and improved performance in teaching, research, and clinical practice. Junior faculty expressed the need for mentoring, scholarship, research, and career planning. Discussion: Attention to faculty humanistic needs and the disparity between the perceived needs by faculty and senior administrators may help explain the attrition of faculty in academic medicine.
Partial power DC-DC converter for electric vehicle fast charging stations

This paper proposes an interleaved partial power converter (PPC) for the DC-DC conversion stage of electric vehicles (EVs) fast charging stations. The proposed converter topology is based on the H-bridge DC-DC converter. PPC allows the converter to process only a fraction of the total power, the rest being bypassed and directly supplied to the load. This increases the converter efficiency, as only a portion of the power goes through the converter, thus increasing its efficiency. The principle of operation of the proposed PPC is theoretically analyzed. Simulations of the behavior of the proposed PPC are provided for the charging of an EV battery. Results show the good behavior of the proposed system. It is in particular verified that the proposed converter only process a fraction of the power around 36% for the entire output power range. Comparison with a classical full power converter is provided showing that the proposed topology leads to a significant improvement in terms of conversion efficiency, from 95.1% to 98.3%.
Controlling generic visualization environments using handheld devices and natural feature tracking

This paper presents a framework that enables human-machine interaction with generic visualization devices using personal consumer electronics equipment and scaleinvariant feature matching image processing techniques. The proposed implementation tracks the location and orientation of a generic mobile device equipped with an onboard camera and makes it possible to develop innovative and affordable user interfaces. The framework matches the time-variant features extracted from the frame buffer of a 2D or 3D scene with the features extracted from the camera-generated images that contain the displayed scene in order to derive positioning information with six degrees of freedom. Experimental results regarding precision, accuracy and latency confirmed the applicability of this solution as both an alternative user interface for desktop applications as well as an affordable method to support interaction with virtual environments.
11 × 171 Gb/s PDM 16-QAM transmission over 1440 km with a spectral efficiency of 6.4 b/s/Hz using high-speed DAC

We demonstrate 25-GHz-spaced eleven-channel 171 Gb/s PDM 16-QAM transmission over 1440 km. 16-QAM signals were generated by high-speed digital-to-analog converters. We achieved a record spectral efficiency-distance product of 9216 b/s/Hz-km (6.4 b/s/Hz × 1440 km) in the 16-QAM format.
Analysis and Monitoring of Coma Patients using Wearable Motion Sensor System

It is very essential to continuously monitor the unconscious/coma patients to understand their health condition. The main objective of the proposed is to accomplish two tasks. 1) Monitoring and alerting the medical person, when the comatose gains consciousness using motion detection system. 2) Continuous recording and analysis of vital signals of the patient such as Pulse rate and temperature and alert the doctor whenever attention is needed. Wearable Motion sensor system is used to monitor the body movements such as eye blink movement and hand movement to detect the conscious state of an individual. This system will be helpful in assisting the doctor about the health condition of the unconscious patient and alerting the doctor whenever care is required. The proposed system will assist the doctor by giving an alarm about the health condition of the patient, when the set of vital signals recorded are out of the normal range. These results are displayed on the computer and on the Liquid crystal display(LCD).
A pilot randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of inclusion of a distant learning component into empathy training

Background: Studies have shown a gradual decline in empathy of medical trainees with increasing years of education. Methods to augment empathy show some promise, but the most effective methods are both expensive and time consuming. To assess effectiveness of communication skills training program as a distant learning method in improving empathy. Methods: Fourteen first year residents of psychiatry were randomly allocated to either participate in a two day workshop on communications skills (attending group) or to watch the videotape of the first day and participate in the second day (distance learning group). Assessments included Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) and objective assessment of empathy (OAE) during a simulated interview, before and 3 months after the training. Results: The empathy was significantly increased in the attending group as measured by OAE. The score of JSE also increased in the attending group but did not reach a significance level. No increase in empathy was seen in the distance learning group. Conclusion: Watching the videotape of the workshop is not effective in improving empathy of residents. More interactive methods should be sought if we plan to use distance learning methods in enhancement of empathy.
TESTING FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY IN THE TRANSITION ECONOMIES OF EASTERN EUROPE: THE CASE OF POLAND (1999-2015)

This paper reassesses the sustainability of public finances in Poland during the last two decades, characterized by the end of the macroeconomic stabilization phase and the implementation of several structural reforms. Cointegration tests allowing for regime-shifts reveal that fiscal policy is “weakly” sustainable, due to a significant divergence between revenues and expenditures in more recent years. Moreover, different from earlier research, I find strong support for bi-directional causality between revenues and expenditures. The main policy implication is that, in order to qualify for EMU membership, Poland should pursue further fiscal consolidation in the years ahead, implementing a more balanced fiscal-mix between revenue enhancement and expenditure reduction measures. La sostenibilita della politica fiscale nelle economie post-comuniste dell’Est Europa: il caso della Polonia (1999-2015) L’articolo analizza la sostenibilita delle finanze pubbliche in Polonia nel corso degli ultimi due decenni, caratterizzati dalla fine della fase di stabilizzazione macroeconomica e dalla realizzazione di numerose riforme strutturali. L’applicazione di test di cointegrazione che incorporano la possibilita di breaks strutturali evidenzia che la politica fiscale e “debolmente” sostenibile, a causa di una significativa divergenza tra entrate e spese negli anni piu recenti. Inoltre, diversamente dalla letteratura precedente, si riscontra l’esistenza di una significativa relazione di causalita bi-direzionale tra entrate e spese. La principale implicazione di politica economica e che, al fine di rispettare i criteri per l’ingresso nell’Unione Monetaria Europea, la Polonia dovrebbe proseguire il processo di consolidamento fiscale nei prossimi anni, nel contesto di una politica fiscale piu equilibrata tra misure di aumento delle entrate e provvedimenti di riduzione della spesa pubblica.
Title Prevention of surgical site infection after oral cancer surgery by topicaltetracycline

Background: In a pilot study, we showed that topical administration of a tetracycline could decrease oral bacteria levels for 6hours in patients who underwent oral cancer surgery combined with tracheotomy and flap reconstruction. This multicenter, randomized control trial aimed to investigate the effectiveness of topical application of tetracycline ointment for prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) associated with major oral cancer surgery. Methods: One hundred seventeen patients who underwent oral cancer resection combined with neck dissection, flap reconstruction, and tracheotomy were divided randomly into an intervention group (n=56) and a control group (n=61). The intervention consisted of topical administration of tetracycline ointment on the dorsum of the tongue every 6hours for 48hours postoperatively. Factors relating to the occurrence of SSI in both groups were subjected to logistic regression analysis. Results: SSI occurred in 11 patients (19.6%) in the intervention group and 22 patients (36.1%) in the control group. Multivariate analysis showed that a longer operating time and not receiving topical tetracycline were independent risk factors for development of SSI. Conclusion:Administration of topical tetracycline for 48hours postoperatively is an effective way of preventing SSI after oral cancer surgery. Abbreviations: CDC = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, RCT = randomized control trial, SSI = surgical site infection.
Localization Assistance for Multiple Mobile Robots using Target Tracking Techniques

Developing autonomous mobile robots that can coexist with human in populated environments is still considered a big challenge. To address this problem the authors propose a novel scheme to assist mobile robots by providing localization information externally. In the proposed scheme, the environment is sensed using a laser range finder and camera based sensor unit. Using RaoBlackwellized particle filter technique, the robots that need assistance are continuously tracked. In contrast with conventional laser range finder based tracking systems, the placement of sensor is changed to a level above average human height and the mobile robots are modified by attaching a cylindrical pole. The experiments show the validity of the proposed scheme for simultaneous localization assistance for multiple mobile robots. Two mobile robots were simultaneously navigated in given trajectories using assistance data, successfully.
Nonlinear Estimation Techniques for Navigation

Optimal estimation techniques have revolutionized the integration of multiple sensors for navigation applications. These estimation techniques typically make assumptions about the sensor measurements, namely the sensor measurements and errors are well modeled as linear, Gaussian systems. Unfortunately, there is a large class of potential navigation sources which are non-linear, non-Gaussian or both. This motivates the development and exploration of nonlinear estimation techniques suitable for integrated navigation systems.
Job Polarization and Jobless Recoveries

Abstract Job polarization refers to the shrinking share of employment in middle-skill, routine occupations experienced over the past 35 years. Jobless recoveries refers to the slow rebound in aggregate employment following recent recessions despite recoveries in aggregate output. We show how these two phenomena are related. First, essentially all employment loss in routine occupations occurs in economic downturns. Second, jobless recoveries in the aggregate can be accounted for by jobless recoveries in the routine occupations that are disappearing.
Market discipline? Sovereign spreads, ﬁscal adjustments, and political turnover

How do sovereign default spreads inﬂuence macroeconomic policies? Do they have a disciplining eﬀect on ﬁscal policy? How do they impact election outcomes? We rely on a large data set to address these questions: it contains quarterly observations for 38 countries since the early 1990s. We classify a large increase of the sovereign default premium as a “treatment” and estimate the probability of a country to receive such a treatment at a given point in time (“propensity score”). To account for the potential endogeneity of treatment, we follow Jordà and Taylor (2016) and weight observations with the inverse of their propensity score, as we estimate the average treatment eﬀect on a number of outcome variables. We ﬁnd that extraordinary spread increases a) impact output adversely and persistently, b) induce a gradual and lasting reduction of government spending and c) raise the probability that the next election brings about a change of government
Determination of Correction Factor for the Calculation of 24 Hour I-131 Thyroid Uptake by Gamma Camera with HEGP Collimator

DOI: 10.21276/sjams.2018. 6.6. 55 Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the correction factor for the calculation of 24 hour I-131 thyroid uptake using a Gamma Camera with HEGP Collimator in patients with thyroid disease. This study we initially performed on phantom and in second phase it was performed on randomly chosen 25 patients to ascertain the appropriate value of correction factor for the calculation of gamma camera based thyroid uptake. In these patients had benign thyroid disorders and most of who had been referred for Thyroid evaluation before radioiodine-131 treatment. For this study Neck Phantom (Capintec Inc., Ramsey, USA), made up of Lucite, Gamma Camera (Discovery NMCT/670, GE make, USA), Thyroid uptake probe (Captus 3000, Capintec Inc, USA), Pipettes (Tarson made) and Dose Calibrator (Captus 3000, Capintec Inc, USA) were used and fine tune the others relevant parameter. The desired amount of radioiodine-131 Sodium Iodide solution activity i.e. 1.85MBq (50 μCi) was prepared with the help of pipetting technique and was administered to the patient with adequate flushing of the vial to ensure maximum oral administration of the dose. Radioiodine-131 uptake was usually measured at 25 cm distance from the face of the crystal to the anterior neck or phantom and also 24 hours thyroid uptake was calculated by using a probe-based method and a camera-based method with a highenergy parallel-hole (HEGP) collimator. Gamma camera based thyroid uptake was calculated by two method syringe method and decay correction method for later method first we need to derived appropriate correction factor and then applies it. Radioiodine thyroid uptake value was measured by syringe method with gamma camera had a significant difference when we compare with the value we got by thyroid uptake probe. Therefore we need to derive an appropriate correction factor and by applying a study specific correction factor in gamma camera uptake value, we can equate the uptake value of probe method and gamma camera method. When we apply a correction factor 0.87 derived for gamma camera based thyroid uptake measurement we found that the uptake values with the help of gamma camera was very close to the uptake value obtains by thyroid probe system. Radioiodine-131 thyroid uptake measured by proper ROIs and corrected by applying correction factor 0.87 the gamma camera with High energy collimator (HEGP) method can yield accurate and consistent result and thus the camera based method is a good substitute for the thyroid probe based method.
Xhe2 is a member of the astacin family of metalloproteases that promotes Xenopus hatching

Transcription factors Pax3 and Zic1 are among the earliest genes activated at the neural plate border. In Xenopus, they are necessary and sufficient to promote the formation of multiple neural plate border cell types, including the neural crest, cranial placodes, and hatching gland. Pax3 is especially critical for the formation of the hatching gland, a group of cells that produce proteolytic enzymes essential to digest the egg vitelline envelope and jelly coat in order to release the tadpole into the environment. In a screen designed to identify downstream targets of Pax3, we isolated a member of the astacin family of metalloproteases, related to Xenopus hatching enzyme (Xhe), that we named Xhe2. Xhe2 is exclusively expressed in hatching gland cells as they first emerge at the lateral edge of the anterior neural plate, and persists in this tissue up to the tadpole stage. Knockdown experiments show that Xhe2 expression depends entirely on Pax3 function. Gain‐of‐function studies demonstrate that Pax3 can induce premature hatching through the upregulation of several proteolytic enzymes including Xhe2. Interestingly, Xhe2 overexpression is sufficient to induce early hatching, indicating that Xhe2 is one of the key components of the degradation mechanism responsible for breaking down the vitelline membrane. genesis 52:946–951, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.