Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ERP signal estimation from single trial EEG

Non-invasive EEG recordings are subject to effects such as surface conduction, resulting in very low signal to noise ratio (SNR). The conventional approach of using signal averaging to improve the SNR cannot be used for single trial EEG estimation. As such, this paper proposes a beamforming based technique that can be used to improve the signal quality from a signal trial EEG measurement. Results on experimental data show that the proposed technique can successfully isolate the signal of interest from background processes.
Myostatin gene knockout mediated by Cas9-D10A nickase in chicken DF1 cells without off-target effect

Objective Based on rapid advancement of genetic modification techniques, genomic editing is expected to become the most efficient tool for improvement of economic traits in livestock as well as poultry. In this study, we examined and verified the nickase of mutated CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) to modulate the specific target gene in chicken DF1 cells. Methods Chicken myostatin which inhibits muscle cell growth and differentiation during myogenesis was targeted to be deleted and mutated by the Cas9-D10A nickase. After co-transfection of the nickase expression vector with green fluorescent gene (GFP) gene and targeted multiplex guide RNAs (gRNAs), the GFP-positive cells were sorted out by fluorescence-activated cell sorting procedure. Results Through the genotyping analysis of the knockout cells, the mutant induction efficiency was 100% in the targeted site. Number of the deleted nucleotides ranged from 2 to 39 nucleotide deletion. There was no phenotypic difference between regular cells and knockout cells. However, myostatin protein was not apparently detected in the knockout cells by Western blotting. Additionally, six off-target sites were predicted and analyzed but any non-specific mutation in the off-target sites was not observed. Conclusion The knockout technical platform with the nickase and multiplex gRNAs can be efficiently and stablely applied to functional genomics study in poultry and finally adapted to generate the knockout poultry for agribio industry.
A middleware for task allocation in wireless sensor networks

Resource constrained platforms, dynamic nature, and complex applications set challenges to the development of wireless sensor networks (WSN). Sophisticated tasking and networking control is required in WSNs to reach lifetimes in order of years. This paper presents a WSN node middleware, which controls task allocation and WSN topology according to the current requirements of the application. The middleware uses a lightweight algorithm that balances communication and computation load between nodes. The discovering of resources and application tasks are comprised by a tuple space that selectively disperses information to nodes. The middleware has been implemented and evaluated in a wireless sensor network simulator (WISENES) that models resource usage and network operation accurately. The results show that in a static network configuration the obtained lifetime with our middleware is 6.8 times longer compared to an uncontrolled network while the increase in processing is negligible and the peek data memory usage increases by 11.6%. In a dynamically changing network the lifetime increases by a factor 3.9. Our middleware does not limit the applications and networks and improves the performance and predictability of WSNs significantly
NR4A3, a possibile oncogenic factor for neuroblastoma associated with CpGi methylation within the third exon

Aberrant methylation of Nr4a3 exon 3 CpG island (CpGi) was initially identified during multistep mouse skin carcinogenesis. Nr4a3 is also known as a critical gene for neuronal development. Thus, we examined the Nr4a3 exon 3 CpGi methylation in mouse brain tissues from 15-day embryos, newborns and 12-week-old adults and found significant increase of its methylation and Nr4a3 expression during mouse brain development after birth. In addition, homologous region in human genome was frequently and aberrantly methylated in neuroblastoma specimens. A quantitative analysis of DNA methylation revealed that hypomethylation of CpG islands on NR4A3 exon 3, but not on exon 1 was identified in three neuroblastomas compared with matched adrenal glands. Additional analysis for 20 neuroblastoma patients was performed and 8 of 20 showed hypomethylation of the CpGi on NR4A3 exon 3. The survival rate of those 8 patients was significantly lower compared with those in patients with hypermethylation. Immunohistochemical NR4A3 expression was generally faint in neuroblastoma tissues compared with normal tissues. Moreover, the MYCN amplified NB9 cell line showed hypomethylation and low expression of NR4A3, while the non-MYCN amplified NB69 cell line showed hypermethylation and high expression. These results indicate that DNA hypomethylation of the CpGi at NR4A3 exon 3 is associated with low NR4A3 expression, and correlates with poor prognosis of neuroblastoma. Since NR4A3 upregulation associated with the hypermethylation and neuronal differentiation in mice, poor prognosis of neuroblastoma associated with NR4A3 low expression may be partly explained by dysregulation of its differentiation.
Effects of Target Expansion on Selection Performance in Older Computer Users

Point and click interactions using a mouse are an integral part of computer use for current desktop systems. Compared with younger users though, older adults experience greater difficulties performing cursor positioning tasks, and this can present limitations to using a computer easily and effectively. Target expansion is a technique for improving pointing performance where the target grows dynamically as the cursor approaches. This has the advantage that targets conserve screen real estate in their unexpanded state, yet can still provide the benefits of a larger area to click on. This article presents two studies of target expansion with older and younger participants, involving multidirectional point-select tasks with a computer mouse. Study 1 compares static versus expanding targets, and Study 2 compares static targets with three alternative techniques for expansion. Results show that expansion can improve times by up to 14%, and reduce error rates by up to 50%. Additionally, expanding targets are beneficial even when the expansion happens late in the movement, that is, after the cursor has reached the expanded target area or even after it has reached the original target area. The participants’ subjective feedback on the target expansion are generally favorable, and this lends further support for the technique.
The Influence of Different Glucose Concentrations in Haemodialysis Solutions on Metabolism and Blood Pressure Stability in Diabetic Patients

In recent years the percentage of diabetic patients on haemodialysis has increased. Considering the high frequency of intradialytic hypotensive and hypoglycaemic episodes experienced by these patients, it was the aim of the present study to evaluate the influence of different dialysate glucose concentrations (5.5 mmol/L or 11 mmol/L) on blood pressure and glycaemic regulation, using special dialysis equipment - the GENIUS® System. This cross-over, prospective and randomised study, total duration 14 weeks, included 20 diabetic patients on maintenance haemodialysis. Group 1: 9 patients dialysed using dialysate with a glucose concentration of 5.5 mmol/L and after 7 weeks switched to dialysate with a glucose concentration of 11 mmol/L. Group 2: vice versa. Results show a statistically higher number of patients with hypoglycaemic and hypotensive episodes using dialysate with a 5.5 mmol/L glucose concentration. Also, mean serum glucose values were higher during haemodialysis sessions with a glucose dialysate concentration of 11 mmol/L. There were no statistical differences between the groups in laboratory values, HbA1C, insulin doses or in anthropometric parameters. Our results suggest that fewer diabetic patients undergoing haemodialysis using a higher dialysate glucose concentration of 11 mmol/L have hypoglycaemic and hypotensive episodes. Since this dialysate glucose concentration had no influence on lipid or hepatic metabolism, anthropometric parameters and especially HbA1C values in this short-term study, the long term examination of its effects is warranted.
Glaucoma-related Changes in the Mechanical Properties and Collagen Micro-architecture of the Human Sclera

Objective The biomechanical behavior of the sclera determines the level of mechanical insult from intraocular pressure to the axons and tissues of the optic nerve head, as is of interest in glaucoma. In this study, we measure the collagen fiber structure and the strain response, and estimate the material properties of glaucomatous and normal human donor scleras. Methods Twenty-two posterior scleras from normal and diagnosed glaucoma donors were obtained from an eyebank. Optic nerve cross-sections were graded to determine the presence of axon loss. The specimens were subjected to pressure-controlled inflation testing. Full-field displacement maps were measured by digital image correlation (DIC) and spatially differentiated to compute surface strains. Maps of the collagen fiber structure across the posterior sclera of each inflated specimen were obtained using synchrotron wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). Finite element (FE) models of the posterior scleras, incorporating a specimen-specific representation of the collagen structure, were constructed from the DIC-measured geometry. An inverse finite element analysis was developed to estimate the stiffness of the collagen fiber and inter-fiber matrix. Results The differences between glaucoma and non-glaucoma eyes were small in magnitude. Sectorial variations of degree of fiber alignment and peripapillary scleral strain significantly differed between normal and diagnosed glaucoma specimens. Meridional strains were on average larger in diagnosed glaucoma eyes compared with normal specimens. Non-glaucoma specimens had on average the lowest matrix and fiber stiffness, followed by undamaged glaucoma eyes, and damaged glaucoma eyes but the differences in stiffness were not significant. Conclusion The observed biomechanical and microstructural changes could be the result of tissue remodeling occuring in glaucoma and are likely to alter the mechanical environment of the optic nerve head and contribute to axonal damage.
Mechanism Design for Mobile Geo-Location Advertising

Mobile geo-location advertising, where mobile ads are targeted based on a user’s location, has been identified as a key growth factor for the mobile market. As with online advertising, a crucial ingredient for their success is the development of effective economic mechanisms. An important difference is that mobile ads are shown sequentially over time and information about the user can be learned based on their movements. Furthermore, ads need to be shown selectively to prevent ad fatigue. To this end, we introduce, for the first time, a user model and suitable economic mechanisms which take these factors into account. Specifically, we design two truthful mechanisms which produce an advertisement plan based on the user’s movements. One mechanism is allocatively efficient, but requires exponential compute time in the worst case. The other requires polynomial time, but is not allocatively efficient. Finally, we experimentally evaluate the trade off between compute time and efficiency of our mechanisms.
Protein profile in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis as revealed by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and western blot analysis.

So far bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)-protein in interstitial lung disease (ILD) is evaluated by measuring concentrations of single proteins. Due to the high dilution of most proteins in BAL, analysis of protein profile has been disappointing. This study describes a new method to overcome this problem and to reveal a highly differentiated picture of BAL proteins. Eighteen patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis, 18 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and 22 patients with no clinical, roentgenologic or functional evidence of ILD underwent BAL. Total and differential cell count was performed. Normal values for the control group, a lymphocytic alveolitis in sarcoidosis and a granulocytic alveolitis in IPF-patients were found. Median total protein concentration in sarcoidosis showed an increase five times higher than that of the controls (150 mg 1(-1) and 27 mg 1(-1), respectively) with p < 0.001, IPF protein concentration (58 mg 1(-1)) exceeded twice the control values (0.01 > p > 0.001). Analysis of electrophoretic protein profile in controls with Western blot analysis and the biotin/streptavidin staining system revealed a highly differentiated range of bands. Staining with immunoglobulin antibody identified six bands. Four proteins with molecular weight < 21.000 dalton were present only in sarcoidosis patients. These proteins may be identical with fragmented serum proteins or different cell mediators detected in alveolar cell supernatants. Furthermore, in sarcoidosis the intensity and number of bands with molecular weight more than 67.000 dalton was increased. This gives strong evidence for an injury of the alveolar membrane integrity in the alveolitis during the course of sarcoidosis. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Plasma Concentration of Topiramate Correlates With Cerebrospinal Fluid Concentration

The authors examined the ratio between the plasma and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentration of topiramate in 14 adults with epilepsy. Simultaneous trough samples of venous blood and CSF were collected and analyzed as total and unbound concentrations. Concomitant levels were also analyzed of lamotrigine (n = 5) and the relevant oxcarbazepine metabolite, 10-hydroxycarbazepine (n = 3). There was a close correlation between the plasma and the CSF concentration for both the total and unbound concentration of topiramate. The median CSF/plasma ratio of total topiramate was 0.85. The free topiramate concentration in plasma was not different from the free topiramate concentration in CSF. The CSF/plasma ratios showed little variation and were independent of the plasma level for both the total and the unbound levels. The unbound fraction of topiramate was 84% in plasma and 97% in CSF. The CSF concentrations of lamotrigine and 10-hydroxycarbazepine were 50% and 61% of the plasma concentrations, respectively. For topiramate, there is a close correlation between the plasma concentration and the CSF concentration. There does not seem to be a saturable carrier mechanism restricting topiramate transport across the blood–brain barrier. The concentration of topiramate in CSF is equal to the unbound proportion of topiramate in plasma, implying that the delivery of topiramate to the brain occurs via transfer from the unbound plasma pool. Plasma is thus a relevant matrix for therapeutic drug monitoring of topiramate.
A System for Characterising Internet Background Radiation Literature Review

This literature review introduces the reader to Internet Background Radiation (IBR), both its components and common recording practices. In doing so, it will set up a theoretical basis for the construction of the IBR characterisation system to follow. The literature review is split into three main parts. Section 2 provides background information on IBR and its components: worms, scanning activities, backscatter from reflected distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, and misconfigurations. These are the sources of the data being characterised. Section 3 discusses the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), the protocol used on the internet for routing packets between Autonomous Systems (ASs). This is of interest as the construction of live BGP tables for the collected data may provide a way of discovering spoofed IP addresses. Section 4 provides information on IBR collection tools and analysis methods. The collection tools discussed are darknets (also called network telescopes, sinkholes, blackhole monitors or background radiation monitors (Bailey et al., 2006)) and greynets (Harrop & Armitage, 2005). In this literature review, darknets and greynets will both referred to as network telescopes, with the terms “darknet” or “greynet” being used when more specificity is required. The analysis tools discussed are packet-level analysis, network flows and and honeynets. This section also delves into previous work in characterising network activities with statistical tools. This will form a basis for the system implemented in this study. In this literature review, the CIDR notations /8, /16 and /24 will be used to refer to the traditional pre-CIDR Class A, Class B and Class C subnets (Fuller et al., 1993) respectively, in order to maintain consistency with the referencing of differently sized IPv4 subnets (such as /19s). The number following the “/” denotes the number of fixed bits (out of 32 total bits) in each of the addresses within the subnet.
Statistical warehousing on the Web: navigating troubled waters

The paper describes the main issues related to the dis- semination of statistical aggregate data on the Web, and DaWinciMD, a Web-enabled multidimensional statistical database. It is shown that statistical databases have several distinguishing features with respect to conventional busi- ness data warehouses, mainly related to problems of pri- vacy preserving and significance of the disseminated data, thus requiring specific adaptations of the usual modeling and interaction paradigms. The main features of DaW- inciMD are illustrated, with a particular focus on the under- lying metadata approach to statistical data modeling and its multidimensional navigation user interface, combining the flexibility of conventional data warehouses with the specific requirements arising from the statistical context.
A realistic walking model for enhancing redirection in virtual reality

Redirected walking algorithms require the prediction of human motion in order to effectively steer users away from the boundaries of the physical space. While a virtual walking trajectory may be represented using straight lines connecting waypoints of interest, this simple model does not accurately represent typical user behavior. In this poster we present a more realistic walking model for use in real-time virtual environments that employ redirection techniques. We implemented the model within a framework that can be used for simulation of redirected walking within different virtual and physical environments. Such simulations are useful for the evaluation of redirected walking algorithms and the tuning of parameters under varying conditions. Additionally, the model can also be used to animate an artificial humanoid “ghost walker” to provide a visual demonstration of redirected walking in virtual reality.
Ethical and Legal Strategies for Protecting Confidential Research Information

Abstract The paper begins with an outline of some legal and ethical principles regarding research confidentiality that frame researchers' choices, and then reviews the common law on privilege in Canada and the U.S. to show how researchers can design their research to maximise the legal protection of confidential research information. The paper describes various disciplinary ethics codes and the new federal Tri-Council Policy Statement on ethics to illustrate the principles that should be considered in the unlikely event that a Canadian court orders disclosure of confidential information that could harm a research participant. We conclude by proposing that universities and the three granting councils should campaign for statutory protection of research participants along the lines of the confidentiality certificates that are currently available in the United States for research on sensitive topics such as drug use, criminal activities, sexual behaviour, and genetic information. Résumé L'article commence par tracer les principes de droit et de l'éthique concernant la confidentialité de la recherche. La jurisprudence de privilège au Canada et aux Etats-Unis est considérée pour démontrer comment on peut utiliser le droit afin d'augmenter les protections légales des sujets de recherche. Nous décrivons les codes d'éthiques des associations de différentes disciplines scientifiques ainsi que celui du nouvel Énoncé de politique des trois Conseils pour illustrer les principes dont on devrait tenir compte au cas ou un tribunal canadien exigerait d'un/e chercheur/e qu'il/elle révèle des informations confidentielles pouvant heurter un sujet de recherche. Nous proposons que les universités et les trois Conseils de recherche luttent pour l'obtention de protections statutaires, tels les certificats de confidentialité utilisés aux Etats-Unis, pour les recherches portant sur des sujets particulièrement sensibles comme par exemple, l'usage de la drogue, les activités criminelles, le comportement sexuel et l'information génétique.
Lipid and Lipoprotein Profiles in Youth With and Without Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE—The purpose of this study was to compare the lipid profile and the prevalence of lipid abnormalities in youth with and without type 1 diabetes and explore the role of glycemic control on the hypothesized altered lipid profile in youth with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 512 youth with type 1 diabetes (mean duration 4.22 years) and 188 healthy control subjects aged 10–22 years in Colorado and South Carolina. SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth (SEARCH) participants with type 1 diabetes and healthy control subjects recruited from primary care offices in the same geographic regions were invited to attend a research visit. Fasting lipid profiles were compared between youth with type 1 diabetes (stratified according to categories of optimal [A1C <7.5%] and suboptimal [A1C ≥7.5%] glycemic control) and healthy nondiabetic youth, using multiple linear and logistic regression. RESULTS—Youth with type 1 diabetes and optimal A1C had lipid concentrations that were similar (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and LDL particle size) or even less atherogenic (HDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, and triglyceride–to–HDL cholesterol ratio) than those observed in nondiabetic youth, whereas youth with suboptimal glycemic control had elevated standard lipid levels (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and non-HDL cholesterol). Youth with type 1 diabetes also had significantly elevated apolipoprotein B levels and more small, dense LDL particles than nondiabetic youth, regardless of glycemic control. CONCLUSIONS—Youth with type 1 diabetes have abnormal lipid levels and atherogenic changes in lipoprotein composition, even after a relatively short disease duration. As in adults, glycemic control is an important mediator of these abnormalities.