Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Eye fixation related potentials in a target search task

Typically BCI (Brain Computer Interfaces) are found in rehabilitative or restorative applications, often allowing users a medium of communication that is otherwise unavailable through conventional means. Recently, however, there is growing interest in using BCI to assist users in searching for images. A class of neural signals often leveraged in common BCI paradigms are ERPs (Event Related Potentials), which are present in the EEG (Electroencephalograph) signals from users in response to various sensory events. One such ERP is the P300, and is typically elicited in an oddball experiment where a subject's attention is orientated towards a deviant stimulus among a stream of presented images. It has been shown that these types of neural responses can be used to drive an image search or labeling task, where we can rank images by examining the presence of such ERP signals in response to the display of images. To date, systems like these have been demonstrated when presenting sequences of images containing targets at up to 10Hz, however, the target images in these tasks do not necessitate any kind of eye movement for their detection because the targets in the images are quite salient. In this paper we analyse the presence of discriminating EEG signals when they are offset to the time of eye fixations in a visual search task where detection of target images does require eye fixations.
Scheduling Advertisement Delivery in Vehicular Networks

Vehicular users are emerging as a prime market for targeted advertisement, where advertisements (ads) are sent from network points of access to vehicles, and displayed to passengers only if they are relevant to them. In this study, we take the viewpoint of a broker managing the advertisement system, and getting paid every time a relevant ad is displayed to an interested user. The broker selects the ads to broadcast at each point of access so as to maximize its revenue. In this context, we observe that choosing the ads that best fit the users’ interest could actually hurt the broker's revenue. In light of this conflict, we present Volfied, an algorithm allowing for conflict-free, near-optimal ad selection with very low computational complexity. Our performance evaluation, carried out through real-world vehicular traces, shows that Volfied increases the broker revenue by up to 70 percent with provably low computational complexity, compared to state-of-the-art alternatives.
Habitual Flavonoid Intake from Fruit and Vegetables during Adolescence and Serum Lipid Levels in Early Adulthood: A Prospective Analysis

Flavonoids have been implicated in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In a prospective approach, we investigated whether habitual flavonoid intake from fruit, vegetables and juices (FlavFVJ) during adolescence is associated with adult levels of serum lipids, one of the main CVD risk factors. This analysis included healthy participants from the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) study, who had provided a fasting blood sample in adulthood (aged 18–39 years), data on FlavFVJ intake during adolescence (females: 9–15 years, males: 10–16 years)—estimated either from multiple 3-day weighed dietary records (n = 257), or from validated biomarker hippuric acid (uHA) excretion from multiple 24-h urine samples (n = 233)—together with information on relevant covariates. In multivariable linear regression analyses, a higher FlavFVJ intake during adolescence was independently associated with higher serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels among males (Ptrend = 0.038); however, the inclusion of adult waist circumference attenuated this association (Ptrend = 0.053). FlavFVJ was not associated with triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; all Ptrend ≥ 0.1), nor was uHA excretion with any serum lipid outcome among males (all Ptrend ≥ 0.5). Neither FlavFVJ intake nor uHA excretion was associated with serum lipids among women (all Ptrend ≥ 0.1). However, a higher flavonoid intake from fruit and vegetables was independently related to lower LDL-C levels (Ptrend = 0.021), while a higher intake from juices was associated with higher LDL-C levels (Ptrend = 0.016) among females. In conclusion, a higher flavonoid intake from fruit, vegetables and/or juices during adolescence may be linked to cholesterol levels in early adulthood in a sex- and food source-specific manner.
Coronial Practice, Indigeneity and Suicide

All available data suggest that, like many other Indigenous peoples, Australian Aborigines are significantly more likely to kill themselves than are non-Aboriginal Australians. This statistical disparity is normally positioned an objective, ontological and undeniable social fact, a fact best explained as a function of endemic community disadvantage and disenfranchisement. This research explores the possibility that higher-than-normal Aboriginal suicide rates may also be a function of coronial decision-making practices. Based upon in-depth interviews with 32 coroners from across Australia, the following conclusions emerged from the data. First, coroners have differing perceptions of Indigenous capacity, and are less likely to have concerns about intent when the suicide is committed by an Indigenous person. Second, coroners have identified divergent scripts of Indigenous suicide, particularly its spontaneity and public location, and this supports rather than challenges, a finding of suicide. Third, the coronial perception of Indigenous life is a factor which influences a suicide determination for Indigenous deaths. Finally, the low level of Indigenous engagement with the coronial system, and the unlikelihood of a challenge to the finding of suicide by Indigenous families, means that a coronial determination of suicide is more likely.
Evaluation of Project P.A.T.H.S. (Secondary 2 Program) by the Program Implementers: Findings Based on the Experimental Implementation Phase

A total of 49 schools (N = 8,167 students) participated in the Secondary 2 Program of the Experimental Implementation Phase of the Project P.A. T.H. S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes). After completion of the Tier 1 Program, 270 instructors completed the Subjective Outcome Evaluation Form (Form B) to assess their views of the program, their own performance, and perceived effectiveness of the program. Based on the consolidated reports submitted by the schools to the funding body, the research team aggregated the consolidated data to form a “reconstructed” overall profile on the perceptions of the program implementers. Results showed that high proportions of the instructors had positive perceptions of the program and their own performance, and over 90% of the instructors regarded the program as helpful to the program participants. These findings are consistent with the subjective outcome evaluation findings based on the perspective of the program participants.
Strategies to cure numerical shock instability in the HLLEM Riemann solver

The HLLEM scheme is a popular contact and shear preserving approximate Riemann solver that is known to be plagued by various forms of numerical shock instability. In this paper, we clarify that the shock instability exhibited by this scheme is primarily triggered by the spurious activation of the antidiffusive terms present in the first and third Riemann flux components on the transverse interfaces adjoining the shock front due to numerical perturbations. These erroneously activated terms are shown to counteract the favorable damping mechanism provided by its inherent HLL‐type diffusive terms, causing an unphysical variation of the conserved quantity ρu both along and across the numerical shock. To prevent this, two distinct strategies are proposed termed as Selective Wave Modification and Anti Diffusion Control. The former focuses on enhancing the quantity of the favorable HLL‐type dissipation available on these critical flux components by carefully increasing the magnitudes of certain nonlinear wave speed estimates, while the latter focuses on directly controlling the magnitude of these critical antidiffusive terms. A linear perturbation analysis is performed to gauge the effectiveness of these cures and to estimate a von Neumann–type stability bounds on the CFL number associated with their use. Results from a variety of classic shock instability test cases show that the proposed strategies are able to provide excellent shock stable solutions even on grids that are highly elongated across the shock front without compromising the accuracy on inviscid contact or shear dominated viscous flows.
Physiology, gene expression, and metabolome of two wheat cultivars with contrasting submergence tolerance.

Responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum) to complete submergence are not well understood as research has focused on waterlogging (soil flooding). The aim of this study was to characterize the responses of 2 wheat cultivars differing vastly in submergence tolerance to test if submergence tolerance was linked to shoot carbohydrate consumption as seen in rice. Eighteen-day-old wheat cultivars Frument (intolerant) and Jackson (tolerant) grown in soil were completely submerged for up to 19 days while assessing responses in physiology, gene expression, and shoot metabolome. Results revealed 50% mortality after 9.3 and 15.9 days of submergence in intolerant Frument and tolerant Jackson, respectively, and significantly higher growth in Jackson during recovery. Frument displayed faster leaf degradation as evident from leaf tissue porosity, chlorophylla , and metabolomic fingerprinting. Surprisingly, shoot soluble carbohydrates, starch, and individual sugars declined to similarly low levels in both cultivars by day 5, showing that cultivar Jackson tolerated longer periods of low shoot carbohydrate levels than Frument. Moreover, intolerant Frument showed higher levels of phytol and the lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehyde relative to tolerant Jackson. Consequently, we propose to further investigate the role of ethylene sensitivity and deprivation of reactive O2 species in submerged wheat.
Brain Oscillatory and Hemodynamic Activity in a Bimanual Coordination Task Following Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS): A Combined EEG-fNIRS Study

Motor control is associated with synchronized oscillatory activity at alpha (8–12 Hz) and beta (12–30 Hz) frequencies in a cerebello-thalamo-cortical network. Previous studies demonstrated that transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is capable of entraining ongoing oscillatory activity while also modulating motor control. However, the modulatory effects of tACS on both motor control and its underlying electro- and neurophysiological mechanisms remain ambiguous. Thus, the purpose of this study was to contribute to gathering neurophysiological knowledge regarding tACS effects by investigating the after-effects of 10 Hz tACS and 20 Hz tACS at parietal brain areas on bimanual coordination and its concurrent oscillatory and hemodynamic activity. Twenty-four right-handed healthy volunteers (12 females) aged between 18 and 30 (M = 22.35 ± 3.62) participated in the study and performed a coordination task requiring bimanual movements. Concurrent to bimanual motor training, participants received either 10 Hz tACS, 20 Hz tACS or a sham stimulation over the parietal cortex (at P3/P4 electrode positions) for 20 min via small gel electrodes (3,14 cm2 Ag/AgCl, amperage = 1 mA). Before and three time-points after tACS (immediately, 30 min and 1 day), bimanual coordination performance was assessed. Oscillatory activities were measured by electroencephalography (EEG) and hemodynamic changes were examined using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Improvements of bimanual coordination performance were not differently between groups, thus, no tACS-specific effect on bimanual coordination performance emerged. However, physiological measures during the task revealed significant increases in parietal alpha activity immediately following 10 Hz tACS and 20 Hz tACS which were accompanied by significant decreases of Hboxy concentration in the right hemispheric motor cortex compared to the sham group. Based on the physiological responses, we conclude that tACS applied at parietal brain areas provoked electrophysiological and hemodynamic changes at brain regions of the motor network which are relevant for bimanual motor behavior. The existence of neurophysiological alterations immediately following tACS, especially in the absence of behavioral effects, are elementary for a profound understanding of the mechanisms underlying tACS. The lack of behavioral modifications strengthens the need for further research on tACS effects on neurophysiology and behavior using combined electrophysiological and neuroimaging methods.
Evaluation of antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and gastroprotective properties of Rubus fruticosus L. fruit juice

The juice of R. fruticosus (RFJ) fruits grown in Sicily was analysed for polyphenol compounds and tested to evaluate in vitro antioxidant and in vivo antiinflammatory and gastroprotective effects. RFJ, containing mainly anthocyanins, such as cyanidin derivatives, significant amounts of phenolic acids, and smaller amounts of flavonoids, showed significant antioxidant activity in DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical) (4,147.194 ± 17.199 mg trolox equivalent [TE]/100 ml), TE antioxidant capacity (8,312.444 ± 43.055 mg TE/100 ml), ferric reducing antioxidant power (2,177.830 ± 21.015 mg TE/100 ml), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (95,377.674 ± 616.194 μmol TE/100 ml juice), and β‐carotene bleaching (72% ± 4.58) assay. In vivo studies showed that RFJ inhibit significantly the carrageenan‐induced paw oedema (63–71%) in rats and possess antiinflammatory effects particularly significant in association with phenylbutazone (94–96%). In addition, RFJ pretreatment was able to prevent the ethanol‐induced ulcerogenic effect in rats. All in vivo results were corroborated by histopathological observations and are in good agreement with antioxidant activity, confirming the relationships between biological effects observed and radical scavenging properties of RFJ.
Consideration on step duration to assess open-loop static characteristics of the carotid sinus baroreflex in rats

The carotid sinus baroreflex is one of the most important negative feedback systems to stabilize arterial pressure. Although static characteristics of the carotid sinus baroreflex can be assessed by using a stepwise input protocol under baroreflex open-loop conditions, the step duration has been determined empirically. In the present study, we examined the effects of different time windows (5–10, 15–20, 25–30, 35–40, 45–50, and 55–60 s) on the static characteristics estimated by using a 60-s stepwise input protocol in 10 anesthetized rats. Based on the results, we compared the static characteristics between actual 60-s and 20-s stepwise input protocols. Most of the parameters of the static characteristics did not differ significantly between the 60-s and 20-s stepwise input protocols, suggesting that the open-loop baroreflex static characteristics can be estimated by using a stepwise input with the step duration as short as 20 s in normal rats.
Nullification test collections for web spam and SEO

Research in the area of adversarial information retrieval has been facilitated by the availability of the UK-2006/UK-2007 collections, comprising crawl data, link graph, and spam labels. However, research into nullifying the negative effect of spam or excessive search engine optimisation (SEO) on the ranking of non-spam pages is not well supported by these resources. Nor is the study of cloaking techniques or of click spam. Finally, the domain-restricted nature of a . uk crawl means that only parts of link-farm icebergs may be visible in these crawls. We introduce the term nullification which we define as "preventing problem pages from negatively affecting search results". We show some important differences between properties of current . uk-restricted crawls and those previously reported for the Web as a whole. We identify a need for an adversarial IR collection which is not domain-restricted and which is supported by a set of appropriate query sets and (optimistically) user-behaviour data. The billion-page unrestricted crawl being conducted by CMU (web09-bst) and which will be used in the 2009 TREC Web Track is assessed as a possible basis for a new AIR test collection. We discuss the pros and cons of its scale, and the feasibility of adding resources such as query lists to enhance the utility of the collection for AIR research.
An Improved PCR Protocol For Detection of Babesia duncanI In Wildlife and Vector Samples

Abstract Human babesiosis is a tick-borne protozoal disease of increasing clinical significance in North America. Most cases in the eastern and Midwestern regions of the United States are reportedly due to Babesia microti infections. By contrast, most human infections reported in California and Washington have been attributed to a new species that was first identified in 1991 and subsequently named Babesia duncani. Although the tick vector and mammalian reservoir hosts for B. microti are well characterized, the vector and reservoir hosts for B. duncani are unknown. As a result, specific risk factors for human infections cannot be characterized. Identification of potential hosts and vector species has been hampered by the lack of specific and sensitive molecular diagnostic tools to amplify parasite DNA. To address this need, a nested PCR assay targeting the β-tubulin gene, a well-conserved locus in piroplasm parasites with a highly variable intron region among species, was developed. The assay was evaluated by spiking tick and mammalian DNA extracts with DNA from a B. duncani isolate derived from a human patient (WA-1) as well as related Babesia spp. from Californian wildlife. This assay was highly specific, with a sensitivity of approximately 1 copy of template DNA in a background of tick DNA. At this level of detection B. duncani was detectable in larval tick samples, and the target locus allowed for visual differentiation between species by gel electrophoresis. This assay offers researchers a new tool for elucidating the natural transmission cycle of B. duncani.
A Stigmergy-Based Analysis of City Hotspots to Discover Trends and Anomalies in Urban Transportation Usage

A key aspect of a sustainable urban transportation system is the effectiveness of transportation policies. To be effective, a policy has to consider a broad range of elements, such as pollution emission, traffic flow, and human mobility. Due to the complexity and variability of these elements in the urban area, to produce effective policies remains a very challenging task. With the introduction of the smart city paradigm, a widely available amount of data can be generated in urban spaces. Such data can be a fundamental source of knowledge to improve policies because they can reflect the sustainability issues underlying the city. In this context, we propose an approach to exploit urban positioning data based on stigmergy, a bio-inspired mechanism providing scalar and temporal aggregation of samples. By employing stigmergy, samples in proximity with each other are aggregated into a functional structure called trail. The trail summarizes relevant dynamics in data and allows matching them, providing a measure of their similarity. Moreover, this mechanism can be specialized to unfold specific dynamics. Specifically, we identify high-density urban areas (i.e. hotspots), analyze their activity over time, and unfold anomalies. Furthermore, by matching activity patterns, a continuous measure of the dissimilarity with respect to the typical activity pattern is provided. This measure can be used by policy makers to evaluate the effect of policies and change them dynamically. As a case study, we analyze taxi trip data gathered in Manhattan from 2013 to 2015.
Three‐dimensional mapping of the joint space for the diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis based on high resolution computed tomography: Comparison with radiographic, outerbridge, and meniscal classifications

One of the most important characteristic of knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the joint space (JS) width narrowing. Measurements are usually performed on two dimensional (2D) X‐rays. We propose and validate a new method to assess the 3D joint space at the medial knee compartment using high resolution peripheral computed tomography images. A semi‐automated method was developed to obtain a distance 3D map between femur an tibia with the following parameters: volume, minimum, maximum, mean, standard deviation, median, asymmetry, and entropy. We analyzed 71 knee specimens (mean age: 85 years), radiographs were performed for the Kellgren Lawrence (KL) score grading. In a subgroup of 41 specimens, the histopathological Outerbridge and meniscal classifications were performed and then cores were harvested from the tibial plateau in three different positions (posterior, central, and peripheral) and imaged at 10 µm of resolution to measure the cartilage thickness. Minimum, maximum, mean, and median were statistically lower and entropy higher between knee specimens classified as KL = 0 and KL = 3–4. Gr1 and 2 were statistically different from Gr3‐4 for minimum, asymmetry, entropy using the Outerbridge classification and Gr1 was statistically different from Gr3–4 using the meniscal classification. Asymmetry, minimum, mean, median and entropy were significantly correlated with cartilage thickness. Parameters extracted from a 3D map of the medial joint space indicate local variations of JS and are related to local measurements of tibial cartilage thickness, and could be consequently useful to identify early OA. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research® Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society. J Orthop Res 36:2380–2391, 2018.
Assessment and follow-up of muscle injuries in athletes by bioimpedance: Preliminary results

Mono-frequency (50 kHz) whole-body and segmental bioimpedance is measured before sport training in 14 high performance athletes. The athletes are classified in two groups according to the team sport: football and basketball. Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) method is used to obtain the individual whole-body impedance and 6 segmental impedance vectors in the main muscular groups in the lower-limbs. The whole-body vector is analyzed in the tolerance ellipses of the reference population. Individual impedance vector components are standardized by the height H of the subject, (R/H and Xc/H) to obtain the impedance vector (Z/H) of each segment. The hypotheses of the study are: 1) Not all the sports have the same pattern of bioimpedance vector by muscle group. 2) In elite well trained athletes their muscle groups are symmetrical (right and left sides), thus each athlete is its own reference for future comparisons. 3) We expect a change in the two components of bioimpedance vector (R/H and Xc/H) in front of a muscle injury. In order to compare the differences between the complex Z/H vector (R/H, Xc/H) we use Hotelling's T2 test. Preliminary results show a significant difference (P < 0.05) in bioimpedance vectors between groups according to the team sport, and also between normal muscle condition and after muscle injury producing hyper-hydration.