Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lets play Tic-Tac-Toe: A Brain-Computer Interface case study in cerebral palsy

Operating Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) that are based on the detection of changes in oscillatory non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG) typically involves learning. Commonly the learning process is distributed between the user (reliable EEG pattern generation) and the machine (robust EEG pattern detection). Standard training approaches, however, typically do not allow users to gain meaningful levels of control. A better understanding of brain functioning or the use of sophisticated machine learning are ways to enhance control. Rethinking training paradigms is another option. In this paper, we enhance our game-based training approach by adding competitive elements. Winning is a powerful motivator that increases user engagement of the typically boring BCI training experience. We report on a user with cerebral palsy who successfully gained BCI control and played the classical Tic-Tac-Toe game against his caregiver.
Computing by Carving with P Systems. A First Approach

Summary. In this work, we propose a P system which carries out computing by carving. Computing by carving was proposed by Gh. P˘aun as a technique to generate formal languages which can even be non recursively enumerable. Hence, it can be considered a hypercomputational technique. Here, we propose a first scheme based on P systems in order to perform computing by carving any formal language. So, the paper shows indirectly that these systems, under certain assumptions, can be considered a model for hypercomputation.
Space vector pulse width modulation scheme for three to seven phase direct matrix converter

In this paper a generalized multi-phase space vector theory is considered for developing the space vector modulation of a three-phase to seven-phase direct matrix converter (DMC). The modulation is based on the control of the voltage vectors in the first d-q plane, while imposing the remaining voltage vectors in the second and the third planes (x1-y1, x2-y2) zero. The duty cycles of the bidirectional switches are obtained using space vector modulation theory. The output to input voltage transfer ratio is obtained as 0.7694 for unity input power factor operation. The proposed matrix converter system offers full control of the input power factor, no limitation on the output frequency range and nearly sinusoidal output voltage. The proposed space vector algorithm can be fully implemented on a digital platform. The theoretical analysis is confirmed by digital simulations which is further verified using experimental implementation.
Actuator Fault Diagnosis Using High-Order Sliding Mode Differentiator (HOSMD) and Its Application to

Abstract Actuator fault diagnosis problem is studied for a class of nonlinear systems with relative degrees from the inputs to the outputs higher than one. This type of nonlinear systems include many mechanical systems, and their actuator fault diagnosis problem can be very challenging because of nonlinearities and high relative degrees. In this paper, in order to solve the actuator fault diagnosis problem for the considered nonlinear systems, 2nd-order and 3rd-order sliding mode differentiators are used and actuator fault diagnosis schemes are proposed to achieve fault detection and isolation. Computer simulations are carried out to compare the efficacy of the proposed fault diagnosis schemes on a laboratory 3D Crane model with noisy measurements. The fault diagnosis schemes are further tested through experiments on a laboratory 3D Crane in terms of actuator fault detection and isolation.
Psychosocial outcomes of weight stigma among college students

Overweight and obesity are important public health issues in the United States with more than 60% of US adults overweight or obese. The social consequences of being overweight and obese are serious and pervasive. Individuals who are overweight and obese are often the targets of bias and stigma and thus susceptible to negative attitudes. Obesity and weight stigma have been linked to low self-esteem, higher rates of depressive symptoms, body dissatisfaction and poor psychological adjustment. Although weight stigma is a problem in the general population, it is more consequential among adolescents due to mental and physical developmental changes. Therefore college students were used in this study because they are considered older adolescent (ages 18-21). The goals of this study were to examine the association between weight status, weight stigma, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms. These associations were examined using multiple linear regression and linear meditational analysis. This study found (1) that overweight and obese individuals experience more stigma than their normal weight and underweight counterparts, (2) weight stigma has a
HMGA1 Induces Intestinal Polyposis in Transgenic Mice and Drives Tumor Progression and Stem Cell Properties in Colon Cancer Cells

Background Although metastatic colon cancer is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide, the molecular mechanisms that enable colon cancer cells to metastasize remain unclear. Emerging evidence suggests that metastatic cells develop by usurping transcriptional networks from embryonic stem (ES) cells to facilitate an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and metastatic progression. Previous studies identified HMGA1 as a key transcription factor enriched in ES cells, colon cancer, and other aggressive tumors, although its role in these settings is poorly understood. Methods/Principal Findings To determine how HMGA1 functions in metastatic colon cancer, we manipulated HMGA1 expression in transgenic mice and colon cancer cells. We discovered that HMGA1 drives proliferative changes, aberrant crypt formation, and intestinal polyposis in transgenic mice. In colon cancer cell lines from poorly differentiated, metastatic tumors, knock-down of HMGA1 blocks anchorage-independent cell growth, migration, invasion, xenograft tumorigenesis and three-dimensional colonosphere formation. Inhibiting HMGA1 expression blocks tumorigenesis at limiting dilutions, consistent with depletion of tumor-initiator cells in the knock-down cells. Knock-down of HMGA1 also inhibits metastatic progression to the liver in vivo. In metastatic colon cancer cells, HMGA1 induces expression of Twist1, a gene involved in embryogenesis, EMT, and tumor progression, while HMGA1 represses E-cadherin, a gene that is down-regulated during EMT and metastatic progression. In addition, HMGA1 is among the most enriched genes in colon cancer compared to normal mucosa. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate for the first time that HMGA1 drives proliferative changes and polyp formation in the intestines of transgenic mice and induces metastatic progression and stem-like properties in colon cancer cells. These findings indicate that HMGA1 is a key regulator, both in metastatic progression and in the maintenance of a stem-like state. Our results also suggest that HMGA1 or downstream pathways could be rational therapeutic targets in metastatic, poorly differentiated colon cancer.
Association between Fat Mass- and Obesity- Associated (FTO) Gene Polymorphism and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis

Aims Many studies have investigated the relationship between FTO gene polymorphism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) susceptibility but revealed mixed results. In this study, we aimed to perform a meta-analysis to clarify this association. Methods Published literature from PubMed, Embase and CNKI was retrieved. Meta-analysis was performed to calculate pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using the random- or fix- effects model. Results A total of 5 studies (4778 cases and 4272 controls) were included in our meta-analysis. The results suggested that FTO rs9939609 polymorphism (or its proxy) was marginally associated with PCOS risk after adjustment for body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.02–1.55). However, the marginal association was not stable after sensitivity analysis. In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, the association was significant in East Asians (OR = 1.43, 95%CI = 1.30–1.59) but not in Caucasians (OR = 1.04, 95%CI = 0.85–1.29). Conclusions Our present meta-analysis indicated that FTO rs9939609 polymorphism (or its proxy) might not be associated with risk of PCOS in overall population. However, in East Asians, there might be a direct association between FTO variant and PCOS risk, which is independent of BMI (adiposity).
A Role for the EAL-Like Protein STM1344 in Regulation of CsgD Expression and Motility in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACT The bacterial second messenger cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) regulates the transition between sessility and motility. In Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, the expression of CsgD, the regulator of multicellular rdar morphotype behavior, is a major target of c-di-GMP signaling. CsgD expression is positively regulated by at least two diguanylate cyclases, GGDEF domain proteins, and negatively regulated by at least four phosphodiesterases, EAL domain proteins. Here, we show that in contrast to EAL domain proteins acting as phosphodiesterases, the EAL-like protein STM1344 regulated CsgD expression positively and motility negatively. STM1344, however, did not have a role in c-di-GMP turnover and also did not bind the nucleotide. STM1344 acted upstream of the phosphodiesterases STM1703 and STM3611, previously identified to participate in CsgD downregulation, where it repressed their expression. Consequently, although STM1344 has not retained a direct role in c-di-GMP metabolism, it still participates in the regulation of c-di-GMP turnover and has a role in the transition between sessility and motility.
Formation of Single and Multinode Clusters in Hadoop Distributed File System

Cloud computing and big data play important role in data communication and IT industry. Nowadays, all corporate companies use the huge amount of big data. Distributed File Systems need large amount of storage. This paper deals with the creation of single node and multinode clusters of Hadoop distributed file system. It is proved in this paper that it improves the performance of the system during multiple users access the system. It is also proved that the multinode cluster reduces time and increases throughput.
Adenovirus Fiber Shaft Contains a Trimerization Element That Supports Peptide Fusion for Targeted Gene Delivery

ABSTRACT Adenoviral (Ad) vectors have been widely used in human gene therapy clinical trials. However, their application has frequently been restricted by the unfavorable expression of cell surface receptors critical for Ad infection. Infections by Ad2 and Ad5 are largely regulated by the elongated fiber protein that mediates its attachment to a cell surface receptor, coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR). The fiber protein is a homotrimer consisting of an N-terminal tail, a long shaft, and a C-terminal knob region that is responsible for high-affinity receptor binding and Ad tropism. Consequently, the modification of the knob region, including peptide insertion and C-terminal fusion of ligands for cell surface receptors, has become a major research focus for targeting gene delivery. Such manipulation tends to disrupt fiber assembly since the knob region contains a stabilization element for fiber trimerization. We report here the identification of a novel trimerization element in the Ad fiber shaft. We demonstrate that fiber fragments containing the N-terminal tail and shaft repeats formed stable trimers that assembled onto Ad virions independently of the knob region. This fiber shaft trimerization element (FSTE) exhibited a capacity to support peptide fusion. We showed that Ad, modified with a chimeric protein by direct fusion of the FSTE with a growth factor ligand or a single-chain antibody, delivered a reporter gene selectively. Together, these results indicate that the shaft region of Ad fiber protein contains a trimerization element that allows ligand fusion, which potentially broadens the basis for Ad vector development.
Evaluation of several multi-atlas methods for PSEUDO-CT generation in brain MRI-PET attenuation correction

Radiodensity maps for attenuation correction are not readily available in PET-MR. We investigated several such methods to build a patient-specific pseudo-CT, based on a multi-atlas registration and label propagation approach, including a novel maximum probability method. A database of 27 MR/CT image pairs (atlases) was used. We implemented a state-of-the-art algorithm (Ref) along with two variants and our new maximum probability (MaxProb) method. A pseudo-CT was generated for each subject of the database and assessed by comparison with the real CT in a leave-one-out scheme. Jaccard overlap indices were computed per tissue class (air, soft tissue, and bone). Voxel classification error was also assessed. The Jaccard indices and voxel classification error showed that the MaxProb method performance (7.81±1.00%) was only equivalent to Ref (7.69±1.00%). The influence of the number of atlases fused in pseudo-CT generation was studied, showing that an optimal number improves accuracy. By adjusting the number of fused atlases, it was possible to significantly improve on Ref (7.57±1.05%). Methods now need evaluation on additional databases and quantitative PET data to identify potential benefits in PET analysis.
Handbook of Frontal Lobe Assessment

1. Introduction: Fractionating the Frontal Lobe Syndrome 2. Abstraction 3. Initiation and Inhibition 4. Mental Flexibility 5. Multitasking 6. Problem Solving and Judgment 7. Working Memory 8. Emotional Processing 9. Social Decision-Making 10. Theory of Mind 11. Test Summary Tables 12. Overall Summary Table
An Efficient Implicit FEM Scheme for Fractional-in-Space Reaction-Diffusion Equations

Fractional differential equations are becoming increasingly used as a modelling tool for processes associated with anomalous diffusion or spatial heterogeneity. However, the presence of a fractional differential operator causes memory (time fractional) or nonlocality (space fractional) issues that impose a number of computational constraints. In this paper we develop efficient, scalable techniques for solving fractional-in-space reaction diffusion equations using the finite element method on both structured and unstructured grids via robust techniques for computing the fractional power of a matrix times a vector. Our approach is show-cased by solving the fractional Fisher and fractional Allen--Cahn reaction-diffusion equations in two and three spatial dimensions, and analyzing the speed of the traveling wave and size of the interface in terms of the fractional power of the underlying Laplacian operator.
Aerobic growth at nanomolar oxygen concentrations

Molecular oxygen (O2) is the second most abundant gas in the Earth’s atmosphere, but in many natural environments, its concentration is reduced to low or even undetectable levels. Although low-oxygen-adapted organisms define the ecology of low-oxygen environments, their capabilities are not fully known. These capabilities also provide a framework for reconstructing a critical period in the history of life, because low, but not negligible, atmospheric oxygen levels could have persisted before the “Great Oxidation” of the Earth’s surface about 2.3 to 2.4 billion years ago. Here, we show that Escherichia coli K-12, chosen for its well-understood biochemistry, rapid growth rate, and low-oxygen-affinity terminal oxidase, grows at oxygen levels of ≤ 3 nM, two to three orders of magnitude lower than previously observed for aerobes. Our study expands both the environmental range and temporal history of aerobic organisms.
Cross layer design for efficient video streaming over LTE using scalable video coding

Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) offers high data rate capabilities to mobile users, and network operators are trying to deliver a true mobile broadband experience over LTE networks. Mobile TV and Video on Demand (VoD) are expected to be the main revenue generators in the near future, and efficient video streaming over wireless is the key to achieve this goal. In this paper, we propose a Scalable Video Coding (SVC) based video streaming scheme with dynamic adaptations and a scheduling scheme based on channel quality. Cross layer signaling between Medium Access Control (MAC) and Real Time Transport (RTP) protocols is used to achieve the channel dependent adaptation in video server. Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) feedbacks from User Equipments (UE) are used for dynamic adaptations. An adaptive Guaranteed Bit Rate (GBR) selection scheme based on CQI feedbacks is also presented, and this scheme improves the coverage of the cell. Simulation results indicate improved video quality for more number of users with reduced bit rate video traffic. Approximately 13% video quality gain is observed for users at the cell edge using this adaptation scheme.
Are Narcissists Sexy? Zeroing in on the Effect of Narcissism on Short-Term Mate Appeal

This research was aimed to provide a comprehensive test of the classic notion that narcissistic individuals are appealing as short-term romantic or sexual partners. In three studies, we tested the hypotheses that narcissism exerts a positive effect on an individual’s mate appeal and that this effect is mediated by high physical attractiveness and high social boldness. We implemented a multimethod approach and used ratings of opposite sex persons (Study 1), ratings of friends (Study 2), and records of courtship outcomes in naturalistic interactions (Study 3) as indicators of mate appeal. In all cases, narcissism had a positive effect on mate appeal, which was mainly due to the agentic self-enhancement aspects of narcissism (rather than narcissists’ lacking communion). As predicted, physical attractiveness and social boldness mediated the positive effect of narcissism on mate appeal. Findings further indicated that narcissism was more strongly linked to mate appeal than to friend appeal.
Microreview: Type IV secretion in the obligatory intracellular bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligatory intracellular bacterium that infects neutrophils, the primary host defence cells. Consequent effects of infection on host cells result in a potentially fatal systemic disease called human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Despite ongoing reductive genome evolution and deletion of most genes for intermediary metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis, Anaplasma has also experienced expansion of genes encoding several components of the type IV secretion (T4S) apparatus. Two A. phagocytophilum T4S effector molecules are currently known; Anaplasma translocated substrate 1 (Ats‐1) and ankyrin repeat domain‐containing protein A (AnkA) have C‐terminal positively charged amino acid residues that are recognized by the T4S coupling protein, VirD4. AnkA and Ats‐1 contain eukaryotic protein motifs and are uniquely evolved in the family Anaplasmataceae; Ats‐1 contains a mitochondria‐targeting signal. They are abundantly produced and secreted into the host cytoplasm, are not toxic to host cells, and manipulate host cell processes to aid in the infection process. At the cellular level, the two effectors have distinct subcellular localization and signalling in host cells. Thus in this obligatory intracellular pathogen, the T4S system has evolved as a host‐subversive survival factor.
Cartesian Stiffness Matrix Mapping of a Translational Parallel Mechanism with Elastic Joints

This paper is devoted to calculating the Cartesian stiffness matrix of a translational parallel manipulator with elastic joints. The calculation takes into account the contribution of the Jacobian variation because of the change of manipulator configuration due to the elasticity and it covers the entire theoretical workspace of the manipulator. Three kineto-static adimensional indices are proposed to measure the response of the manipulator in terms of stiffness.
Interoperable Role-Based Single Sign-On-Access to Distributed Public Authority Information Systems

The key challenge for Incident Response Organizations is to gather sufficient information about the incident location: In large loss operations information has currently to be requested time-consumingly from different, distributed public authorities. Single-Sign-On Systems are still in progress of devolopment, but all existing systems have the lack of role based access control in common and are based on the functional uncorrelation of their users. In this paper we will present a novel interoperability concept and prototype implementation for a combined Single Sign On (SSO) and Role Based Access Control (RBAC) information system and show its effectiveness through evaluation by implementing it. Just through single operation it will enable the security forces to get shared and simultaneous realtime access to distributed databases of relevant public authorities such as registry offices or building authorities, where table of hydrants, plans of (gas) pipelines or video sequences are available. Beyond the secure system architecture the focus lies on the performance analysis and analytical proof of reliability for our novel mobile information system.
Theory and Practice of Dialogical Community Development: International Perspectives

This book proposes that community development has been increasingly influenced and co-opted by a modernist, soulless, rational philosophy - reducing it to a shallow technique for 'solving community problems'. In contrast, this dialogical approach re-maps the ground of community development practice within a frame of ideas such as dialogue, hospitality and depth. For the first time community development practitioners are provided with an accessible understanding of dialogue and its relevance to their practice, exploring the contributions of internationally significant thinkers such as P. Freire, M. Buber, D. Bohm and H.G Gadamer, J. Derrida, G. Esteva and R. Sennett. What makes the book distinctive is that: first, it identifies a dialogical tradition of community development and considers how such a tradition shapes practice within contemporary contexts and concerns - economic, social, political, cultural and ecological. Second, the book contrasts such an approach with technical and instrumental approaches to development that fail to take complex systems seriously. Third, the approach links theory to practice through a combination of storytelling and theory-reflection - ensuring that readers are drawn into a practice-theory that they feel increasingly confident has been 'tried and tested' in the world over the past 25 years.