Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of EMG artifacts on video category classification from EEG

EEG (electroencephalography) signals are highly susceptible to noise. Mixture of artifacts like EOG (electrooculography) and EMG (electromyography) with the EEG signals are inevitable. In this paper, we present our findings of the effects of EMG artifacts on EEG signals to categorize videos. The experiments suggest that for video category classification using EEG, signals with EMG artifacts have more discriminating capacity.
Effects of Fixed and Removable Space Maintainers on Plaque Accumulation, Periodontal Health, Candidal and Enterococcus Faecalis Carriage

Objective: To evaluate the effects of space maintainers on plaque accumulation, periodontal health and oral microflora. Subjects and Methods: The study participants comprised 38 patients aged 4-10 years requiring either fixed or removable space maintainers. Plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing index, candidal colonization and Enterococcus faecalis were recorded just before the application of space maintainers (T0) and during treatment at the 1st (T1), 3rd (T2) and 6th (T3) month. Results: The gingival and bleeding on probing index scores increased significantly (gingival index from 0.20 ± 0254 to 0.54 ± 0417 and bleeding on probing index from 7.18 ± 9.946 to 18.07 ± 14.074) in the regions with fixed space maintainers at T3 (p < 0.01). The mean Candida counts also increased (for removable appliances from 1.90 ± 3.638 to 1.98 ± 3.318, p < 0.05, and for fixed appliances from 4.25 ± 4.587 to 4.52 ± 4.431, p < 0.001). The salivary E. faecalis counts at T3 also increased significantly with the use of fixed and removable appliances (for removable appliances from 5.93 ± 2.65 to 85.53 ± 34.1 and for fixed appliances from 4.95 ± 2.94 to 123.59 ± 29.51, p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between the plaque (r = 0.67), gingival (r = 0.76) and bleeding on probing index scores (r = 0.76) and the candidal colonization for the fixed space maintainers (p < 0.01, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this study, both fixed and removable space maintainers led to an increase in the number of microorganisms in the oral cavity as well as to increases in the periodontal index scores. Patients should be informed that space maintainers may serve as a source of infection and that special attention must be given to their oral hygiene.
Evolution of a functionally diverse swarm via a novel decentralised quality-diversity algorithm

The presence of functional diversity within a group has been demonstrated to lead to greater robustness, higher performance and increased problem-solving ability in a broad range of studies that includes insect groups, human groups and swarm robotics. Evolving group diversity however has proved challenging within Evolutionary Robotics, requiring reproductive isolation and careful attention to population size and selection mechanisms. To tackle this issue, we introduce a novel, decentralised, variant of the MAP-Elites illumination algorithm which is hybridised with a well-known distributed evolutionary algorithm (mEDEA). The algorithm simultaneously evolves multiple diverse behaviours for multiple robots, with respect to a simple token-gathering task. Each robot in the swarm maintains a local archive defined by two pre-specified functional traits which is shared with robots it come into contact with. We investigate four different strategies for sharing, exploiting and combining local archives and compare results to mEDEA. Experimental results show that in contrast to previous claims, it is possible to evolve a functionally diverse swarm without geographical isolation, and that the new method outperforms mEDEA in terms of the diversity, coverage and precision of the evolved swarm.
Assessing Calcium Intake in Postmenopausal Women

Introduction Because foods fortified with calcium are increasingly available, the calcium content of calcium-fortified foods may not be adequately captured in traditional assessments of dietary intake, such as dietary records analyzed with commercially available software. The primary objective of our study was to design and test a calcium-focused food frequency questionnaire (CFFFQ) including foods naturally rich in calcium and calcium-fortified foods. Secondary objectives were to review calcium sources and adequacy of intake in black and in white postmenopausal women. Methods We studied a convenience sample of 46 black and 139 white postmenopausal women (mean [SD] age 69.4 [5.8] years). Subjects completed a multiple-pass interview for 24-hour recall of foods eaten and the 46-item CFFFQ. Results The correlation between measures for total daily calcium intake was moderately strong (r = 0.53, P < .001). The CFFFQ estimated greater total daily calcium intake than did the 24-hour recall (mean [SD], 1,021 [624] mg/d vs 800 [433] mg/d, P < .001). As daily calcium intake increased, the 24-hour recall increasingly underreported calcium (r = 0.41, P < .001) compared with the CFFFQ. Cross-tabulation and Χ2 analyses found that the CFFFQ had greater specificity for lower calcium intakes. For calcium classified by food groups, there was moderate correlation for dairy (r = 0.56, P < .001) and fruits (r = 0.43, P < .001). The CFFFQ overestimated mean total calcium compared with the 24-hour recall by 221 mg/d (P < .001), including within racial groups (195 mg/d for black women, P = .04, and 229 mg/d for white women, P < .001). Dairy was the primary calcium source for both groups (55% of intake for black women and 57% of intake for white women). Conclusion The CFFFQ can be used to identify postmenopausal women with inadequate calcium intakes (<800 mg/d) and to identify key sources of dietary calcium. Older black women consume less daily calcium than do older white women.
Whole-Body Rocking Motion of a Fusion Peptide in Lipid Bilayers from Size-Dispersed 15N NMR Relaxation

Biological membranes present a highly fluid environment, and integration of proteins within such membranes is itself highly dynamic: proteins diffuse laterally within the plane of the membrane and rotationally about the normal vector of this plane. We demonstrate that whole-body motions of proteins within a lipid bilayer can be determined from NMR 15N relaxation rates collected for different-sized bicelles. The importance of membrane integration and interaction is particularly acute for proteins and peptides that function on the membrane itself, as is the case for pore-forming and fusion-inducing proteins. For the influenza hemagglutinin fusion peptide, which lies on the surface of membranes and catalyzes the fusion of membranes and vesicles, we found large-amplitude, rigid-body wobbling motions on the nanosecond time scale relative to the lipid bilayer. This behavior complements prior analyses where data were commonly interpreted in terms of a static oblique angle of insertion for the fusion peptide with respect to the membrane. Quantitative disentanglement of the relative motions of two interacting objects by systematic variation of the size of one is applicable to a wide range of systems beyond protein–membrane interactions.
The water balance components of undisturbed tropical woodlands in the Brazilian cerrado

Deforestation of the Brazilian cerrado region has caused major changes in hydrological processes. These changes in water balance components are still poorly under- stood but are important for making land management deci- sions in this region. To better understand pre-deforestation conditions, we determined the main components of the wa- ter balance for an undisturbed tropical woodland classified as "cerrado sensu stricto denso". We developed an empirical model to estimate actual evapotranspiration (ET) by using flux tower measurements and vegetation conditions inferred from the enhanced vegetation index and reference evapotran- spiration. Canopy interception, throughfall, stemflow, sur- face runoff, and water table level were assessed from ground measurements. We used data from two cerrado sites, Pe de Gigante (PDG) and Instituto Arruda Botelho (IAB). Flux tower data from the PDG site collected from 2001 to 2003 were used to develop the empirical model to estimate ET. The other hydrological processes were measured at the field scale between 2011 and 2014 at the IAB site. The empiri- cal model showed significant agreement (R 2 D 0.73) with ob- served ET at the daily timescale. The average values of esti- mated ET at the IAB site ranged from 1.91 to 2.60 mm day 1 for the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Canopy intercep- tion ranged from 4 to 20 % and stemflow values were approx- imately 1 % of the gross precipitation. The average runoff co- efficient was less than 1 %, while cerrado deforestation has the potential to increase that amount up to 20-fold. As rel- atively little excess water runs off (either by surface water or groundwater), the water storage may be estimated by the difference between precipitation and evapotranspiration. Our results provide benchmark values of water balance dynamics in the undisturbed cerrado that will be useful to evaluate past and future land-cover and land-use changes for this region.
Loss of blade photosynthetic area and of chloroplasts' photochemical capacity account for reduced CO2 assimilation rates in zinc-deficient sugar beet leaves

Summary The effects of zinc deficiency on sugar beet chloroplasts' ultrastructure and photochemical ability, as well as on whole-leaf CO 2 assimilation rates, were evaluated. It is shown that increasing zinc shortage firstly induces progressive disorganisation of the chloroplasts' internal membrane system, followed by degradation of both lamellae and stromal components. This zinc deficiency-triggered premature senescence process leads to cell death and, ultimately, to chlorotic/necrotic blade lesions, thus reducing the photosynthetically-active leaf area; chloroplasts in the remaining leaf area show slight impairment of their capacity to reduce methyl viologen using water as electron donor. Whole-leaf CO 2 assimilation rates expressed on an area basis are observed to decrease with zinc deficiency, but do not do so significantly when expressed per unit weight of chlorophyll. It is proposed that the partial loss of chloroplasts' photochemical capacity, aggravated by loss of photosynthetically-competent blade area in severely-stressed leaves, accounts for depressed CO 2 assimilation rates measured in the zinc-deficient sugar beet leaves.
Enhancing Effects of Post-Learning Stress on Memory

To investigate the enhancing effect of post-learning stress on memory, we requested 38 Japanese undergraduates to perform a learning task that involved positive, negative, and neutral words with controlled arousal and subsequently assigned them to a stress group (exposed to acute white noise) or a control group. After a 10-min filler task, we administered a delayed free recall test and a recognition test. We found that exposure to acute stress after learning significantly enhanced recognition memory of words, but found no differences in memory scores for stimuli of varying valence. We accordingly propose that post-learning stress, though enhancing memory performance, may not depend on word valence when stimulus arousal is controlled. This is the first study to find that post-learning stress enhances memory after a short delay, and it has several implications with regard to traumatic memories in stress-related disorders.
Myosin-binding protein C displaces tropomyosin to activate cardiac thin filaments and governs their speed by an independent mechanism

Significance Myosin-binding protein C (MyBP-C) is a component of myosin filaments, one of the two sets of contractile elements whose relative sliding is the basis of muscle contraction. In the heart, MyBP-C modulates contractility in response to cardiac stimulation; mutations in MyBP-C lead to cardiac disease. The mechanism by which MyBP-C modulates cardiac contraction is not understood. Using electron microscopy and a light microscopic assay for filament sliding, we demonstrate that MyBP-C binds to the other set of filaments, containing actin and the regulatory component, tropomyosin. In so doing, it displaces tropomyosin from its inhibitory position to activate actin filament interaction with myosin, promoting filament sliding. These findings provide insights into the molecular basis of heart function. Myosin-binding protein C (MyBP-C) is an accessory protein of striated muscle thick filaments and a modulator of cardiac muscle contraction. Defects in the cardiac isoform, cMyBP-C, cause heart disease. cMyBP-C includes 11 Ig- and fibronectin-like domains and a cMyBP-C-specific motif. In vitro studies show that in addition to binding to the thick filament via its C-terminal region, cMyBP-C can also interact with actin via its N-terminal domains, modulating thin filament motility. Structural observations of F-actin decorated with N-terminal fragments of cMyBP-C suggest that cMyBP-C binds to actin close to the low Ca2+ binding site of tropomyosin. This suggests that cMyBP-C might modulate thin filament activity by interfering with tropomyosin regulatory movements on actin. To determine directly whether cMyBP-C binding affects tropomyosin position, we have used electron microscopy and in vitro motility assays to study the structural and functional effects of N-terminal fragments binding to thin filaments. 3D reconstructions suggest that under low Ca2+ conditions, cMyBP-C displaces tropomyosin toward its high Ca2+ position, and that this movement corresponds to thin filament activation in the motility assay. At high Ca2+, cMyBP-C had little effect on tropomyosin position and caused slowing of thin filament sliding. Unexpectedly, a shorter N-terminal fragment did not displace tropomyosin or activate the thin filament at low Ca2+ but slowed thin filament sliding as much as the larger fragments. These results suggest that cMyBP-C may both modulate thin filament activity, by physically displacing tropomyosin from its low Ca2+ position on actin, and govern contractile speed by an independent molecular mechanism.
Loss of Perp in T Cells Promotes Resistance to Apoptosis of T Helper 17 Cells and Exacerbates the Development of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Mice

T helper 17 (Th17) cells are crucial for the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) in humans and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in animals. High frequency of Th17 cells and low sensitivity to activation-induced cell death (AICD) are detected in MS patients. However, the mechanisms underlying apoptosis resistance of T cells remain unclear. Perp is an apoptosis-associated target of p53 and implicated in the development of cancers. Here, we show that loss of Perp in T cells does not affect Th1, Th17, or Treg cell differentiation, but does significantly increase the resistance of Perp−/− Th17 cells to AICD and anti-Fas in Lck-Cre × Perpfl/fl mice by inhibiting the caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway. Moreover, Lck-Cre × Perpfl/fl mice exhibited earlier onset of EAE and severe spinal cord inflammation and demyelination, accompanied by increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enlarged population of Th17 cells. Therefore, Perp deletion promoted Th17 responses and exacerbated the development and severity of EAE.
Sensitivity Analysis of CLIMEX Parameters in Modeling Potential Distribution of Phoenix dactylifera L.

Using CLIMEX and the Taguchi Method, a process-based niche model was developed to estimate potential distributions of Phoenix dactylifera L. (date palm), an economically important crop in many counties. Development of the model was based on both its native and invasive distribution and validation was carried out in terms of its extensive distribution in Iran. To identify model parameters having greatest influence on distribution of date palm, a sensitivity analysis was carried out. Changes in suitability were established by mapping of regions where the estimated distribution changed with parameter alterations. This facilitated the assessment of certain areas in Iran where parameter modifications impacted the most, particularly in relation to suitable and highly suitable locations. Parameter sensitivities were also evaluated by the calculation of area changes within the suitable and highly suitable categories. The low temperature limit (DV2), high temperature limit (DV3), upper optimal temperature (SM2) and high soil moisture limit (SM3) had the greatest impact on sensitivity, while other parameters showed relatively less sensitivity or were insensitive to change. For an accurate fit in species distribution models, highly sensitive parameters require more extensive research and data collection methods. Results of this study demonstrate a more cost effective method for developing date palm distribution models, an integral element in species management, and may prove useful for streamlining requirements for data collection in potential distribution modeling for other species as well.
Chapter 3 Glycopeptide Resistance in S . aureus

The glycopeptides (particularly vancomycin) have been the recommended therapy for serious methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. The increased incidence of MRSA has led to the frequent use of vancomycin. Unfortunately, with the increased use of vancomycin, isolates of S. aureus have been discovered with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin. Several studies suggest that reduced vancomycin susceptibility is associated with vancomycin treatment failure. Various forms of glycopeptide resistance have appeared in MRSA strains, including high‐level resistance, homogeneous and heterogeneous intermediate resistance. While vancomycin‐resistant S. aureus (VRSA) strains are limited to a handful of reported cases and vancomycin‐ intermediate S. aureus (VISA) strains remain rare; heterogeneous VISA (hVISA) strains are more common. This article summarizes the current knowledge regarding the history, definition, mechanisms, detection methods, epidemiology and clinical significance of ‘glycopeptide resistance in S. aureus’ and discusses therapeutic optıons for the treatment of hVISA/VISA infections.
Bragg Gratings and Fabry-Perot Cavities in Low-Loss Multimode CYTOP Polymer Fiber

We report the inscription of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) and Fabry-Perot (FP) cavities in a gradient index cyclized transparent optical polymer (CYTOP) polymer optical fiber (POF) using a femtosecond laser. Through careful control of the inscription parameters, the coupling between the grating and the fiber’s higher order propagation modes is reduced, allowing for single peak grating spectra. Furthermore, we inscribe a 10-nm chirped grating and an FBG FP cavity with a free spectral range of 240 pm. We measure the group delay of the chirped grating and characterize the fiber FP cavity for strain and temperature.
Solution-Based Nanoengineering of Materials

Solution-based synthesis is a powerful approach for creating nano-structured materials. Although there have been significant recent successes in its application to fabricating nanomaterials, the general principles that control solution synthesis are not well understood. The purpose of this LDRD project was to develop the scientific principles required to design and build unique nanostructures in crystalline oxides and II/VI semiconductors using solution-based molecular self-assembly techniques. The ability to synthesize these materials in a range of different nano-architectures (from controlled morphology nanocrystals to surface templated 3-D structures) has provided the foundation for new opportunities in such areas as interactive interfaces for optics, electronics, and sensors. The homogeneous precipitation of ZnO in aqueous solution was used primarily as the model system for the project. We developed a low temperature, aqueous solution synthesis route for preparation of large arrays of oriented ZnO nanostructures. Through control of heterogeneous nucleation and growth, methods to predicatively alter the ZnO microstructures by tailoring the surface chemistry of the crystals were established. Molecular mechanics simulations, involving single point energy calculations and full geometry optimizations, were developed to assist in selecting appropriate chemical systems and understanding physical adsorption and ultimately growth mechanisms in the design of oxide nanoarrays. The versatilitymore » of peptide chemistry in controlling the formation of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles and zinc oxide/cadmium sulfide heterostructures was also demonstrated. « less
Spatio-Temporal Coordinated V2V Energy Swapping Strategy for Mobile PEVs

A vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) energy swapping strategy can provide an alternative fast charging way for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) to relieve the charging overload problem in the power system during peak-demand hours. The main challenges in designing an efficient V2V energy swapping strategy are: 1) to stimulate mobile PEVs to participate in an energy swapping transaction that balances supply with demand at aggregators and 2) to achieve optimal energy utilization and individual PEVs’ profits. In this paper, we present a novel smart grid architecture with enhanced communication capabilities for mobile PEVs, via a heterogeneous wireless network-enhanced smart grid. We propose an online V2V energy swapping strategy based on price control. Specifically, mobile PEVs with surplus energy are motivated by getting paid to contribute to a V2V energy swapping transaction at aggregators with energy-hungry PEVs. To evaluate the performance of the proposed V2V energy swapping strategy, a realistic suburban scenario is developed in VISSIM to track the PEVs’ mobility using the generated simulation traces. Extensive simulation results are given to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed V2V energy swapping strategy.
IP Over ICN Goes Live

Information-centric networking (ICN) has long been advocating for radical changes to the IP-based Internet. However, the upgrade challenges that this entails have hindered ICN adoption. To break this loop, the POINT project proposed a hybrid, IP-over-ICN, architecture: IP networks are preserved at the edge, connected to each other over an ICN core. This exploits the key benefits of ICN, enabling individual network operators to improve the performance of their IP-based services, without changing the rest of the Internet. We provide an overview of POINT and outline how it improves upon IP in terms of performance and resilience. Our focus is on the successful trial of the POINT prototype in a production network, where real users operated actual IP-based applications.
Designing for social configurations: pattern languages to inform the design of ubiquitous computing

In this paper we present our approach for informing the design of ubiquitous computing by using pattern languages of human practice. By linking ethnography and design, this approach makes it possible to tackle the social dimension of ubiquitous computing in the design processes. Adding to the existing research on patterns of human practice for design, we solidify the methodology for creating pattern language by identifying its links with grounded theory and action research and, via an example of a navigation support system for frontline firefighters, showing how a pattern language becomes part of the design process. Reflecting on our work, we conclude that the pattern language approach provides a framework to design for existing practice and helps to reflect the impact of novel computing artifacts.
Prosody modification and Fujisaki's model: Preserving natural soundness

Control of prosodic characteristics is one of the most important problems in the area of speech synthesis. Fujisaki's model is probably the best model for pitch variations and its inversion is suitable for being integrated within speech synthesizres. This paper proposes a speech synthesis method based on Fujisaki's model (combined direct and inverse modeling) in order to preserve natural soundness of synthesized speech. The idea is to modify a pitch contour on the basis of Fujisaki's features and a reference contour. Experimental results have shown that using constraints related to Fujisaki's model guarantees good natural-sounding speech synthesis.