Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the Classification of SSVEP-Based Dry-EEG Signals via Convolutional Neural Networks

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a common signal acquisition approach employed for Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) research. Nevertheless, the majority of EEG acquisition devices rely on the cumbersome application of conductive gel (so-called wet-EEG) to ensure a high quality signal is obtained. However, this process is unpleasant for the experimental participants and thus limits the practical application of BCI. In this work, we explore the use of a commercially available dry-EEG headset to obtain visual cortical ensemble signals. Whilst improving the usability of EEG within the BCI context, dry-EEG suffers from inherently reduced signal quality due to the lack of conduit gel, making the classification of such signals significantly more challenging. In this paper, we propose a novel Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) approach for the classification of raw dry-EEG signals without any data pre-processing. To illustrate the effectiveness of our approach, we utilise the Steady State Visual Evoked Potential (SSVEP) paradigm as our use case. SSVEP can be utilised to allow people with severe physical disabilities such as Complete Locked-In Syndrome or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis to be aided via BCI applications, as it requires only the subject to fixate upon the sensory stimuli of interest. Here we utilise SSVEP flicker frequencies between 10 to 30 Hz, which we record as subject cortical waveforms via the dry-EEG headset. Our proposed end-to-end CNN allows us to automatically and accurately classify SSVEP stimulation directly from the dry-EEG waveforms. Our CNN architecture utilises a common SSVEP Convolutional Unit (SCU), comprising of a 1D convolutional layer, batch normalization and max pooling. Furthermore, We compare several deep learning neural network variants with our primary CNN architecture, in addition to traditional machine learning classification approaches. Experimental evaluation shows our CNN architecture to be significantly better than competing approaches, achieving a classification accuracy of 96% whilst demonstrating superior cross-subject performance and even being able to generalise well to unseen subjects whose data is entirely absent from the training process.
Alien wavelength technique to enhance garr optical network

GARR optical network used to be composed of two separate optical network domains on its national infrastructure. With the aim to integrate these two domains and deliver high performance services all over its infrastructure, we implemented the so called alien wavelength technique, thus improving the overall efficiency of the Italian research and education network in a cost-effective way. This paper describes the activity, results, and our experience in the integration of alien wavelengths in a production environment, with a special emphasis on deployment and operational issues.
" A Multilevel Theory of Organizational Performance : Seeing the Forest and the Trees

This symposium on theory building consists of three presentations. "A Multilevel Theory of Organizational Performance: Seeing the Forest and the Trees" (Susan Reynolds Fisher) presents the process used to develop this theory and analyzes emergent insights. It discusses how the theory succeeds in mapping relationships across aspects and levels of performance that have previously been isolated by level and also enhances current levels models by using a social collective perspective to operationalize performance capacities arising from the uniquely human aspects of organizations. "Is Knowledge in the Head or in the World? " (Richard J. Torraco) begins to lay a theoretical foundation for research on how workers attain competence in dealing with rapidly changing work situations using Dubin's theory building methodology. "A Performance Perspective Synthesizing Intellectual Capital, Knowledge Management, and Organizational Learning" (Carson R. Arnett) advances the discussion of theory building aimed at improving "knowledge worker productivity. " It presents the topic in two parts: first, revised definitions of the constructs intellectual capital, knowledge management, and organizational learning that are used to expand the definition of human capital and, second, a systems view of the components of human capital. All three papers include substantial bibliographies. (YLB) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
The Asian corn borer Ostrinia furnacalis feeding increases the direct and indirect defence of mid‐whorl stage commercial maize in the field

Summary The Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée) is a destructive pest of maize (Zea mays L.). Despite large‐scale commercial maize production, little is known about the defensive responses of field‐grown commercial maize to O. furnacalis herbivory, and how these responses result in direct and indirect defence against this pest. To elucidate the maize transcriptome response to O. furnacalis feeding, leaves of maize hybrid Jingke968 were infested with O. furnacalis for 0, 2, 4, 12 and 24 h. Ostrinia furnacalis feeding elicited stronger and more rapid changes in the defence‐related gene expression (i.e. after 2 h), and more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were up‐regulated than down‐regulated at all times post‐induction (i.e. 2, 4, 12 and 24 h) in the O. furnacalis pre‐infested maize plants. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the DEGs in the O. furnacalis pre‐infested maize are involved in benzoxazinoids, phytohormones, volatiles, and other metabolic pathways related to maize resistance to herbivores. In addition, the maize leaves previously infested by O. furnacalis for 24 h showed an obvious inhibition of the subsequent O. furnacalis performance, and maize volatiles induced by O. furnacalis feeding for 24 and 48 h attracted the parasitic wasp, Macrocentrus cingulum Brischke. The increased direct and indirect defences induced by O. furnacalis feeding were correlated with O. furnacalis‐induced phytohormones, benzoxazinoids, and volatiles. Together, our findings provide new insights into how commercial maize orchestrates its transcriptome and metabolome to directly and indirectly defend against O. furnacalis at the mid‐whorl stage in the field.
Hypocrea virens sp . nov . , the teleomorph of Trichoderma virens

The new species Hypocrea virens, has been found to be the teleomorph of Trichoderma virens, a species commonly used in biological control applications. This conclusion is based on the comparison of morphological and molecular data from four isolates of T virens and a single collection and isolate of H. virens. Data for several morphological characters, including colony and growth characteristics, were collected. In addition, sequence data from ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2 rDNA and translation elongation factor (tef-la) were analyzed for the five isolates. Analysis of phenotypic characters show that cultures and microscopic characters of the anamorph of H. virens are indistinguishable from those of T virens. This is consistent with sequence data from ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2 rDNA which show that the sequence of H. virens is identical to that of the ex-type isolate of T virens. Despite minor variation in tef-la sequences, T. virens isolates and H. virens form a monophyletic group that is different from other examined species of Hypocrea; this clade is supported by a 100% bootstrap value. Molecular and morphological data confirm the connection between H. virens and T virens.
Genetic Mechanisms of Asthma and the Implications for Drug Repositioning

Asthma is a chronic disease that is caused by airway inflammation. The main features of asthma are airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and reversible airway obstruction. The disease is mainly managed using drug therapy. The current asthma drug treatments are divided into two categories, namely, anti-inflammatory drugs and bronchodilators. However, disease control in asthma patients is not very efficient because the pathogenesis of asthma is complicated, inducing factors that are varied, such as the differences between individual patients. In this paper, we delineate the genetic mechanisms of asthma, and present asthma-susceptible genes and genetic pharmacology in an attempt to find a diagnosis, early prevention, and treatment methods for asthma. Finally, we reposition some clinical drugs for asthma therapy, based on asthma genetics.
Porous biodegradable polyurethane nanocomposites: preparation, characterization, and biocompatibility tests

A porous biodegradable polyurethane nanocomposite based on poly(caprolactone) (PCL) and nanocomponents derived from montmorillonite (Cloisite®30B) was synthesized and tested to produce information regarding its potential use as a scaffold for tissue engineering. Structural and morphological characteristics of this nanocomposite were studied by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The reaction between polyurethane oligomers with isocyanate endcapped chains and water led to the evolution of CO2, which was responsible for building interconnected pores with sizes ranging from 184 to 387 μm. An in vitro cell-nanocomposite interaction study was carried out using neonatal rat calvarial osteoblasts. The ability of cells to proliferate and produce an extracellular matrix in contact with the synthesized material was assessed by an MTT assay, a collagen synthesis analysis, and the expression of alkaline phosphatase. In vivo experiments were performed by subcutaneously implanting samples in the dorsum of rats. The implants were removed after 14, 21, and 29 days, and were analyzed by SEM and optical microscopy after tissue processing. Histology crosssections and SEM analyses showed that the cells were able to penetrate into the material and to attach to many location throughout the pore structure. In vitro and in vivo tests demonstrated the feasibility for polyurethane nanocomposites to be used as artificial extracellular matrices onto which cells can attach, grow, and form new tissues.
Free energy landscapes of prototropic tautomerism in pyridoxal 5′‐phosphate schiff bases at the active site of an enzyme in aqueous medium

We have performed hybrid quantum‐classical metadynamics simulations and quantum chemical calculations to investigate the free energy landscapes of intramolecular proton transfer and associated tautomeric equilibrium in pyridoxal 5 ′ ‐phosphate (PLP) Schiff Bases, namely the internal and external aldimines, at the active site of serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) enzyme in aqueous medium. It is important to determine the relative stability of the two tautomers (ketoenamine and enolimine) of the PLP aldimines to study the catalytic activity of the concerned enzyme. Both the internal PLP aldimine (PLP‐LYS) and the external PLP aldimine (PLP‐SER) of SHMT are found to have a higher stability for the ketoenamine tautomer over the enolimine form. The higher stability of the ketoenamine tautomer can be attributed to the more number of favorable interactions of the ketoenamine form with its surroundings at the active site of the enzyme. The ketoenamine is found to be stabilized by about 2.5 kcal/mol in the PLP‐LYS internal aldimine, while this stabilization is about 6.7 kcal/mol for the PLP‐SER external aldimine at the active site of the enzyme compared to the corresponding enolimine forms. The interactions faced by the PLP aldimines at the active site pocket determine the relative dominance of the tautomers and could possibly alter the tautomeric shift in different PLP dependent enzymes. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Universitet Simulation of two-way pushdown automata revisited

Published in: Semantics, abstract interpretation, and reasoning about programs DOI: 10.4204/EPTCS.129. 15 Publication date: 2013 Document version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Document license: CC BY Citation for published version (APA): Glück, R. (2013). Simulation of two-way pushdown automata revisited. In A. Banerjee, O. Danvy, K-G. Doh, & J. Hatcliff (Eds.), Semantics, abstract interpretation, and reasoning about programs (Vol. 129, pp. 250-258). Electronic Proceedings in Theoretical Computer Science https://doi.org/10.4204/EPTCS.129. 15
Comparing Error-Handling Strategies in Human-Human and Human-Robot Dialogues

In this paper error-handling strategies are evaluated as they can be found in human-human and human-robot dialogues. We compare human-human communication with unequal dialogue partners, such as foreigners, to human-robot communication in order to see how errors are indicated and ﬁnally repaired by the dialogue participants in both interaction types. The strategies used in human-human communication are ported to human-robot dialogues. The foreigner is taken as an example for a dialogue participant with less grammar and vocabulary coverage and can be seen as similar to the robot in this way. We ﬁnally compare the indicators for errors and the error repair strategies in human-human vs. human-robot dialogues.
Statistical analysis of MUSIC and subspace rotation estimates of sinusoidal frequencies

Consideration is given to the analysis of the large-sample second-order properties of multiple signal classification (MUSIC) and subspace rotation (SUR) methods, such as ESPRIT, for sinusoidal frequency estimation. Explicit expressions for the covariance elements of the estimation errors associated with either method are derived. These expressions of covariances are then used to analyze and compare the statistical performances of the MUSIC and SUR estimation (SURE) methods. Both MUSIC and SURE are based on the eigendecomposition of a sample data covariance matrix. The expressions for the estimation error variances derived are used to study the dependence of MUSIC and SURE performances on the dimension of the data covariance matrix used. >
Is insertion torque correlated to bone-implant contact percentage in the early healing period? A histological and histomorphometrical evaluation of 17 human-retrieved dental implants.

OBJECTIVE A precise and scientifically established method for the evaluation of the bone quality/primary stability is the measure of the insertion torque (IT). The aim of this study was a comparison between the IT values and the bone-implant contact percentage (BIC) of human implants retrieved after a 4/8-week healing period. MATERIALS Seventeen implants, all with a sandblasted and acid-etched surface, were evaluated in the present study. METHODS The implants had been retrieved for different causes, after 4/8 weeks, with a 5 mm trephine bur, and immersed in 10% buffered formalin to be processed for histology. RESULTS A not statistically significant correlation was found between IT and BIC (P<or=0.892). CONCLUSIONS In the present study on human-retrieved implants, no statistically significant correlation was found between the IT values and BIC. These results could be due to a lack of relationship between bone structure and IT, or to the fact that primary stability may not only be influenced by bone volumetrical density and/or bone trabecular connectivity but also by the thickness and density of the cortical layer. Moreover, the present knowledge of the bone microstructure is not enough to explain the relationship of bone quality and primary implant stability.
Pea Border Cell Maturation and Release Involve Complex Cell Wall Structural Dynamics1[OPEN]

An integrative glycobiology approach provided new insight into multiple modes of cell wall remodeling during pea border cell formation and mechanisms of their release. The adhesion of plant cells is vital for support and protection of the plant body and is maintained by a variety of molecular associations between cell wall components. In some specialized cases, though, plant cells are programmed to detach, and root cap-derived border cells are examples of this. Border cells (in some species known as border-like cells) provide an expendable barrier between roots and the environment. Their maturation and release is an important but poorly characterized cell separation event. To gain a deeper insight into the complex cellular dynamics underlying this process, we undertook a systematic, detailed analysis of pea (Pisum sativum) root tip cell walls. Our study included immunocarbohydrate microarray profiling, monosaccharide composition determination, Fourier-transformed infrared microspectroscopy, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR of cell wall biosynthetic genes, analysis of hydrolytic activities, transmission electron microscopy, and immunolocalization of cell wall components. Using this integrated glycobiology approach, we identified multiple novel modes of cell wall structural and compositional rearrangement during root cap growth and the release of border cells. Our findings provide a new level of detail about border cell maturation and enable us to develop a model of the separation process. We propose that loss of adhesion by the dissolution of homogalacturonan in the middle lamellae is augmented by an active biophysical process of cell curvature driven by the polarized distribution of xyloglucan and extensin epitopes.
Astonishing Diversity of Natural Peroxides as Potential Therapeutic Agents

Peroxides are an interesting group among biological active natural compounds. These metabolites contain a peroxide group (-O-O-) in which each oxygen atom is bonded to the other oxygen and to another atom. β-Oxygen in hydroperoxide group is considered as more active. Present review describes research on more than 230 natural peroxides isolated from plants, algae, and fungi. Intensive searches for new classes of biologically active metabolites produced by terrestrial and marine origin have resulted in the discovery of dozens of compounds possessing high antimalarial, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and other pharmacological activities as an important source of leads for drug discovery.
Insights from Statistical Analysis of Opioid Data

Opioid overdose has emerged as a full blown epidemic in the United States. In the last few years, there has been an alarming increase in Opioid related deaths, resulting in the loss of 63,600 lives in 2016 alone. The epidemic which is killing more than 100 people each day, was declared as a public health emergency by the US government, in October 2017. Although a few health related companies and commercial firms have examined this important issue from various available data sources, to the best of our knowledge, the academic community has not been engaged in research in this important topic. It can be safely noted that the study of the epidemic, from the data analytics perspective, is in its infancy. Given that a significant amount of Opioid related data is available in public domain, it provides the academic community an opportunity to analyze such data to provide recommendations to the public health authorities to mitigate the impact of the epidemic. In that vein, we collected some publicly available data to analyze the important contributing factors of the epidemic. In particular, we examine the role of the individuals prescribing Opioid drugs on the spread of the epidemic. In addition, we examine the impact of income level, age and educational level of various neighborhoods in a large US city, on Opioid related incidences, to find any correlation between them.
Measuring the Contribution to Systemic Risk of Sectors in the United States, the UK and Germany Using ΔCoVaR

The objective of this paper is to assess the contribution of the financial and non-financial sectors of an economy to systemic risk. To that end, the ΔCoVaR of 10 sectors is estimated for the United States, the UK and Germany using a quantile regression. The estimated ΔCoVaRs of the sectors are subsequently tested for significance and dominance to classify sectors as systemically relevant and to obtain a formal ranking of the sectors in terms of contribution to systemic risk. We divide the observation period from 1999 to 2013 into four sub-periods and determine that sector dominance changes between the sub-periods. We identify a weak link between ΔCoVaR and VaR and find that ΔCoVaR increases disproportionately between the periods. Furthermore, we observed that even the collapse of a systemically important institution does not cause main risk indicators to soar when the financial system is stable or at least is considered to be stable. The results support the findings of previous papers that suggest the use of different policy tools or a combination thereof, depending on the phase of systemic risk.
Commodity price forecasting

Accurate forecasts for medium-term commodity prices are essential when resource companies are committing to capital expenditures. Too often commodity forecasts tend to be extrapolations of current trends, invoking after the fact observations to justify a trend. Commodity forecasts for base metals and gold can do a lot better than this, if it is accepted that the primary control on medium-term prices is US Dollar valuation.
An Analysis of Processing Multimedia Data in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Technological growth in the digital communication era made a huge impact on life style of human beings. Now a day the growth of social networking sites gained much popularity around the world. Social networks provide a means for users to interact or communicate over the internet. Some of the trending social media include Facebook, twitter, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Instagram, Google+ and so on. The multimedia data is the basic building blocks for all the types of communications. Social networks also help to share multimedia data like audios, videos, stories and animations. Users can access these social media services via web-based tools through laptops, smart phones and tablets. Social networks are extremely communicating stages through which persons, groups and governments can share, cocreate, discuss and modify the data through internet. In this paper the different video processing models in MANETs such as Prediction Model, Network Friendly Model, Congestion Control Model and Bandwidth Estimation Model are critically analyzed. By varying the impairments these models are compared using a network simulator. Index Terms – Multimedia, Social Network, TCP, MANET.