Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improvements in Classification of Left and Right Foot Motor Intention Using Modulated Steady-State Somatosensory Evoked Potential Induced by Electrical Stimulation and Motor Imagery

In recent years, motor imagery-based brain-computer interface (MI-BCI) has been applied to motor rehabilitation in patients with motor dysfunction. However, traditional MI-BCI is rarely used for foot motor intention recognition because the motor cortex regions of both feet are anatomically close to each other, and traditional event-related desynchronization (ERD) patterns for MI-BCI have insufficient spatial discrimination. This study introduced steady-state somatosensory evoked potentials (SSSEPs) by synchronous bilateral feet electrical stimulation at different frequencies, which were used as carrier signals modulated by unilateral foot motor intention. Fifteen subjects participated in MI and MI-SSSEP tasks. A Riemannian geometry classifier with a task-related component analysis (TRCA) spatial filter was proposed to demodulate the variation in SSSEP features and discriminate the left and right foot motor intentions. The feature outcomes indicated that the amplitude and phase synchronization of the SSSEPs could be well modulated by unilateral foot MI tasks under the MI-SSSEP paradigm. The classification results revealed that the modulated SSSEP features played an important role in the recognition of left-right foot discrimination. Moreover, the proposed TRCA-based method outperformed the other three methods and improved the foot average classification accuracy to 81.07± 13.29%, with the highest accuracy attained at 97.00%. Compared with the traditional MI paradigm, the foot motor intention recognition accuracy of the MI-SSSEP paradigm was significantly improved, from nearly 60% to more than 80%. This work provides a practical method for left-right foot motor intention recognition and expands the application of MI-BCI in the field of lower-extremity motor function rehabilitation.
The hierarchical basis of serial homology and evolutionary novelty

Given the pervasiveness of gene sharing in evolution and the extent of homology across the tree of life, why is everything not homologous with everything else? The continuity and overlapping genetic contributions to diverse traits across lineages seem to imply that no discrete determination of homology is possible. Although some argue that the widespread overlap in parts and processes should be acknowledged as “partial” homology, this threatens a broad base of presumed comparative morphological knowledge accepted by most biologists. Following a long scientific tradition, we advocate a strategy of “theoretical articulation” that introduces further distinctions to existing concepts to produce increased contrastive resolution among the labels used to represent biological phenomena. We pursue this strategy by drawing on successful patterns of reasoning from serial homology at the level of gene sequences to generate an enriched characterization of serial homology as a hierarchical, phylogenetic concept. Specifically, we propose that the concept of serial homology should be applied primarily to repeated but developmentally individualized body parts, such as cell types, differentiated body segments, or epidermal appendages. For these characters, a phylogenetic history can be reconstructed, similar to families of paralogous genes, endowing the notion of serial homology with a hierarchical, phylogenetic interpretation. On this basis, we propose a five‐fold theoretical classification that permits a more fine‐grained mapping of diverse trait‐types. This facilitates answering the question of why everything is not homologous with everything else, as well as how novelty is possible given that any new character possesses evolutionary precursors. We illustrate the fecundity of our account by reference to debates over insect wing serial homologs and vertebrate paired appendages.
Project VeSElkA: abundance analysis of chemical species in HD 41076 and HD 148330

A new semi-automatic approach is employed to carry out the abundance analysis of high-resolution spectra of HD41076 and HD148330 obtained recently with the spectropolarimetre ESPaDOnS at the CFHT. This approach allows to prepare in a semi-automatic mode the input data for the modified ZEEMAN2 code and to analyse several hundreds of line profiles in sequence during a single run. It also provides more information on abundance distribution for each chemical element at the deeper atmospheric layers. Our analysis of the Balmer profiles observed in the spectra of HD41076 and HD148330 has resulted in the estimates of their effective temperature, gravity, metallicity and radial velocity. The respective models of stellar atmosphere have been calculated with the code PHOENIX and used to carry out abundance analysis employing the modified ZEEMAN2 code. The analysis shows a deficit of the C, N, F, Mg, Ca, Ti, V, Cu, Y, Mo, Sm and Gd, and overabundance of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Sr, Zr, Ba, Ce, Nd and Dy in the stellar atmosphere of HD41076. In the atmosphere of HD148330, the C, N and Mo appear to be underabundant, while the Ne, Na, Al, Si, P, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Sr, Y, Zr, Ba, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd and Dy are overabundant. We also have found signatures of vertical abundance stratification of Fe, Ti, Cr and Mn in HD41076, and of Fe, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Y, Zr, Ce, Nd, Sm and Gd in HD148330.
Star Cluster Population of the Interacting Galaxy System M51

Abstract We present a star cluster population study in the interacting galaxy system M51 based on HST ACS BV I mosaic images taken by the Hubble Heritage Team to commemorate the HST's 15th anniversary. We have found and classified star clusters in M51 using SExtractor and visual inspection. We have derived the photometry, size, and age of the clusters. It is found that the companion SB0 galaxy NGC 5195 harbors about 50 faint fuzzy clusters and that the age distribution of star clusters appears to be correlated with the epochs of dynamical events in M51 system.
Critical and transformative approaches in leadership evaluation and research

Abstract In this article, the author summarizes what critical and transformational theory is, along with its goals, and describes why such an approach is particularly relevant within the field of student leadership development. Application of a critical and transformational approach to conducting research and program evaluation efforts in leadership and community development using practical examples within postsecondary education is also shared.
Health-adjusted life expectancy according to lifestyle classified by the Yonsei Lifestyle Profile-BREF

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) by demographic characteristics (sex, educational achievement, and residential area) according to the lifestyle classifications of the Yonsei Lifestyle Profile-BREF (YLP-BREF). METHODS This study included 569 participants aged 55 years or older living in Korea. The YLP-BREF domains were physical activity, activity participation, and nutrition. RESULTS Females had a longer HALE (mean±standard deviation, 8.90±5.06 years) in the physical activity domain, while males had a longer HALE in the nutrition domain (9.44±5.91 years). People living in rural areas had longer HALE in physical activity (12.02±5.60 years), activity participation (8.58±4.21 years), and nutrition (11.33±6.43 years). There were no significant differences according to sex or residential area. High school graduates showed the longest HALE (physical activity: 10.38± 6.89; activity participation: 7.64±4.29; nutrition: 9.59±6.40 years). There was a significant difference in educational achievement. CONCLUSIONS As people age, the demand for a healthy lifestyle increases. This study attempted to calculate HALE by demographic characteristics according to lifestyle. The results of this study will help inform future research directions for providing a healthy lifestyle.
VARIATIONS ON DEBRIS DISKS. II. ICY PLANET FORMATION AS A FUNCTION OF THE BULK PROPERTIES AND INITIAL SIZES OF PLANETESIMALS

We describe comprehensive calculations of the formation of icy planets and debris disks at 30–150 AU around 1–3 M☉ stars. Disks composed of large, strong planetesimals produce more massive planets than disks composed of small, weak planetesimals. The maximum radius of icy planets ranges from ∼1500 km to 11,500 km. The formation rate of 1000 km objects—“Plutos”—is a useful proxy for the efficiency of icy planet formation. Plutos form more efficiently in massive disks, in disks with small planetesimals, and in disks with a range of planetesimal sizes. Although Plutos form throughout massive disks, Pluto production is usually concentrated in the inner disk. Despite the large number of Plutos produced in many calculations, icy planet formation is inefficient. At the end of the main sequence lifetime of the central star, Plutos contain less than 10% of the initial mass in solid material. This conclusion is independent of the initial mass in the disk or the properties of the planetesimals. Debris disk formation coincides with the formation of planetary systems containing Plutos. As Plutos form, they stir leftover planetesimals to large velocities. A cascade of collisions then grinds the leftovers to dust, forming an observable debris disk. In disks with small (≲1–10 km) planetesimals, collisional cascades produce luminous debris disks with maximum luminosity ∼10−2 times the stellar luminosity. Disks with larger planetesimals produce debris disks with maximum luminosity ∼5 × 10−4 (10 km) to 5 × 10−5 (100 km) times the stellar luminosity. Following peak luminosity, the evolution of the debris disk emission is roughly a power law, f ∝ t−n with n≈ 0.6–0.8. Observations of debris disks around A-type and G-type stars strongly favor models with small planetesimals. In these models, our predictions for the time evolution and detection frequency of debris disks agree with published observations. We suggest several critical observations that can test key features of our calculations.
Applying learning health systems thinking in codeveloping integrated tuberculosis interventions in the contexts of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic reversed much of global progress made in combatting tuberculosis, with South Africa experiencing one of the largest impacts on tuberculosis detection. The aim of this paper is to share our experiences in applying learning health systems (LHS) thinking to the codevelopment of an intervention improving an integrated response to COVID-19 and tuberculosis in a South African district. A sequential partially mixed-methods study was undertaken between 2018 and 2021 in the district of Amajuba in KwaZulu-Natal. Here, we report on the formulation of a Theory of Change, codesigning and refining proposed interventions, and piloting and evaluating codesigned interventions in primary healthcare facilities, through an LHS lens. Following the establishment and formalisation of a district Learning Community, diagnostic work and a codevelopment of a theory of change, intervention packages tailored according to pandemic lockdowns were developed, piloted and scaled up. This process illustrates how a community of learning can generate more responsive, localised interventions, and suggests that the establishment of a shared space of research governance can provide a degree of resilience to facilitate adaption to external shocks. Four main lessons have been gleaned from our experience in adopting an LHS approach in a South African district, which are (1) the importance of building and sustaining relationships, (2) the utility of colearning, coproduction and adaptive capacity, (3) the centrality of theory-driven systems strengthening and (4) reflections on LHS as a framework.
Topological Strings and Quantum Curves

This thesis presents several new insights on the interface between mathematics and theoretical physics, with a central role for Riemann surfaces. First of all, the duality between Vafa-Witten theory and WZW models is embedded in string theory. Secondly, this model is generalized to a web of dualities connecting topological string theory and N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories to a configuration of D-branes that intersect over a Riemann surface. This description yields a new perspective on topological string theory in terms of a KP integrable system based on a quantum curve. Thirdly, this thesis describes a geometric analysis of wall-crossing in N=4 string theory. And lastly, it offers a novel approach to constuct metastable vacua in type IIB string theory.
STEAP2 promotes osteosarcoma progression by inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transition via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and is regulated by EFEMP2

ABSTRACT This study was designed to explore the prognostic significance and functionality of STEAP2 (six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 2) in osteosarcomas and determine whether EFEMP2 (Epidermal growth factor-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 2) targets STEAP2 to facilitate osteosarcoma cell infiltration and migration. STEAP2 expression in peritumoral tissues, osteosarcoma, benign fibrous dysplasia, osteosarcoma cells, normal osteoblastic hFOB cells, and various invasive subclones was evaluated using IHC, ICC, and qRT-PCR. We also evaluated the association between STEAP2 expression and disease outcome using Kaplan–Meier analyses and then investigated STEAP2 regulation and its functional effects using both in vitro and in vivo assays. The results revealed that the upregulation of STEAP2 in osteosarcoma tissues positively correlated with both the malignant osteosarcoma phenotype and poor patient outcomes. In addition, STEAP2 expression induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis and facilitated osteosarcoma cell infiltration and migration. Changes in EFEMP2 expression resulted in correlating changes in STEAP2 expression, with EFEMP2-overexpressing osteosarcoma cells exhibiting a less invasive phenotype and reduced EMT following STEAP2 inhibition. It is also worth noting that although EFEMP2 overexpression activated the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway promoting EMT, it did not affect osteosarcoma cells in which STEAP2 or Akt was knocked down. Thus, we can conclude that STEAP2 acts as an oncogene in osteosarcoma progression, while EFEMP2 enables PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis initiation and EMT by partly targeting STEAP2, thereby facilitating osteosarcoma cell infiltration and migration.
Properties of Magnetars Mimicking 56Ni-Powered Light Curves in Type IC Superluminous Supernovae

Many Type Ic superluminous supernovae have light-curve decline rates after their luminosity peak, which are close to the nuclear decay rate of , consistent with the interpretation that they are powered by and possibly pair-instability supernovae. However, their rise times are typically shorter than those expected from pair-instability supernovae, and Type Ic superluminous supernovae are often suggested to be powered by magnetar spin-down. If magnetar spin-down is actually a major mechanism to power Type Ic superluminous supernovae, it should be able to produce decline rates similar to the decay rate rather easily. In this study, we investigate the conditions for magnetars under which their spin-down energy input can behave like the nuclear decay energy input. We find that an initial magnetic field strength within a certain range is sufficient to keep the magnetar energy deposition within a factor of a few of the decay energy for several hundreds of days. Magnetar spin-down needs to be by almost pure dipole radiation with the braking index close to three to mimic in a wide parameter range. Not only late-phase -decay-like light curves, but also rise time and peak luminosity of most -powered light curves can be reproduced by magnetars. Bolometric light curves for more than 700 days are required to distinguish the two energy sources solely by them. We expect that more slowly declining superluminous supernovae with short rise times should be found if they are mainly powered by magnetar spin-down.
Genome-wide association study identi ﬁ es Sjögren ’ s risk loci with functional implications in immune and glandular cells

Sjögren ’ s disease is a complex autoimmune disease with twelve established susceptibility loci. This genome-wide association study (GWAS) identi ﬁ es ten novel genome-wide signi ﬁ cant (GWS) regions in Sjögren ’ s cases of European ancestry: CD247 , NAB1 , PTTG1-MIR146A , PRDM1-ATG5 , TNFAIP3 , XKR6 , MAPT- CRHR1 , RPTOR-CHMP6-BAIAP6 , TYK2 , SYNGR1 . Polygenic risk scores yield predictability (AUROC = 0.71) and relative risk of 12.08. Interrogation of bioinformatics databases re ﬁ ne the associations, de ﬁ ne local regulatory networks of GWS SNPs from the 95% credible set
Zebrafish embryos hatch early in response to chemical and mechanical indicators of predation risk, resulting in underdeveloped swimming ability of hatchling larvae

ABSTRACT Plasticity in hatching time allows embryos to maximize fitness by balancing the benefits and costs of remaining bound within the chorion against the benefits and costs of emerging as a free-swimming larva. Here, in the first experiment, we exposed zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos to either chemical cues from crushed embryos (simulating egg predation) or to blank water control. Embryos exposed to alarm cues hatched sooner, and had shorter body lengths and underdeveloped fins, relative to larvae from the water treatment. Burst swimming speed was significantly slower for larvae that hatched from the alarm cue treatment than for larvae from the water treatment. In a second 2×2 experiment, we exposed zebrafish embryos to either chemical alarm cues from conspecific embryos, mechanical disturbance (magnetic stir bar) to simulate a predator probing the substrate for developing embryos, both chemical and mechanical indicators of risk, or neither (control). We found similar effects in terms of earlier time to hatch at an earlier stage of development and poorer swimming performance of hatchling larvae. In the second experiment, these effects occurred in response to mechanical disturbance with or without the presence of chemical alarm cues. Alarm cues alone produced no effects in the second experiment. Taken together, these data indicate that zebrafish embryos demonstrate a facultative trade-off between risk of predation acting on two stages of their life history.
Exon-dependent transcriptional adaptation by exon-junction complex proteins Y14/RNP-4 and MAGOH/MAG-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans

Transcriptional adaptation is a powerful gene regulation mechanism that can increase genetic robustness. Transcriptional adaptation occurs when a gene is mutated and is mediated by the mutant RNA, rather than by protein feedback loops. We show here that transcriptional adaptation occurs in the C. elegans clh family of Cl- channels and that it requires exon-junction complex (EJC) proteins RNP-4, MAG-1, and eiF4AIII. Depending on which exons are deleted in distinct clh-1 alleles, different clh genes are regulated in an EJC-dependent manner. Our results support the idea that different transcriptional adaptation outcomes may be directed by the differential interaction of the EJC with its target mutant RNAs.
Flat-spectrum radio sources as likely counterparts of unidentified INTEGRAL sources (Research Note)

Many sources in the fourth INTEGRAL/IBIS catalogue are still unidentified since they lack an optical counterpart. An important tool that can help in identifying and classifying these sources is the cross-correlation with radio catalogues, which are very sensitive and positionally accurate. Moreover, the radio properties of a source, such as the spectrum or morphology, could provide further insight into its nature. In particular, flat-spectrum radio sources at high Galactic latitudes are likely to be AGN, possibly associated to a blazar or to the compact core of a radio galaxy. Here we present a small sample of 6 sources extracted from the fourth INTEGRAL/IBIS catalogue that are still unidentified or unclassified, but which are very likely associated with a bright, flat-spectrum radio object. To confirm the association and to study the source X-ray spectral parameters, we performed X-ray follow-up observations with Swift/XRT of all objects. We report in this note the overall results obtained from this search and discuss the nature of each individual INTEGRAL source. We find that 5 of the 6 radio associations are also detected in X-rays; furthermore, in 3 cases they are the only counterpart found. More specifically, IGR J06073−0024 is a flat-spectrum radio quasar at z = 1.08, IGR J14488−4008 is a newly discovered radio galaxy, while IGR J18129−0649 is an AGN of a still unknown type. The nature of two sources (IGR J07225−3810 and IGR J19386−4653) is less well defined, since in both cases we find another X-ray source in the INTEGRAL error circle; nevertheless, the flat-spectrum radio source, likely to be a radio loud AGN, remains a viable and, in fact, a more convincing association in both cases. Only for the last object (IGR J11544−7618) could we not find any convincing counterpart since the radio association is not an X-ray emitter, while the only X-ray source seen in the field is a G star and therefore unlikely to produce the persistent emission seen by INTEGRAL.
Comparison of bilateral eardrum temperatures measured using an infrared tympanic thermometer before and after surgery in patients with chronic otitis media

This study aimed to investigate the effect of chronic otitis media (COM) and COM surgery on infrared tympanic thermometer measurements. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 192 patients (192 surgery cases) who underwent surgery for COM and whose bilateral tympanic membrane temperature was measured with an infrared tympanic thermometer the day before surgery and at 2, 3, 4, and 6 months after surgery. Patients underwent surgery for COM in 1 ear, the other eardrum was intact. Patients who underwent tympanoplasty, simple mastoidectomy, and canal wall up mastoidectomy, surgeries performed to preserve the ear canal, were included in group A, and patients who underwent canal wall down mastoidectomy, a surgery to remove the ear canal, were included in group B. There were 115 and 77 patients in groups A and B, respectively. The mean temperature on the side with COM measured the day before surgery was 37.09°C ± 0.325°C and the mean temperature on the opposite normal side was 37.03°C ± 0.330°C (P = .000). In group A, the eardrum temperature on the surgical and contralateral side was not statistically different after surgery (P = .439). The temperature difference between both sides of the eardrums (dTemp) changed from 0.056°C before surgery to 0.014°C after surgery (P = .008). However, in group B, which canal wall down mastoidectomy was performed, the eardrum temperature of the surgical side was higher than that on the other side (P = .001). The dTemp increased up to 0.15°C after surgery (P = .000). The temperature of the eardrum was slightly increased by COM. The COM surgeries, which preserve the ear canal, brought the temperature of the eardrum close to that of the normal eardrum, and the surgery to remove the ear canal raised the temperature of the eardrum.