Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Independence of Amplitude-Frequency and Phase Calibrations in an SSVEP-Based BCI Using Stepping Delay Flickering Sequences

This study proposes a steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP)-based brain-computer interface (BCI) independent of amplitude-frequency and phase calibrations. Six stepping delay flickering sequences (SDFSs) at 32-Hz flickering frequency were used to implement a six-command BCI system. EEG signals recorded from Oz position were first filtered within 29-35 Hz, segmented based on trigger events of SDFSs to obtain SDFS epochs, and then stored separately in epoch registers. An epoch-average process suppressed the inter-SDFS interference. For each detection point, the latest six SDFS epochs in each epoch register were averaged and the normalized power of averaged responses was calculated. The visual target that induced the maximum normalized power was identified as the visual target. Eight subjects were recruited in this study. All subjects were requested to produce the “563241” command sequence four times. The averaged accuracy, command transfer interval, and information transfer rate (mean std.) values for all eight subjects were 97.38 5.97%, 3.56 0.68 s, and 42.46 11.17 bits/min, respectively. The proposed system requires no calibration in either the amplitude-frequency characteristic or the reference phase of SSVEP which may provide an efficient and reliable channel for the neuromuscular disabled to communicate with external environments.
Generation of all radix-2 fast Fourier transform algorithms using binary trees

In this work a systematic method to generate all possible fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithms is proposed based on the relation to binary trees. The binary tree is used to represent the decomposition of a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) into sub-DFTs. The radix is adaptively changed according to compute sub-DFTs in proposed decomposition. In this work we determine the number of possible algorithms for 2n-point FFTs with radix-2 butterfly operation and propose a simple method to determine the twiddle factor indices for each algorithm based on the binary tree representation.
Molecular Interactions of Cyclam and Bicyclam Non-peptide Antagonists with the CXCR4 Chemokine Receptor*

The non-peptide CXCR4 receptor antagonist AMD3100, which is a potent blocker of human immunodeficiency virus cell entry, is a symmetrical bicyclam composed of two identical 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam) moieties connected by a relatively rigid phenylenebismethylene linker. Based on the known strong propensity of the cyclam moiety to bind carboxylic acid groups, receptor mutagenesis identified Asp171 and Asp262, located in transmembrane domain (TM) IV and TM-VI, respectively, at each end of the main ligand-binding crevice of the CXCR4 receptor, as being essential for the ability of AMD3100 to block the binding of the chemokine ligand stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1α as well as the binding of the receptor antibody 12G5. The free cyclam moiety had no effect on 12G5 binding, but blocked SDF-1α binding with an affinity of 3 μm through interaction with Asp171. The effect on SDF-1α binding of a series of bicyclam analogs with variable chemical linkers was found to rely either only on Asp171, i.e. the bicyclams acted as the isolated cyclam, or on both Asp171 and Asp262, i.e. they acted as AMD3100, depending on the length and the chemical nature of the linker between the two cyclam moieties. A positive correlation was found between the dependence of these compounds on Asp262 for binding and their potency as anti-human immunodeficiency virus agents. It is concluded that AMD3100 acts on the CXCR4 receptor through binding to Asp171 in TM-IV and Asp262 in TM-VI with each of its cyclam moieties, and it is suggested that part of its function is associated with a conformational constraint imposed upon the receptor by the connecting phenylenebismethylene linker.
An ontology framework for evolution of plain text

Data evolution is the process of semantics change for data product, in which data product has intrinsic semantics as well as extension semantics. This paper presents an ontology framework for evolution of plain text. The semantics of plain text is modeled as DATAGENOME ontology, including CONNOTATION ontology for expressing the intrinsic semantics and CONTEXT ontology for representing the extension semantics. CONNOTATION ontology is constructed according to the chapter structure of plain text. CHAPTER, SECTION, PARAGRAPH and SENTENCE class are used to describe a chapter, section, paragraph and sentence of plain text separately. CONNOTATION ontology may accompany with many CONTEXT ontologies. CONTEXT ontology consists of eight interconnected dimensions including what, when, where, who, how, which, why and awarings, is the description of virtual environment that lead to the existence of connotation. Instances of the CONNOTATION ontology can be viewed as a tree according to the relationship among them, so do the instances of COTEXT ontology. Mapping between connotation ontology tree and context tree show the correlation of intrinsic semantics and extension semantics.
Prescription Drug Use, Diagnoses, and Healthcare Utilization among the Elderly

BACKGROUND: More elderly patients affected by severe and chronic diseases are treated in primary care. Reports on the use of prescription drugs by the general elderly population are scarce, and more investigations are needed to optimize pharmaceutical care for these patients. OBJECTIVE: To analyze prescription drug use, diagnoses, and healthcare utilization among noninstitutionalized elderly patients. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING AND PATIENTS: All people ±65 years old (n = 4642) living in the community of Tierp, Sweden, in 1994 were included. Prescription drug use and healthcare utilization have been registered for all inhabitants of the community since 1972. Information about filled prescriptions and diagnoses were obtained from a computerized research register. RESULTS: Prescription drug use was high among the elderly (78%); the most used pharmacologic groups were cardiovascular, nervous system, and gastrointestinal medications. Women used more prescription drugs than men (average 4.8 vs. 3.8) and had more nonfatal diagnoses. Use of five or more different prescription drugs during 1994 was common (39.0%), and multivariate analysis showed that the greatest number of primary care visits occurred with multiple drug use (±5 drugs over 1 y). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows an extensive multiple drug use among elderly people living at home. Whether this multiple drug use per se is harmful to the patients or not could not be evaluated in this study. Further focused investigations are needed to assess the effect of multiple drug use in an elderly population.
Humic substances alleviate the aquatic toxicity of polyvinylpyrrolidone‐coated silver nanoparticles to organisms of different trophic levels

The present study investigated how humic substances (HS) modify the aquatic toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as these particles agglomerate in water and interact with HS. An alga species (Raphidocelis subcapitata), a cladoceran species (Chydorus sphaericus), and a freshwater fish larva (Danio rerio), representing organisms of different trophic levels, were exposed to colloids of the polyvinylpyrrolidone‐coated AgNPs in the presence and absence of HS. Results show that the presence of HS alleviated the aquatic toxicity of the AgNP colloids to all the organisms in a dose‐dependent manner. The particle size distribution of the AgNPs' colloidal particles shifted to lower values due to the presence of HS, implying that the decrease in the toxicity of the AgNP colloids cannot be explained by the variation of agglomeration size. The surface charge of the AgNPs was found to be more negative in the presence of high concentrations of HS, suggesting an electrostatic barrier by which HS might limit interactions between particles and algae cells; indeed, this effect reduced the algae toxicity. Observations on silver ions (Ag+) release show that HS inhibit AgNP dissolution, depending on the concentrations of HS. When toxic effects were expressed as a function of each Ag‐species, toxicity of the free Ag+ was found to be much higher than that of the agglomerated particles. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:1239–1245. © 2015 SETAC
A Vision for Malaysian and Other ASEAN Researchers to Contribute to the International Agency Theory-based Literature

Manuscript type: Review paperResearch aims: This paper offers Southeast Asian researchers, particularly those from ASEAN, a vision to contribute to international agency theory literature.Design/Methodology/Approach: Most of the studies reviewed were identified during the author’s preparation for this paper which involves Malaysia.Research findings: Three research streams to which Malaysian researchers can contribute are: political connections, family companies and corporate recovery. The socio-political contexts thathave resulted in Malaysia being a suitable environment are also discussed. This paper identifies gaps in the literature; it accumulates arguments defining why the Malaysian setting is apposite and it also offers research design suggestions for Malaysians and researchers from Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, with some defining differences, to follow.Theoretical contributions/Originality: The outcome drawn from this paper assists Malaysian researchers in utilising the agency based theory to approach various topic selections and executions. The comparisons and contrasts made between Malaysia and the other three ASEAN countries may further motivate researchers of the ASEAN region to engage agency theory as a base for their research. Research limitation: A limitation to this paper is that the boundaries between the proposed categories of shareholder political connections are blurred. Keywords: Agency Theory, ASEAN, Malaysia, Review PaperKeywords: Agency Theory, ASEAN, Malaysia, Review PaperJEL Classification: G31, G33, G38, M41
Monocular vision-based autonomous navigation system on a toy quadcopter in unknown environments

In this paper, we present an monocular vision-based autonomous navigation system for a commercial quadcoptor. The quadcoptor communicates with a ground-based laptop via wireless connection. The video stream of the front camera on the drone and the navigation data measured on-board are sent to the ground station and then processed by a vision-based SLAM system. In order to handle motion blur and frame lost in the received video, our SLAM system consists of a improved robust feature tracking scheme and a relocalisation module which achieves fast recovery from tracking failure. An Extended Kalman filter (EKF) is designed for sensor fusion. Thanks to the proposed EKF, accurate 3D positions and velocities can be estimated as well as the scaling factor of the monocular SLAM. Using a motion capture system with millimeter-level precision, we also identify the system models of the quadcoptor and design the PID controller accordingly. We demonstrate that the quadcoptor can navigate along pre-defined paths in an unknown indoor environment with our system using its front camera and onboard sensors only after some simple manual initialization procedures.
Age-Sensitive Cognitive Function, Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Plasma Levels in Healthy Older Men

Circulating levels of growth hormone (GH) change during the process of aging. Decline of cognitive functioning with aging is also well established. In this study, we investigated whether insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and the GH response to a challenge of GH-releasing hormone and GH-releasing peptide 6 were associated with age-sensitive cognitive functions, but not with functions that do not decline with aging, in 17 healthy male subjects aged between 66 and 76 years. In addition, relations with anthropometric measures were examined. Neuropsychological performance was scored on tests of variables not sensitive to aging (general knowledge, vocabulary, basic visual perception and reading ability), and of variables sensitive to aging (visuoconstructive ability, perceptual motor and mental processing speed, and verbal long-term memory). After correcting for education, the serum GH response was significantly associated with two age-sensitive cognitive tests (measures of mental processing speed), but with none of the tests not sensitive to aging. However, the direction of the association was opposite to the relation between IGF-1 and these cognitive tests: higher levels of GH response were associated with poorer cognitive performance, whereas higher levels of IGF-1 were associated with better performance. GH response, but not IGF-1, was inversely correlated with body mass index. The results are in accordance with previous research suggesting a disruption of the relation between IGF-1 and GH secretion in older age.
Respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function, and markers of inflammation among bar workers before and after a legislative ban on smoking in public places.

CONTEXT Scotland prohibited smoking in confined public places on March 26, 2006. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association of smoke-free legislation with symptoms, pulmonary function, and markers of inflammation of bar workers. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This prospective observational study was conducted in Tayside, Scotland from February-June 2006. One hundred five nonasthmatic and asthmatic nonsmoking bar workers were initially enrolled, of whom 77 completed the study per protocol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Respiratory and sensory symptoms, spirometry measurements, serum cotinine levels, peripheral inflammatory cell count, asthma quality-of-life scores, and exhaled nitric oxide levels were evaluated before and after introduction of the smoking ban. RESULTS For the per-protocol analysis, the percentage of bar workers with respiratory and sensory symptoms decreased from 79.2% (n = 61) before the smoke-free policy to 53.2% (n = 41) (total change, -26%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -13.8% to -38.1%; P<.001) and 46.8% (n = 38) (-32.5%; 95% CI, -19.8% to -45.2%; P<.001) 1 and 2 months afterward. Forced expiratory volume in the first second increased from 96.6% predicted to 104.8% (change, 8.2%; 95% CI, 3.9% to 12.4%; P<.001) and then 101.7% (change, 5.1%; 95% CI, 2.1% to 8.0%; P = .002), and serum cotinine levels decreased from 5.15 ng/mL to 3.22 ng/mL (change, -1.93 ng/mL; 95% CI, -2.83 to -1.03 ng/mL; P<.001) and then 2.93 ng/mL (-2.22 ng/mL; 95% CI, -3.10 to -1.34 ng/mL; P<.001). The total white blood cell and neutrophil count was reduced from 7610 to 6980 cells/microL at 2 months (-630 cells/muL; 95% CI, -1010 to -260 cells/microL; P = .002) and from 4440 to 4030 cells/microL (-410 cells/microL; 95% CI, -740 to -90 cells/microL; P = .03), respectively. Asthmatic bar workers also had less airway inflammation, with a reduction in exhaled nitric oxide from 34.3 parts per billion (ppb) to 27.4 ppb 1 month after the ban (0.8-fold change; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.96 ppb; P = .04), and Juniper quality-of-life scores increased from 80.2 to 87.5 points (7.3 points; 95% CI, 0.1 to 14.6 points; P = .049). CONCLUSIONS Smoke-free legislation was associated with significant early improvements in symptoms, spirometry measurements, and systemic inflammation of bar workers. Asthmatic bar workers also had reduced airway inflammation and improved quality of life.
Differential Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 Gene Expression in Endometriotic Lesions Compared with Endometrium1

Abstract In vivo levels of mRNA and the specificity of the extrauterine environment on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, MMP-2, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 were evaluated in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissue during the establishment of endometriosis in a rat model. Uteri and endometriotic implants were collected and frozen at 36 h, 2 wk, and 4 wk postsurgery to study in vivo mRNA levels. Intact uteri, uterine tissues implanted in the peritoneum or under the skin, and peritoneal adipose implants were collected at 2 wk, halved, and either frozen or cultured. Gene-specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect and quantify MMP-2, MMP-3, and TIMP-1 mRNA levels. The peritoneal endometriotic implants progressed from avascularized implants, to vascularized red lesions, to well-established encapsulated cysts. In vivo, MMP-3 mRNA was detectable at all times in ectopic tissues but not in eutopic uterine tissues, whereas MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were ubiquitously expressed at all times in both tissues. In vitro, only MMP-3 mRNA levels were elevated in endometrial tissues collected from the intact uterine and from under the skin, at levels similar to in vivo endometriotic implant MMP-3. In conclusion, ectopic endometrial MMP-3 may participate in the process of invasion and tissue remodeling that is hypothesized to occur in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Levels of sex steroid and cardiovascular disease measures in premenopausal and hormone-treated women at midlife: implications for the "timing hypothesis".

BACKGROUND The "timing hypothesis," in addressing findings from the Women's Health Initiative trial, suggests that hormone therapy (HT) should be initiated within 6 years of the menopause transition to extend a favorable estrogenic environment after menopause. METHODS We compared sex steroid and cardiovascular profiles at the 5-year follow-up visit in a community-based, longitudinal study of the menopause transition (Study of Women's Health Across the Nation). Women aged 47 to 57 years were in 1 of 4 groups: premenopausal, women using conjugated equine estrogen with or without progestin, or postmenopausal (<5 years) without HT use. Cardiovascular assays included low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A-I and B, F(2a)-isoprostanes, C-reactive protein, and lipoprotein (a)-1. Sex steroid assays were performed for estradiol, estrogen receptor ligand load, 2-hydroxyestrone, 16alpha-hydroxyestrone, total testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin. RESULTS Users of HT had 50% higher levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (P < .001 for both HT groups), which limits binding of sex steroids to their receptors, and higher excreted estrone metabolites (more than 60%; P < .001 for both HT groups) than premenopausal or postmenopausal women. These findings were, in turn, associated with higher levels of F(2a)-isoprostanes, an oxidative stress measure, than in premenopausal women. The HT users had a more favorable ratio of high-density to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol than did premenopausal or postmenopausal women (P < .01), but higher triglyceride levels (P < .01). CONCLUSION Although HT users had some more favorable lipid profiles than premenopausal and postmenopausal women, there was evidence of adverse HT effects even in women free of atherosclerosis studied within the approximate 6-year period proposed with the timing hypothesis.
Cloning of the ASN1 and ASN2 genes encoding asparagine synthetases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: differential regulation by the CCAAT‐box‐binding factor

Two new yeast genes, named ASN1 and ASN2, were isolated by complementation of the growth defect of an asparagine auxotrophic mutant. Genetical analysis indicates that these two genes are allelic to the asnA and asnB loci described previously. Simultaneous disruption of both genes leads to a total asparagine auxotrophy, while disruption of asn1 or asn2 alone has no effect on growth under tested conditions. Nucleotide sequences of ASN1 and ASN2 revealed striking similarities with genes encoding asparagine synthetase (AS) from other organisms. Regulation of ASN1 and ASN2 expression was studied using lacZ fusions and both genes were found to be several times less expressed in the absence of the transcription activator Gcn4p. The HAP complex, another transcription factor that binds to CCAAT‐box sequences, was shown to specifically affect ASN1 expression. Hap2p and Hap3p subunits of the HAP complex are required for optimal expression of ASN1, while the Hap4p regulatory subunit, which is required for regulation by the carbon source, plays a minor role in this process. Consistent with the weak effect of Hap4p, the carbon source does not significantly affect expression of ASN1. Our results show that the role of the HAP complex is not limited to activation of genes required for respiratory metabolism.
Efficacy of 750-mg, 5-day levofloxacin in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia caused by atypical pathogens

SUMMARY Background: Current recommended durations for treatment of atypical community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) range from 10 to 21 days. However, antibiotics such as the fluoroquinolones may allow for effective, short-course regimens. Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy of 750 mg levofloxacin for 5 days compared to a 500-mg, 10-day levofloxacin regimen for the treatment of atypical CAP. Methods: A randomized, active-controlled, double-blind, multicenter study was conducted within the United States. Of the 528 patients enrolled in the study, 149 were diagnosed with CAP due to Legionella pneumophila, Chlamydia pneumoniae, or Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Patients’ baseline symptoms were re-evaluated on Day 3 of therapy. Clinical efficacy and resolution of CAP symptoms were evaluated at the posttherapy visit (7–14 days after the last dose of active drug). Results: This report represents a subgroup analysis of a previous clinical study. Among the 123 clinically evaluable patients diagnosed with atypical CAP (26 patients were unevaluable), the clinical success rates were 95.5% (63 of 66 patients) for the 750-mg group and 96.5% (55 of 57 patients) for the 500-mg group (95% CI for success rate of the 500-mg group minus that of the 750-mg group, –6.8 to 8.8). At the poststudy evaluation (31–38 days after treatment began), relapse occurred in ≤ 2% of patients in either treatment group. Among patients diagnosed with atypical CAP, the 750-mg therapy resulted in more rapid symptom resolution, with a significantly greater proportion of patients experiencing resolution of fever by Day 3 of therapy ( p = 0.031). Conclusion: The 750-mg, 5-day course of levofloxacin was at least as effective as the 500-mg, 10-day regimen for atypical CAP. Additionally, the 750-mg, short-course levofloxacin therapy may reduce total antimicrobial drug usage and more rapidly relieve pneumonia symptoms.