Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EEG-based emotion recognition of Quran listeners

In this paper, we investigate the possibility of recognizing the emotional state of a subject from his brainwave activities while he/she is listening to verses from the Quran. To this end, an experiment is designed and performed where the electroencephalogram (EEG) brain activities of 17 participants are recorded, using Emotiv EPOC neuroheadset, while they are listening to selected verses from the Quran. At the end of each trail, the participant provides a self-assessed happiness-unhappiness feedback and, at the same time, valence-arousal values are calculated from receded EEGs using fractal dimension method based on Higuchi algorithm. These values are used to train a classifier that recognizes two emotional states, happy and unhappy. The classifier is trained using random forest algorithm and the achieved recognition accuracy is 87.96%.
Design of a patient-tailored active knee-ankle-foot orthosis to assist the gait of spinal cord injured subjects

—This paper presents the main design steps in the development of an active knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) conceived to assist the gait of incomplete spinal cord injured (SCI) subjects. The design approach is based on the idea of modifying the available passive orthoses by adding adaptable mechatronic modules at the joints. This approach has resulted in a prototype that has been tested on SCI patients. The design and control problems found and their adopted solutions are thoroughly described.
Creatine as a Novel Treatment for Depression in Females Using Methamphetamine: A Pilot Study

Objective: Depression among methamphetamine users is more prevalent in females than males, but gender-specific treatment options for this comorbidity have not been described. Reduced brain phosphocreatine levels have been shown to be lower in female methamphetamine users compared to males, and, of relevance, studies have demonstrated an association between treatment-resistant depression and reduced brain phosphocreatine concentrations. The nutritional supplement creatine monohydrate has been reported to reduce symptoms of depression in female adolescents and adults taking antidepressants, as well as to increase brain phosphocreatine in healthy volunteers. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to investigate creatine monohydrate as a treatment for depression in female methamphetamine users. Methods: Fourteen females with depression and comorbid methamphetamine dependence were enrolled in an 8-week open label trial of 5 g of daily creatine monohydrate and of these 14, 11 females completed the study. Depression was measured using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and brain phosphocreatine levels were measured using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy pre– and post–creatine treatment. Secondary outcome measures included anxiety symptoms, measured with the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), as well as methamphetamine use, monitored by twice weekly urine drug screens and self-reported use. Results: The results of a linear mixed effects repeated measures model showed significantly reduced HAMD and BAI scores as early as week 2 when compared to baseline scores. This improvement was maintained through study completion. Brain phosphocreatine concentrations were higher at the second phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy scan compared to the baseline scan; Mbaseline = 0.223 (SD = 0.013) vs. Mpost-treatment = 0.233 (SD = 0.009), t (9) = 2.905, p <. 01, suggesting that creatine increased phosphocreatine levels. Also, a reduction in methamphetamine positive urine drug screens of greater than 50% was observed by week 6. Finally, creatine was well tolerated and adverse events that were related to gastrointestinal symptoms and muscle cramping were determined as possibly related to creatine. Conclusions: The current study suggests that creatine treatment may be a promising therapeutic approach for females with depression and comorbid methamphetamine dependence. This study is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01514630).
Endogenous dopamine and cyclic events in the fish retina, I: HPLC assay of total content, release, and metabolic turnover during different light/dark cycles

Abstract In this study, we investigated the potency of dopamine for being an intrinsic signal for cyclic events in the fish retina. Dopaminergic activity was measured during different light/dark cycles, during continuous darkness, and during short-term light and dark adaptation within 1 h. During a 12-h light/12-h dark cycle, the total content of endogenous dopamine was high during the dark phase and low during the light phase. The potassium-induced release of endogenous dopamine followed a parallel time course. The concentration of the dopamine breakdown product 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), which reflects the endogenous dopaminergic activity, was high during the light phase and low during the dark phase. Similar alterations occurred in accelerated 6-h light/6-h dark cycles, again indicating a strong coupling of dopaminergic activity with light. The cyclic alterations in the total endogenous dopamine content persisted during continuous darkness after an entrainment of the fish to a 12-h light/12-h dark cycle. Although the magnitude of the change was weaker, changes in dopamine content, potassium-induced dopamine release, and DOPAC were also measured during 1 h of light or dark adaptation. During a 1-h period of dark adaptation, the total content of dopamine and the potassium-induced release of endogenous dopamine increased, while DOPAC values decreased. These values changed in the opposite direction during 1 h of light adaptation. Our findings strongly suggest that dopamine is the intrinsic signal for light during both the light and dark phases and during short-term adaptation. Light seems to be the major trigger for dopaminergic activity within the fish retina. An endogenous clock might participate in the control of the dopaminergic activity. This has to be, however, confirmed by further investigations.
[Histone methylation in the formation of higher-order chromatin structure].

真核細胞のゲノムDNAは 蛋白質やRNAを 含んだクロマ チンという形で存在 してお り,そ の基本構成単位はヒス ト ンと147bpのDNAか らなるヌクレオソームである(図1a) . ヒス トンはリン酸化やアセチル化,メ チル化などの翻訳後 修飾 をうけ,そ の結果,ク ロマチン構造は凝縮や弛緩 とい った変化をとげる. ク ロマチン構造の変化は遺伝子発現を 制御 しており,さ まざまな高次生命現象を説明する重要な パラメータのひとつである. ヒス トンのメチル化は1964年 にすでに知 られていたが1), ヒス トンのメチル化 とクロマチン構造変化 との関係が明ら かにされてきたのはここ10年 以内のことである. ヒ ス トン には塩基性アミノ酸残基であるリシン残基やアルギニン残 基が多 く含まれており,こ れらアミノ酸残基の側鎖がメチ ル化されることが知 られている. ヒ ス トンのメチル化 とクロ マチン構造変化 との関係は,メ チル化部位,メ チル化 ・脱 メチル化を担う酵素,メ チル化ヒス トンを特異的に認識 し て結合するエフェクター2)と よばれる蛋白質の同定,そ し て,こ れらの因子の相関を調べることで明らかにされてき た. と くに,ヒ ス トンのリシン残基メチル化に関する研究 は,2000年 のヒス トンメチル化酵素の発見以後,め ざまし く進展 している. こ れまでの生化学的手法に加え,精 度の 高い質量分析によりメチル化部位が網羅的に同定され,多 くのリシン残基,ア ルギニン残基がメチル化されることが 明らかにされている3). リ シン残基には最大3つ まで(モ ノ メチル化,ジ メチル化,ト リメチル化),ア ルギニン残基に は最大2つ まで(モ ノメチル化,ジ メチル化)の メチル基が 付加され,さ らに,ア ルギニ ン残基ジメチル化には非対称 型と対称型の2つ の状態がある. メ チル化 されるアミノ酸 残基,メ チル化部位,付 加されるメチル基の数の違いは, ヒス トンのメチル化 とその結果誘導 されるクロマチ ン構造 の変化に多様性を与えており,生 物学的に意味をもつこと もわかってきた. ヒス トンのアセチル化が転写に正方向のクロマチン構造 変化をもたらすのに対 し,ヒ ス トンのメチル化は正か負(遺 伝子の転写活性か転写抑制,ま たは,ユ ークロマチ ンかヘ テロクロマチン)いずれかの構造変化をもたらしうる. 本 稿 では,と くにヒス トンのメチル化修飾と高次クロマチン構 造(転 写抑制やヘテロクロマチン)と の相関に注目し,こ の 研究分野の最近の知見と今後の課題について紹介する.
Utilisation des représentations continues des mots et des paramètres prosodiques pour la détection d’erreurs dans les transcriptions automatiques de la parole (Combining continuous word representation and prosodic features for ASR error detection)[In French]

Récemment, l’utilisation des représentations continues de mots a connu beaucoup de succès dans plusieurs tâches de traitement du langage naturel. Dans cet article, nous proposons d’étudier leur utilisation dans une architecture neuronale pour la tâche de détection des erreurs au sein de transcriptions automatiques de la parole. Nous avons également expérimenté et évalué l’utilisation de paramètres prosodiques en suppléments des paramètres classiques (lexicaux, syntaxiques, . . .). La principale contribution de cet article porte sur la combinaison de différentes représentations continues de mots : plusieurs approches de combinaison sont proposées et évaluées afin de tirer profit de leurs complémentarités. Les expériences sont effectuées sur des transcriptions automatiques du corpus ETAPE générées par le système de reconnaissance automatique du LIUM. Les résultats obtenus sont meilleurs que ceux d’un système état de l’art basé sur les champs aléatoires conditionnels. Pour terminer, nous montrons que la mesure de confiance produite est particulièrement bien calibrée selon une évaluation en terme d’Entropie Croisée Normalisée (NCE).
A study of Latino Parenting Culture and Practices: Listening to the Voices of Latino Parents

This study employed a qualitative methodology to explore the nature of the Latino parenting culture and parenting practices. It attempted to understand and document Latino parenting practices for the purpose of identifying those traits and traditions that would enable the creation and execution of a better family program for Latino population. The participants were recruited from three parenting programs offered by a non-profit family and child support organization in the Southern California Metropolitan area. The study population mainly consisted of low-income, predominately first generation immigrants from Mexico. The study found that Latino mothers are primarily responsible for childrearing whereas Latino fathers are absent from such practice. The results indicated that the participant mothers perceived that communication plays an important role in their families and they made an effort to have open lines of communication with their children. The findings suggested that traditional Latino parents, in general, may have more rigid parenting values compared to their Caucasian counterparts. It was revealed that physical discipline, screaming and profanity were common disciplinary practices in participants’ families.
One Kind of Interval Support Vector Regression Algorithm and Its Application in Web Information Mining

Traditional support vector regression (SVR) algorithm can not handle training data which contain incomplete information. In order to overcome this shortcoming, this paper introduced the interval number to represent the incomplete information, and uses interval operation to replace the real operation, then an uncertainty support vector regression algorithm (USVR) was proposed, which can extend the SVR's application area and improve its learning ability. We used the USVR algorithm to Web information mining experiment, and the results show that this algorithm is feasible and effective.
Efficient, secure and non-iterative outsourcing of large-scale systems of linear equations

Solving large-scale systems of linear equations (L-SLE) is a common scientific and engineering computational task. But such problem involves enormous computing resources, which is burdensome for the resource-limited clients. Cloud computing enables computational resource-limited clients to economically outsource such problems to the cloud server. However, outsourcing LSLE to the cloud brings great security concerns and challenges since the LSLE usually contains sensitive information. Previous works for secure outsourcing LSLE are mainly based on iterative methods which cause heavy computation cost for the client side. And they usually neglect to protect the number and position privacy of zero elements in the coefficient matrix, which is not secure enough for many applications. In this paper, with a series of disguise-based techniques, we propose a new efficient and non-iterative algorithm for securely outsourcing LSLE. Our algorithm only requires two rounds of communication between the client and cloud. Furthermore, the number and positions of zero elements in coefficient matrix can be hidden from the cloud with low computational complexity. Finally, we provide extensive theoretical analysis and experimental evaluation to show its high-efficiency and security compared to the previous works.
Effects of Prenatal Environment Are Revealed by Post-natal Effects of Prenatal Environment Are Revealed by Post-natal Challenges: Embryonic Hormone Exposure, Adrenocortical Challenges: Embryonic Hormone Exposure, Adrenocortical Function and Food in Seabird Chicks Function and Food in Seabird Chicks

The interaction between prenatal environments and postnatal environments is an important source of phenotypic variability. We examined the ability of prenatal steroid exposure and postnatal energy restriction to explain adrenocortical function and ﬂ edging age in captive seabird chicks. We proposed and tested two hypotheses: (1) the strength of prenatal effects is attenuated by challenging postnatal environments (postnatal override) and (2) the strength of prenatal effects increases with the severity of postnatal challenges (postnatal reveal). We reared common murre ( Uria aalge ) chicks and measured prenatal exposure to corticosterone (CORT) and testosterone (T) from allantoic waste. Adrenocortical function was assessed after 10 d of ad lib. feeding and then after 5 and 10 d on controlled diets. Postnatal override predicts that prenatal steroids will explain more phenotypic variation before implementation of energy restriction; postnatal reveal predicts that the contribution of prenatal steroids will increase with duration and severity of energy restriction. Energy restriction increased secretion of baseline CORT and the adrenocortical response to the standardized stressor of handling and restraint. The ability of prenatal steroids to explain baseline CORT increased with duration of energy restriction, and for day 20 free baseline CORT, there was a signi ﬁ cant interaction between kilojoules per day and prenatal CORT levels; severity of restriction strengthened the relationship between prenatal hormone levels and postnatal hormone levels. Both maximum CORT at day 20 and ﬂ edging age were best explained by diet treatment and day 15 or day 20 baseline CORT, respectively. Overall, prenatal CORT increased ﬂ edging age and baseline secretion of CORT, while prenatal T decreased them. However, prenatal effects on adrenocortical function were apparent only under the energy restriction conditions. Thus, we found some support for the postnatal reveal hypothesis; our results suggest that some prenatal effects on phenotype may be more likely to manifest in challenging postnatal environments.
Specific Training Effects of Concurrent Aerobic and Strength Exercises Depend on Recovery Duration

Abstract Robineau, J, Babault, N, Piscione, J, Lacome, M, and Bigard, AX. Specific training effects of concurrent aerobic and strength exercises depend on recovery duration. J Strength Cond Res 30(3): 672–683, 2016—This study aimed to determine whether the duration (0, 6, or 24 hours) of recovery between strength and aerobic sequences influences the responses to a concurrent training program. Fifty-eight amateur rugby players were randomly assigned to control (CONT), concurrent training (C-0h, C-6h, or C-24h), or strength training (STR) groups during a 7-week training period. Two sessions of each quality were proposed each week with strength always performed before aerobic training. Neuromuscular and aerobic measurements were performed before and immediately after the overall training period. Data were assessed for practical significance using magnitude-based inference. Gains in maximal strength for bench press and half squat were lower in C-0h compared with that in C-6h, C-24h, and STR. The maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) during isokinetic knee extension at 60°·s−1 was likely higher for C-24h compared with C-0h. Changes in MVC at 180°·s−1 was likely higher in C-24h and STR than in C-0h and C-6h. Training-induced gains in isometric MVC for C-0h, C-6h, C-24h, and STR were unclear. V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak increased in C-0h, C-6h, and C-24h. Training-induced changes in V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak were higher in C-24h than in C-0h and C-6h. Our study emphasized that the interference on strength development depends on the recovery delay between the 2 sequences. Daily training without a recovery period between sessions (C-0h) and, to a lesser extent, training twice a day (C-6h), is not optimal for neuromuscular and aerobic improvements. Fitness coaches should avoid scheduling 2 contradictory qualities, with less than 6-hour recovery between them to obtain full adaptive responses to concurrent training.
Pinhole detection in Si solar cells using Resonance Ultrasonic Vibrations

Resonance Ultrasonic Vibrations (RUV) methodology was developed to accurately and automatically detect mechanically unstable wafers and cells with millimeter-length cracks. It was observed by cell producers that other mechanical problems possess a high probability of wafer/cell breakage in production. A small, sub-millimeter diameter “pinhole” represents a seed point defect which dramatically reduces the cell strength and ultimately leads to breakage and yield reduction. To address this production problem, we designed a new cell inspection protocol to identify the wafers and cells with pinholes using an addition to the RUV system called the Activation Station. Pinholes were introduced by indentation in a commercial grade single- or multi-crystalline Silicon solar cells and revealed by a high resolution Scanning Acoustic Microscopy (SAM) and in further details by Scanning Electron Microscopy combined with Focused Ion Beam with cross section capability. It was established that after the indentation, a pinhole gives rise to sub-millimeter length seed cracks which elongate in the form of cross-cracks in Cz-Si cells, and lead to cell fracture. To observe and screen out cells with this type of flaws the RUV system was upgraded with the Activation Station. A new RUV-AS cell inspection protocol was realized. Our tests show that pinholes located at the central area of the cell are covered with 100% accuracy.
Substandard monitoring of warfarin in North America. Time for change.

Warfarin is a very effective antithrombotic drug, but its dosage must be monitored carefully because its metabolic clearance varies among patients and the risk of clinically important bleeding rises sharply when the upper limit of the effective range is exceeded. Warfarin therapy is usually monitored by the prothrombin time (PT). 1 The PT is sensitive to three of the four vitamin K-dependent procoagulant clotting factors and is obtained by adding a mixture of calcium and thromboplastin to citrated plasma. The term thromboplastin describes a phospholipid-protein extract of tissues, usually lung, brain, or placenta, that contains both the tissue factor and the phospholipid necessary to promote the activation of factor X by factor VII. 1,2 The PT is a simple test, but its interpretation can be problematic because thromboplastins vary markedly in their responsiveness to the anticoagulant effects of warfarin depending on their source and method of preparation. 3-9 As a
Effect of Chronic DL-Amphetamine Exposure on Brain Volume, Anxiogenic, Locomotor, and Social Behaviors in Male SD Rats

Research examining the long-term effects of drugs such as AdderallTM, a mixed DL-amphetamine, as a first-line treatment strategy for those diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is very much lacking. In order to address this, the present study sought to examine possible behavioral and neuroanatomical effects of chronic oral exposure to DL-amphetamine administered at a relatively low dose to the developing male Sprague Dawley rat. Animals were administered a mixture of chocolate drink and DL-amphetamine at a dose of 1.6 mg/kg for 36 days, beginning at PD 24 and ending at PD 60. Anxiety, a potential side effect of stimulant treatment, was assessed using three paradigms: The open field test (OF), the social interaction test (SI), and the elevated plus maze (EPM). The OF and SI were conducted using repeated testing over the course of five weeks. Testing occurred immediately after drug administration on a given day. The EPM was used only once on the penultimate day of treatment, before the drug was administered. Following drug treatment on PD 60, brain-to-body weight ratios were obtained. Results indicated that there were no group differences in brain-to-body weight ratios nor were differences in locomotor and social behaviors observed. However, rats treated with DL-amphetamine did show an anxiogenic response in the EPM. This was represented as a significant reduction in open arm entries. Overall our findings suggest that while chronic drug treatment fails to alter multiple measures of behavior, or reliable changes in brain volume, such treatment may impact a behavioral index of anxiety. Future research should seek to examine the implications of this heightened anxiogenic response in animals treated chronically with oral, low-dose DL-amphetamine.
Miniaturized biocompatible microstrip antenna using genetic algorithm

Biocompatible antennas are an area of recent research that can facilitate remote communication with medical implants. This paper shows several possible designs of a "waffle-type" antenna created using genetic algorithms (GAs) that are of a size potentially suitable for cardiac pacemakers in the 402-405 MHz MICS band. In addition, methods to constrain the simulation and speed up the convergence of the GA for this type of antenna are explored. Even simple constraints such as fixing the feed and ground locations and encouraging the antenna to grow preferentially in the horizontal direction to take advantage of the longer physical dimensions of a pacemaker in that direction can appreciably improve convergence speed. One exception to this was constraining the patches to be connected together rather than distributed randomly, which caused the system to converge slower rather than faster. Also notable was that when a larger physical size was allowed, the system also converged more quickly despite a sizeable increase in the number of unknowns (subpatches) in the model. Thus, this paper provides a smaller, better matched microstrip antenna for biotelemetry and a choice of GA constraints for designing it.
Alternative lengthening of telomeres can be maintained by preferential elongation of lagging strands

Abstract Alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) is a telomerase independent telomere maintenance mechanism that occurs in ∼15% of cancers. The potential mechanism of ALT is homology-directed telomere synthesis, but molecular mechanisms of how ALT maintains telomere length in human cancer is poorly understood. Here, we generated TERC (telomerase RNA) gene knockouts in telomerase positive cell lines that resulted in long-term surviving clones acquiring the ALT pathway but at a very low frequency. By comparing these ALT cells with parental telomerase positive cells, we observed that ALT cells possess excessively long telomeric overhangs derived from telomere elongation processes that mostly occur during S phase. ALT cells exhibited preferential elongation of the telomeric lagging strands, whereas telomerase positive cells exhibited similar elongation between leading and lagging strands. We propose that the ALT pathway preferentially occurs at telomeric lagging strands leading to heterogeneous telomere lengths observed in most ALT cancers.