Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards an architecture of a hybrid BCI based on SSVEP-BCI and passive-BCI

Recent decades have seen BCI applications as a novel and promising new channel of communication, control and entertainment for disabled and healthy people. However, BCI technology can be prone to errors due to the basic emotional state of the user: the performance of reactive and active BCIs decrease when user becomes stressed or bored, for example. Passive-BCI is a recent approach that fuses BCI technology with cognitive monitoring, providing valuable information about the user's intentions, the situational interpretations and mainly the emotional state. In this work, an architecture composed by passive-BCI co-working with SSVEP-BCI is proposed, with the aim of improving the performance of the reactive-BCI. The possibility of adjusting recognition characteristics of SSVEP-BCIs using a passive-BCI output is evaluated. In this sense, two ways to recover the accuracy of SSVEP are presented in this paper: 1) Adjusting of Amplitude of the SSVEP and 2) Adjusting of Frequency of the SSVEP response. The results are promising, because accuracy of SSVEP-BCI can be recovered in the case that it was reduced by the BCI user's emotional state.
In Vitro Adipose Tissue Engineering Using an Electrospun Nanofibrous Scaffold

Electrospun 3-dimensional nanofibrous scaffolds share morphologic similarities to collagen fibrils, and promote favorable biologic responses of seeded cells. In this study, we have fabricated a 3-dimensional nanofibrous scaffold made of poly L-lactic acid, and examined its ability to support and maintain the adipogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. After a 21-day incubation, oil red O staining of constructs treated with adipogenic supplements revealed positive adipose-like staining, compared with lack of staining in untreated cultures. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells cultured in adipogenic medium revealed highly elevated levels of adipogenesis-associated genes (1797-fold for lipoprotein lipase, and 5.6-fold for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ). Immunofluorescence staining of cellular constructs in adipogenic culture media showed the presence of lipoprotein lipase vesicles, a characteristic feature of adipose tissue. These results suggest that the poly L-lactic acid-based nanofibrous scaffold is a promising candidate for adult stem cell-based engineering of adipose tissue.
Vessel segmentation in high-frequency 2D/3D ultrasound images

Characterizing the microvascular architecture has a wide range of medical and biological applications in the fields of angiology, oncology and dermatology. We propose a method to segment vessels in 2D temporal sequences and in 3D images using high-frequency ultrasound (25-50 MHz). The method takes as input the native ultrasound images, and detects the vessels based the intensity and the dynamical decorrelation. It enables to characterize the vascularization of tumors or organs whenever a Doppler mode is not available.
Getting back on track: the expanded use of PPPs in Ireland since the global financial crisis

ABSTRACT The global financial crisis that took hold in late 2008 resulted in a major slowdown of activity in the global market for public-private partnerships (PPPs). Ireland was one of the countries most affected with over 20 major infrastructure PPP projects postponed or abandoned. Since 2012 however, the Irish government has adopted a number of initiatives to make PPP more attractive to bidders and private sources of finance. This paper describes these initiatives and shows that they have been associated with a renewal of PPP activity. It suggests that some of the adopted measures may involve trade-offs between encouraging PPP investment and achieving standard PPP objectives such as economic efficiency and better innovation. However, the attraction of public sources of finance from sources such as the European Investment Bank should result in a relatively lower cost of finance and enhance value for money if providers adopt rigorous risk management strategies.
Cellular Senescence in Aging Primates

The aging of organisms is characterized by a gradual functional decline of all organ systems. Mammalian somatic cells in culture display a limited proliferative life span, at the end of which they undergo an irreversible cell cycle arrest known as replicative senescence. Whether cellular senescence contributes to organismal aging has been controversial. We investigated telomere dysfunction, a recently discovered biomarker of cellular senescence, and found that the number of senescent fibroblasts increases exponentially in the skin of aging baboons, reaching >15% of all cells in very old individuals. In addition, the same cells contain activated ataxia-telangiectasia mutated kinase and heterochromatinized nuclei, confirming their senescent status.
Shear-wave elastography for the estimation of liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease: determining accuracy and ideal site for measurement.

PURPOSE To evaluate the accuracy of shear-wave elastography (SWE) for staging liver fibrosis in patients with diffuse liver disease (including patients with hepatitis C virus [HCV]) and to determine the relative accuracy of SWE measurements obtained from different hepatic acquisition sites for staging liver fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS The institutional review board approved this single-institution prospective study, which was performed between January 2010 and March 2013 in 136 consecutive patients who underwent SWE before their scheduled liver biopsy (age range, 18-76 years; mean age, 49 years; 70 men, 66 women). Informed consent was obtained from all patients. SWE measurements were obtained at four sites in the liver. Biopsy specimens were reviewed in a blinded manner by a pathologist using METAVIR criteria. SWE measurements and biopsy results were compared by using the Spearman correlation and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS SWE values obtained at the upper right lobe showed the highest correlation with estimation of fibrosis (r = 0.41, P < .001). Inflammation and steatosis did not show any correlation with SWE values except for values from the left lobe, which showed correlation with steatosis (r = 0.24, P = .004). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) in the differentiation of stage F2 fibrosis or greater, stage F3 fibrosis or greater, and stage F4 fibrosis was 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.68, 0.86), 0.82 (95% CI: 0.75, 0.91), and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.95), respectively, for all subjects who underwent liver biopsy. The corresponding AUCs for the subset of patients with HCV were 0.80 (95% CI: 0.67, 0.92), 0.82 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.95), and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.73, 1.00). The adjusted AUCs for differentiating stage F2 or greater fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease and those with HCV were 0.84 and 0.87, respectively. CONCLUSION SWE estimates of liver stiffness obtained from the right upper lobe showed the best correlation with liver fibrosis severity and can potentially be used as a noninvasive test to differentiate intermediate degrees of liver fibrosis in patients with liver disease.
Timing matters: change depends on the stage of treatment in cognitive behavioral therapy for panic disorder with agoraphobia.

OBJECTIVE The mechanisms of action underlying treatment are inadequately understood. This study examined 5 variables implicated in the treatment of panic disorder with agoraphobia (PD/AG): catastrophic agoraphobic cognitions, anxiety about bodily sensations, agoraphobic avoidance, anxiety sensitivity, and psychological flexibility. The relative importance of these process variables was examined across treatment phases: (a) psychoeducation/interoceptive exposure, (b) in situ exposure, and (c) generalization/follow-up. METHOD Data came from a randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavioral therapy for PD/AG (n = 301). Outcomes were the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (Bandelow, 1995) and functioning as measured in the Clinical Global Impression scale (Guy, 1976). The effect of process variables on subsequent change in outcome variables was calculated using bivariate latent difference score modeling. RESULTS Change in panic symptomatology was preceded by catastrophic appraisal and agoraphobic avoidance across all phases of treatment, by anxiety sensitivity during generalization/follow-up, and by psychological flexibility during exposure in situ. Change in functioning was preceded by agoraphobic avoidance and psychological flexibility across all phases of treatment, by fear of bodily symptoms during generalization/follow-up, and by anxiety sensitivity during exposure. CONCLUSIONS The effects of process variables on outcomes differ across treatment phases and outcomes (i.e., symptomatology vs. functioning). Agoraphobic avoidance and psychological flexibility should be investigated and therapeutically targeted in addition to cognitive variables.
WegoLoc: accurate prediction of protein subcellular localization using weighted Gene Ontology terms

SUMMARY We present an accurate and fast web server, WegoLoc for predicting subcellular localization of proteins based on sequence similarity and weighted Gene Ontology (GO) information. A term weighting method in the text categorization process is applied to GO terms for a support vector machine classifier. As a result, WegoLoc surpasses the state-of-the-art methods for previously used test datasets. WegoLoc supports three eukaryotic kingdoms (animals, fungi and plants) and provides human-specific analysis, and covers several sets of cellular locations. In addition, WegoLoc provides (i) multiple possible localizations of input protein(s) as well as their corresponding probability scores, (ii) weights of GO terms representing the contribution of each GO term in the prediction, and (iii) a BLAST E-value for the best hit with GO terms. If the similarity score does not meet a given threshold, an amino acid composition-based prediction is applied as a backup method. AVAILABILITY WegoLoc and User's guide are freely available at the website http://www.btool. org/WegoLoc CONTACT smchiks@ks.ac. kr; dougnam@unist.ac. kr SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data is available at http://www.btool. org/WegoLoc.
Efficient Rectangular Waveguide-to-Stripline Transition in $D$ -Band

We present a waveguide-to-stripline transition for full <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${D}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-band operation from 110 to 170 GHz. An <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$E$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-plane probe in parallel with the waveguide main axis is configured to effectively couple the signal in the primary TE<sub>10</sub> mode from the waveguide into the quasi-TEM mode on the chip. Stripline is chosen to minimize the propagation loss, which in turn facilitates efficient power transmission. The probe in conjunction with the stripline is fabricated on a narrow and thin quartz substrate in order to eliminate possible leakage due to dielectric-loaded waveguide modes. The entire structure is optimized by the use of finite element simulation software and is validated with experiments. Measurements on a back-to-back waveguide component showed good coupling efficiency with an insertion loss of about 1 dB or better across the entire band.
[Antisense RNA mediated gene silencing of nonessential gene rpsF in Escherichia coli].

OBJECTIVE We explored the cause of cell growth inhibition by antisense RNA mediated nonessential gene silencing of rpsF gene in Escherichia coli. METHODS The 41 -230 bp fragment around 5' end of gene rpsF was reversely cloned into antisense expression vector pHN678, which is flanked with a paired-termini. The recombinant plasmid was named pHNF. Then it was transformed into E. coli to produce antisense RNA strain E. coli/pHNF. Antisense RNA expression was induced by isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), the difference of liquid growth phenotype was identified between E. coli/pHNF and the control strain E. coli/pHN678; and gene transcriptional level was measured by Real time RT-PCR. RESULTS We obtained one antisense RNA strain targeted rpsF. We found that the reduced growth rate of this strain was positively related to the IPTG concentration. When IPTG was 100 micromol/L, the cell growth was not inhibited whereas the mRNA amount of rpsF had decreased by 36%, and mRNA of essential gene rpsR in the same operon did not decayed. However, when IPTG reached 200 micromol/L, the cell growth was obviously inhibited and rpsR mRNA was reduced by 12%. CONCLUSION The essential gene transcription level of rpsR decreases with the nonessential gene silencing of rpsF in the same operon, and leads to the growth inhibition of E. coli/pHNF.
Functional Interactions of the Immunoglobulin Superfamily Member F11 Are Differentially Regulated by the Extracellular Matrix Proteins Tenascin-R and Tenascin-C*

The axon-associated protein F11 is a GPI-anchored member of the immunoglobulin superfamily that promotes axon outgrowth and that shows a complex binding pattern toward multiple cell surface and extracellular matrix proteins including tenascin-R and tenascin-C. In this study, we demonstrate that tenascin-R and tenascin-C differentially modulate cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth of tectal cells on F11. While soluble tenascin-R increases the number of attached cells and the percentage of cells with neurites on immobilized F11, tenascin-C stimulates cell attachment to a similar extent but decreases neurite outgrowth. The cellular receptor interacting with F11 has been previously identified as NrCAM; however, in the presence of tenascin-R or tenascin-C cell attachment and neurite extension are independent of NrCAM. Antibody perturbation experiments indicate that β1 integrins instead of NrCAM function as receptor for neurite outgrowth of tectal cells on an F11·TN-R complex. Cellular binding assays support the possibility that the interaction of F11 to NrCAM is blocked in the presence of tenascin-R and tenascin-C. Furthermore, a sandwich binding assay demonstrates that tenascin-R and tenascin-C are able to form larger molecular complexes and to link F11 polypeptides by forming a molecular bridge. These results suggest that the molecular interactions of F11 might be regulated by the presence of tenascin-R and tenascin-C.
Review of Vitamin E and Selenium in the Prevention of Prostate Cancer: Implications of the Selenium and Vitamin E Chemoprevention Trial

The National Cancer Institute in cooperation with the Southwest Oncology Group has begun one of the largest prostate cancer prevention studies to date, the Selenium and Vitamin E Chemoprevention Trial (SELECT). The purpose of this article is to review the evidence and discuss the individual antioxidant compounds under study. The authors comprehensively reviewed the peer-reviewed literature on the chemoprevention of prostate cancer with emphasis on the antioxidants vitamin E and selenium. The credible leads for the primary prevention of prostate cancer using selenium and vitamin E have emerged as secondary findings from randomized controlled trials with corroborative evidence from observational and in vitro studies. Selenium and vitamin E are widely available compounds that are safe if taken in moderation, with relatively few adverse effects. The evidence in support of the antioxidants in the primary prevention of prostate cancer is promising, and the next step in definitively answering the question has been addressed by the investigators of SELECT. The SELECT study will define the role of the antioxidants selenium and vitamin E in the prevention of prostate cancer; complete data from the study will be available in 12 years.
D2‐dopamine receptor‐mediated inhibition of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and release of acetylcholine from guinea‐pig neostriatal slices

1 The effect of dopamine receptor activation on electrically‐or high K+ (30 mm)‐evoked neurotransmitter release and rise in intracellular Ca2+ concentration was investigated using slices of guinea‐pig neostriatum. 2 A specific D2‐dopamine receptor agonist, LY‐171555 (a laevorotatory enantiomer of LY‐141865: N‐propyl tricyclic pyrazole) at 10−6 m inhibited electrical stimulation‐and high K+‐evoked release of [3H]‐acetylcholine ([3H]‐ACh) to 47.7 ± 6.0% and 54.1 ± 5.0% of control, respectively. The maximal inhibition by LY‐171555 at 10−5 m was 54.8 ± 5.1% reduction of the control. The half‐maximal effective concentration (EC50) of LY‐171555 for the inhibition of [3H]‐ACh release was 2.3 × 10−7 m. A specific D2‐dopamine receptor antagonist, (−)‐sulpiride (10−7 m) reversed the inhibition of [3H]‐ACh release induced by LY‐171555. A specific D1‐dopamine receptor agonist, SK&F 38393 (2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐7,8‐dihydroxy‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐benzazepine) (10−5 m) had no effect on the release of [3H]‐ACh. LY‐171555 (10−6 m) also inhibited the high K+‐evoked endogenous glutamate release, by 47% of control. This inhibitory effect was reversed by (−)‐sulpiride (10−7 m). 3 We used a fluorescent, highly selective Ca2+ indicator, ‘quin 2’ to measure intracellular free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i). Electrical stimulation of slices preloaded with quin 2 led to an elevation of relative fluorescence intensity and this response was reduced by the removal of Ca2+ from the bathing medium. These results indicate that the enhanced elevation in fluorescence intensity in the quin 2‐loaded slices reflects the increase of intracellular free Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i. 4 The mixed D1‐and D2‐receptor agonist, apomorphine and LY‐171555 inhibited the increase of [Ca2+]i induced by electrical stimulation or high K+ medium, in a concentration‐dependent manner, while SK&F 38393 did not affect the increase of [Ca2+]i. The maximal inhibitory effect of LY‐171555 at 3 × 10−5 m was 35 ± 3% reduction in control values. The inhibitory effect of LY‐171555 was antagonized by (−)‐sulpiride (10−7 m). 5 There was a high correlation (r = 0.997, P < 0.05) between the D2‐receptor‐mediated inhibition of the stimulated rise of [Ca2+]i and [3H]‐ACh release. 6 When the slices were superfused with the Ca2+‐free medium containing EGTA (10−4 m) for 5 min, the rise in [Ca2+]i was markedly suppressed to 18.0% of control by LY‐171555 (10−6 m). 7 These data indicate that activation of the D2‐dopamine receptor suppresses the elevation of [Ca2+]i induced by depolarizing stimuli. This may be due to inhibition of mobilization of Ca2+ from the intracellullar store. We propose that the D2‐receptor‐mediated inhibition of transmitter release is probably due to a reduction in intracellular Ca2+ mobilization.
Evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and choroidal thickness in pseudoexfoliative glaucoma and pseudoexfoliative syndrome

ABSTRACT Objectives: To compare retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and choroidal thickness (ChT) measurements in eyes with pseudoexfoliative (PEX) glaucoma, PEX syndrome and healthy control eyes. Methods: Eighteen patients with PEX glaucoma in one eye and PEX syndrome in the fellow eye were included. The right eyes of thirty-nine age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were included as control group. All participants underwent a detailed biomicroscopic and funduscopic examination. RNFLT and ChT measurements were performed with a commercially available spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). ChT measurements were performed by using enhanced depth imaging (EDI) mode. Patients with PEX underwent diurnal IOP measurements with 4-hour intervals before inclusion in the study. RNFLT results included the average measurement and 6 quadrants (temporal, inferotemporal, inferonasal, nasal, superonasal and supero-temporal). ChT measurements were performed in the subfoveal region and around the fovea (500µm and 1500 µm nasal and temporal to the fovea), as well as around the optic disc (average peripapillary and eight quadrants in the peripapillary region (temporal, inferotemporal, inferior, inferonasal, nasal, superonasal, superior, supero-temporal)). Results: RNFLT in all quadrants and average thickness were significantly lower in PEX glaucoma eyes compared to PEX syndrome eyes and healthy control eyes (p<0.001 for both). RNFLT comparisons between PEX syndrome and healthy control eyes did not show a significant difference (p>0.05) except the inferotemporal quadrant. ChT measurements were similar between groups (p>0.05). Conclusions: Thinning of the RNFL in association with unchanged ChT may mean that the presence of PEX material is a much more significant risk factor than choroidal changes in the progression of PEX syndrome to PEX glaucoma.
Mechanisms of thrombocytopenia in chronic autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. Evidence of both impaired platelet production and increased platelet clearance.

Mechanisms of thrombocytopenia were studied in 38 patients with mild to moderately severe chronic autoimmune thrombocytopenia (AITP). 51Cr and 111In-labeled autologous platelet turnover studies and in vitro analysis of committed megakaryocyte progenitors (CFU-Meg) were used as independent measures of platelet production. Autologous 111In-labeled platelet localization studies were performed to assess platelet clearance. Although there was no increase in the frequency of marrow CFU-Meg, a specific increase in the CFU-Meg [3H]TdR suicide rate was seen which was inversely correlated with the platelet count (P less than 0.001). Platelet turnover studies showed significant numbers of patients had inappropriate thrombopoietic responses to their reduced platelet counts. Platelet-associated antibody levels correlated inversely with platelet turnover suggesting that antiplatelet antibody impairs platelet production. The circulating platelet count was best predicted by an index relating platelet production (i.e., turnover) to the spleen-liver platelet clearance that correlated directly with platelet survival (P less than 0.001). In summary, both depressed platelet production and increased platelet clearance by the liver and spleen contribute to the thrombocytopenia of AITP.
COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE VISEGRAD GROUP BANKS FOR THE PERIOD 2009-2013

The article examines the comparative performance of Banks for the Visegrad group (V4) of four Central European States for the period 2009-2013. We study the technical ef ﬁ ciency as well as the total factor of productivity changes differences between countries by employing the Data Envelopment Analysis. The ef ﬁ ciency scores are calculated with an output-oriented model. Speci ﬁ cation of inputs and outputs is one of the major problems for measurement of bank’s ef ﬁ ciency and productivity changes. To determine inputs and outputs, we made use of assets approach that treats banks as classical intermediators between depositors and borrowers. We have determined three inputs (personnel, physical capital, purchased funds) and two outputs: net loans, total securities.Our results showed that average technical ef ﬁ ciency (for all banks) trended upward during the study period. This increase ef ﬁ ciency is not common for all banks in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovak. We found that ef ﬁ ciency for Czech, Polish and Slovak banks increase during research time. Development of ef ﬁ ciency Hungarian banks has on the contrary a downward trend from 0.882 in 2009 to 0.856 in 2013. We also founded that the Total Factor of Productivity (TFP) changes across all countries was relatively stable in 3 of the 4 observation periods. However, there was a substantial decline in TFP in 2011-2012. Examination of the trends for each of the countries showed that Hungary overly in ﬂ uenced the sample mean. The TFP remained stable during this period for all Poland and Czech Republic, declined slightly for Slovakia, but declined precipitously for Hungary in 2011-2012.