Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decoding Imagined Musical Pitch From Human Scalp Electroencephalograms

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can restore impaired cognitive functions in people with neurological disorders such as stroke. Musical ability is a cognitive function that is correlated with non-musical cognitive functions, and restoring it can enhance other cognitive functions. Pitch sense is the most relevant function to musical ability according to previous studies of amusia, and thus decoding pitch information is crucial for BCIs to be able to restore musical ability. This study evaluated the feasibility of decoding pitch imagery information directly from human electroencephalography (EEG). Twenty participants performed a random imagery task with seven musical pitches (C4–B4). We used two approaches to explore EEG features of pitch imagery: multiband spectral power at individual channels (IC) and differences between bilaterally symmetric channels (DC). The selected spectral power features revealed remarkable contrasts between left and right hemispheres, low- (< 13 Hz) and high-frequency ( $>$ 13 Hz) bands, and frontal and parietal areas. We classified two EEG feature sets, IC and DC, into seven pitch classes using five types of classifiers. The best classification performance for seven pitches was obtained using IC and multiclass Support Vector Machine with an average accuracy of 35.68±7.47% (max. 50%) and an information transfer rate (ITR) of 0.37±0.22 bits/sec. When grouping the pitches to vary the number of classes (K = 2–6), the ITR was similar across K and feature sets, suggesting the efficiency of DC. This study demonstrates for the first time the feasibility of decoding imagined musical pitch directly from human EEG.
Distinct trajectories in low-dimensional neural oscillation state space track dynamic decision-making in humans

The brain evolved to govern behavior in a dynamic world, in which pertinent information about choices is often in flux. Thus, the commitment to an action choice must reflect a balance between monitoring that information and the necessity to act before opportunities are lost. Here, we investigate the mechanisms of dynamic decision-making in humans using low dimensional space representation of brain wide magnetoencephalography recordings. We show that the principal components (PCs) of alpha (9-13 Hz) and beta power (16-24 Hz) are involved in tracking sensory information evolving over time in the sensorimotor and visual cortex. We also found that alpha PCs reflect the commitment to a particular choice, while beta PCs reflect motor execution. Finally, higher frequency components in subcortical areas reflect the adjustment of speed- accuracy tradeoff policies. These results provide a new detailed characterization of the distributed oscillatory brain processes underlying dynamic decision-making in humans.
Notch2 signaling guides B cells away from germinal centers towards marginal zone B cell and plasma cell differentiation

Notch2 signaling has a profound role in driving the development of Marginal Zone B (MZB) cells. We recently demonstrated that Follicular B (FoB) cells act as precursors for MZB cells in mice, but the mechanistic aspects of this differentiation pathway are still elusive. By studying Notch signaling in CBF:H2B-Venus Notch-reporter mice, we show that most B cells receive a Notch signal, which is highest in MZB cells. However, surprisingly, around one-third of MZB cells seem to lose their Notch signal with time. Conditional deletion or constitutive activation of Notch2 in mice upon T-cell-dependent (TD) immunization unraveled an interplay between antigen-induced activation and Notch2 signaling, in which FoB cells that turn off the Notch pathway enter germinal centers, whereas FoB cells with high Notch signals undergo MZB cell or plasmablast differentiation. Input of experimental data into a mathematical modeling framework reveals that MZB cells regularly emerge from antigen-activated FoB cells in a Notch2-dependent manner upon TD immunization.
Mechanotransductive feedback control of endothelial cell motility and vascular morphogenesis

Vascular morphogenesis requires persistent endothelial cell motility that is responsive to diverse and dynamic mechanical stimuli. Here, we interrogated the mechanotransductive feedback dynamics that govern endothelial cell motility and vascular morphogenesis. We show that the transcriptional regulators, YAP and TAZ, are activated by mechanical cues to transcriptionally limit cytoskeletal and focal adhesion maturation, forming a conserved mechanotransductive feedback loop that mediates human endothelial cell motility in vitro and zebrafish intersegmental vessel (ISV) morphogenesis in vivo. This feedback loop closes in 4 hours, achieving cytoskeletal equilibrium in 8 hours. Feedback loop inhibition arrested endothelial cell migration in vitro and ISV morphogenesis in vivo. Inhibitor washout at 3 hrs, prior to feedback loop closure, restored vessel growth, but washout at 8 hours, longer than the feedback timescale, did not, establishing lower and upper bounds for feedback kinetics in vivo. Mechanistically, YAP and TAZ induced transcriptional suppression of RhoA signaling to maintain dynamic cytoskeletal equilibria. Together, these data establish the mechanoresponsive dynamics of a transcriptional feedback loop necessary for persistent endothelial cell migration and vascular morphogenesis.
Factors affecting organisational performance: the case of the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA)

The Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) was enacted in 1999 marking a key milestone in promoting sustainable environmental management in Kenya. The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) was established under the EMCA as the principal instrument o f Government for the implementation of all policies relating to environment. In spite of its strengths and opportunities, NEMA’s visibility remains low. This study was undertaken to obtain some perspectives on the effect of organizational culture, Monitoring and Evaluation, Coordination on the performance of NEMA. Thirty five (35) respondents from NEMA, nine (9) respondents from Government Ministries specified on the First Schedule of EMCA, four (4) from United Nations agencies and two (2) from the donor community were interviewed to obtain information on factors affecting NEMA’s performance. NEMA respondents were selected through stratified random sampling using the Authority’s organogram and staffing table. Each of the seven departments of NEMA was considered a stratum. Fifteen senior managers and twenty technical personnel were selected from a sample frame of 105 subjects. Departmental heads were purposively selected while other respondents were randomly selected. Respondents from the ministries were selected using the EMCA first schedule. A stratified sampling technique was employed for Government Ministries and 18 respondents were purposively selected from a sample frame of 36 subjects drawn from the 18 ministries specified on the First Schedule of the EMCA. Each ministry was considered as a stratum. The data collected was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings of the study indicate some relationship between organizational culture, coordination and NEMA’s performance. There was no evidence of any relationship between Monitoring & Evaluation and knowledge management, a key factor in organizational performance. For NEMA to improve its performance and enhance its visibility, it will need to strengthen its cross-departmental communication and collaboration, embrace technology and leverage its intellectual capital through better use o f its knowledge management systems.
Laminar Distribution of stimulus-and task-related variables related to auditory streaming in core and 1 belt auditory cortex 2 3 Abbreviated Title : Neural correlates of streaming along the auditory pathway 4 5 6 7 8

Page 1 Laminar Distribution of stimulusand task-related variables related to auditory streaming in core and 1 belt auditory cortex 2 3 Abbreviated Title: Neural correlates of streaming along the auditory pathway 4 5 6 7 8 Taku Banno, Harry W. Shirley, Yonatan I. Fishman, and Yale E. Cohen 9 10 Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of 11 Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA 12 Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx NY 10461, 13 USA 14 Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA 15 Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA 16 17 Corresponding author: 18 Yale E. Cohen, PhD 19 Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of 20 Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA 21 E-mail: ycohen@pennmedicine.upenn. edu 22 23 Number of pages: 39 24 Number of figures: 6 25 Number of tables: 0 26 Number of multimedia and 3D models: 0 27 Number of words: 211 (Abstract), 631 (Introduction), and 1488 (Discussion) 28 29 30 Conflict of interest 31 The authors declare no competing financial interests. 32 33 Acknowledgements 34 This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIDCD). We thank Dr. Jaejin Lee for help 35 with behavioral training. 36 37
CIA_A_356947 971..978

Background: Chronic inflammation plays a key role in the pathophysiology of frailty and loss of physical performance, which are closely associated with sarcopenia. In women, the decline in muscle mass and strength is accelerated after menopause. Thus, we examined the association between high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and relative handgrip strength (HGS) in postmenopausal women. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2171 postmenopausal women aged ≥45 years who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHNES) between 2015 and 2018. Relative HGS was categorized into quartiles as follows: Q1, <0.810 (kg/BMI); Q2, 0.810–0.968 (kg/BMI); Q3, 0.969–1.119 (kg/BMI); Q4, >1.119 (kg/BMI). The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for high hs-CRP (>1.0 mg/L, 75 percentile of the current samples) were calculated across relative HGS quartiles using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of high hs-CRP decreased with relative HGS quartiles. Compared to the highest quartile, the OR (95% CI) of the lowest relative HGS quartile for high hs-CRP was 3.266 (2.227–4.789) after adjusting for age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, education, household income, physical activity, strength exercise, smoking, and alcohol ingestion. Conclusion: Serum hs-CRP level was inversely and independently associated with relative HGS. Our findings indicate that low-grade inflammation is inversely associated with muscle strength in postmenopausal women.
Protease Subtilisin Airway Allergic Inflammation to the Serine Integrated Innate Mechanisms Involved in

Proteases are recognized environmental allergens, but little is known about the mechanisms responsible for sensing enzyme activity and initiating the development of allergic inﬂammation. Because usage of the serine protease subtilisin in the detergent industry resulted in an outbreak of occupational asthma in workers, we sought to develop an experimental model of allergic lung inﬂammation to subtilisin and to determine the immunological mechanisms involved in type 2 responses. By using a mouse model of allergic airway disease, we have deﬁned in this study that s.c. or intranasal sensitization followed by airway challenge to subtilisin induces prototypic allergic lung inﬂammation, characterized by airway eosinophilia, type 2 cytokine release, mucus production, high levels of serum IgE, and airway reactivity. These allergic responses were dependent on subtilisin protease activity, protease-activated receptor-2, IL-33R ST2, and MyD88 signaling. Also, subtilisin stimulated the expression of the proallergic cytokines IL-1 a , IL-33, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and the growth factor amphiregulin in a human bronchial epithelial cell line. Notably, acute administration of subtilisin into the airways increased lung IL-5–producing type 2 innate lymphoid cells, which required protease-activated receptor-2 expression. Finally, subtilisin activity acted as a Th2 adjuvant to an unrelated airborne Ag-promoting allergic inﬂammation to inhaled OVA. Therefore, we established a murine model of occupational asthma to a serine protease and characterized the main molecular pathways involved in allergic sensitization to subtilisin that potentially contribute to initiate allergic airway disease. The Journal of Immunology
Discovery and Biology of Spathius verustus Chao (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a Potential Biological Agent on Two Monochamus Vectors of the Pinewood Nematode

Pine wilt disease in Korea can be managed by reducing vector density through chemical application. To reduce the side effects from pesticides, effective natural enemies must be identified and used to reduce the vectors’ natural density. Sentinel logs were used to investigate a parasitoid wasp parasitic to Monochamus alternatus and Monochamus saltuarius, the vectors of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which causes this disease. During 2016–2017, the parasitoid wasps distributed in the Pinus densiflora and Pinus koraiensis forests were surveyed using sentinel logs at six different areas. An ectoparasitoid wasp Spathius verustus Chao of M. alternatus and M. saltuarius was identified. We showed for the first time that S. verustus was parasitic to M. alternatus in South Korea and to M. saltuarius worldwide. The parasitism rates were affected by region and session but not by the sentinel log height in the tree and the distances between the trap and forest edge locations. Studies also showed that S. verustus appeared to prefer M. alternatus to M. saltuarius as a host. This study unveiled the ecological details of S. verustus. Further research on various environmental factors such as regional differences, host density differences, and the degree of damage from the pine wilt disease is required to understand the effects of environmental or ecological factors on parasitism rates.
In vitro Regeneration of Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L) through Gamma Irradiation

The present research work was carried out employing gamma irradiation to create mutant Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) and in vitro regeneration to regenerate those mutants. Sugarcane buds were exposed to three doses of gamma radiation (20, 30 and 40Gy) using 60Co and the agronomical properties of 20 Gy irradiated mutant sugarcane were the best among these dosages. Furthermore, 20 Gy irradiated mutant sugarcane had higher sugar contents (22%) than control sugarcane (18%). In contrast, standardizing of callus induction and plantlet regeneration protocols from 20 Gy irradiated sugarcane plants (M1 generation) was established through in vitro culture using young meristem as an explant. Using various concentrations and combinations of growth regulators, shoot regeneration at varying frequency was recorded. In MS media enriched with 2.5 mg/l, 2-4 D, callus induction was detected. On MS medium with BAP 2.0 mg/L + NAA 0.5 mg/L, the best response in terms of multiple shoot induction was reported. Rooting was more profuse when in vitro shootlets were placed on halfstrength MS basal media supplemented with 2.0 mg/L NAA. Hardening shoots were transplanted into the green house after they had been rooted.
Impact of stress on the functioning of the immune system, swine health, and productivity

Stress can affect many aspects of the body, including the immune response, and stress factors are an inherent element in the life of animals in intensive production, such as pigs. Major pathways involved in these interactions are associated with the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) axis and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. This review is focused on the effects of various stress factors described so far on the swine immune system. The literature data presented here indicate that the effect of stress factors depends not only on the duration and severity of stress, but also on the animal’s temper. Stress, through its influence on the immune system, strongly influences the digestive tract of pigs such as response to pathogens, microbiome disturbance and influence on appetite. Thus, long-term stress has negative effects on the animal’s development, including a high rate of morbidity and mortality, an increase in the feed conversion rate (FCR), and, important in intensive production, weight differentiation of the same age groups of pigs. Therefore, the role of stress and the immune system itself in the production of pigs should not be underestimated. Any decrease in animal stress is crucial.
Sub-100 nm Silicon Nitride Hard-Mask for High Aspect Ratio Silicon Fins

A method for using hard-masks to achieve sub-100 nm patterning of silicon is described. The process flow involves anisotropic etching of the silicon with spacers forming the hard-mask. Silicon dioxide and silicon nitride are investigated as possible materials. Silicon nitride is shown to have advantages due to better etch selectivity during the removal of the sacrificial island around which the spacers are formed. It is demonstrated that nitride spacers can be used as hard-masks for the reactive-ion etching (RIE) of silicon. Vertical silicon fins 690 nm high and processed with an aspect ratio of 29:1 and smooth sidewalls, were achieved on bulk silicon wafers when silicon wet etching with TMAH was applied. A planarized oxide trench isolated of the base of the TMAH-etched fins is demonstrated. It opens the possibility of processing FinFETs with different channel-widths.
Dietary supplements of vitamins and minerals intended for use in children available at the Serbian market

Adequate intake of all nutrients throughout every stage of childhood growth and development is essential. Often, dietary supplements (DS) are used to fill perceived nutrient gaps. DS containing vitamins and minerals are the most frequently used DS among children, but the information on their characteristics is scarce. The aims of this research were to identify vitamin and/or mineral DS for children available at the Serbian market, to assess their characteristics and their compliance with the relevant legislation. DS of vitamins and/or minerals for use in children available at the Serbian market were identified by children-related terms on their labels or by their marketed use. Data on the ingredients, contents and recommended daily dose of the selected DS together with information on health claims, pharmaceutical forms and present excipients were collected from DS labels. Compliance of analyzed DS was checked against the national legislation. The potential of present excipients to cause adverse reactions was assessed. A total of 30 different DS containing vitamins and/or minerals were identified and analyzed. Most were multicomponent (83%). The majority contained vitamins C, D, A, B6, B12, and minerals zinc, iron and iodine. In all, 58 health claims were present on the analyzed DS labels, most (93%) were in compliance with the appropriate national Rulebook. The analyzed DS were in solid (63%) and liquid (34%) pharmaceutical forms. Excipients with a known action/effect were present in 77% of the analyzed DS. The majority of the analyzed DS assessed characteristics were compliant with the national regulations, but this research gave rise to several regulatory issues that need to be investigated further. In the future, food legislators should work on keeping the dietary supplement-related regulations current and more strict in cases in which they pertain to vulnerable subpopulations such as children.
Turmeric for Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Population-Based Evidence

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent disorder of the gut interaction characterized by abdominal discomfort and pain associated with altered bowel habits in the absence of structural abnormalities. In spite of IBS' high prevalence and disease burden across the globe, no explanations have been given as to its underlying pathophysiology. As for the treatment of IBS, there is no specific medication, and the most beneficial treatment is usually supportive therapy. Recent animal and human studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of curcumin or turmeric in the treatment of IBS. Methods: We systematically reviewed all available evidence supporting curcumin and turmeric's therapeutic potential in relieving IBS symptoms in the present study. For this purpose, a database search was performed using curcumin, turmeric, and IBS and all their equivalents as of the search terms in Web of Science, Pub-Med, Scopus, Ovid, Embase, and Google Scholar from1990 up to Feb 2021. The investigation was then limited to clinical trials, and then nine articles were collected for data analysis. Results: The findings of the included literature showed that curcumin and turmeric alone or in combination with other medications could improve the severity of IBS as well as the quality of life among people who suffer from IBS symptoms. Conclusion: Overall, medications containing curcumin and turmeric extract due to these compounds' anti-inflammatory effects may improve IBS symptoms, particularly abdominal pain and life quality.
On the tests for the equality of means in the intraclass correlation model with missing data

In this paper, testing for the equality of mean components and of two mean vectors in repeated measures with the intraclass correlation model are treated when the missing observations occur. We consider a new test statistic for the equality of mean components in one-sample problem. Further, we derive a new test statistic for the equality of two mean vectors. The distributions of the test statistics are given under the general case of missing observations. Finally, numerical examples by Monte Carlo simulation are conducted to illustrate power of the method proposed in this paper.
Effect of Encapsulated Ferrous Sulphate Fortified Salt on Hemoglobin Levels in Anemic Rats

(1) Background: Iron deficiency anemia is a significant nutritional problem all over the world. Salt formulations supplemented with encapsulated iron and iodine (double-fortified) were tested for their efficacy in managing iron deficiency anemia. In this study, we have checked the effect of these double-fortified salt formulations (iron and iodine) on hemoglobin (Hb) levels in anemic Wistar male rats. (2) Methods: The study was divided into two phases, viz., the development of anemia in the first phase and then the random division of anemic rats into five groups (Groups A to E). These rats were fed with three different salt formulations (Groups A to C); Group D was continued on a low iron diet, and Group E was on a normal pellet diet over a period of 84 days. The level of Hb was tested in each group. (3) Results: The rats in Groups A, B, C, and E recovered from anemia significantly, with higher Hb levels. On day 84, however, the Hb level in Group D continued to decrease. The bodyweight of the rats was not affected in any way. In all of the groups, histopathology examinations in various organs revealed no significant changes. (4) Conclusions: All of the three different salt formulations showed significant recovery in the anemic rats as compared to the rats fed with a normal pelleted diet.