bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Developing a tablet-based brain-computer interface and robotic prototype for upper limb rehabilitation
Authors: Lakshminarayanan Kishor , Ramu Vadivelan , Shah Rakshit , Haque Sunny Md Samiul , Madathil Deepa , Brahmi Brahim , Wang Inga , Fareh Raouf , Rahman Mohammad Habibur 
Published: July 2024

Background
The current study explores the integration of a motor imagery (MI)-based BCI system with robotic rehabilitation designed for upper limb function recovery in stroke patients.

Methods
We developed a tablet deployable BCI control of the virtual iTbot for ease of use. Twelve right-handed healthy adults participated in this study, which involved a novel BCI training approach incorporating tactile vibration stimulation during MI tasks. The experiment utilized EEG signals captured via a gel-free cap, processed through various stages including signal verification, training, and testing. The training involved MI tasks with concurrent vibrotactile stimulation, utilizing common spatial pattern (CSP) training and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) for signal classification. The testing stage introduced a real-time feedback system and a virtual game environment where participants controlled a virtual iTbot robot.

Results
Results showed varying accuracies in motor intention detection across participants, with an average true positive rate of 63.33% in classifying MI signals.

Discussion
The study highlights the potential of MI-based BCI in robotic rehabilitation, particularly in terms of engagement and personalization. The findings underscore the feasibility of BCI technology in rehabilitation and its potential use for stroke survivors with upper limb dysfunctions.
Sub-chronic Hepatotoxicity Assessment of Ghana Cleanser® in Exposed Wistar Rats
Authors: Ise Uduak Peter , Famojuro Tayo Ibukun , Maman Ambi Ibrahim , Samuel Ponman Nanpon , Duppe Patience , Builders Modupe Iretiola 
Published: July 2024

This study evaluated the toxicity of a polyherbal Formulation (Ghana Cleanser®) on liver function markers of exposed albino rats. Thirty (30) male and female rats of the Wistar strain were randomly allotted into six (6) groups with n=5. 10.0 mL/kg distilled water was given to control groups 1 and 4. Polyherbal formulation doses of 374.0 mg/kg and 187.0 mg/kg were administered to groups 2-3 and 5-6, respectively. A modified Lorke's approach was used to compute acute toxicity. Animals were euthanized after 60 days under diethyl ether. Blood was collected for biochemical analyses through cardiac puncture. The liver was excised from each animal and was fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde and prepared for histological assessment. LD50 of the polyherbal preparation was calculated as 3740 mg/kg (oral). The results indicated an appreciable increase (p<0.05) in ALT activity at 374.0 mg/kg in female rats; while there was no increase recorded at 187.0mg/kg in male rats. A significant increase in ALT activity was recorded at 374 mg/kg in male rats as well and increased AST activities were recorded at 187mg/kg in female rats. In the treated animals of both sexes, ALP activities were significantly elevated. Histopathology assessment of the hepatocytes showed no significant damage at 187 mg/kg in rats of both sexes when compared with their respective controls while some degrees of pathologies such as hepatocyte inflammation, hyperplasia, and congestion were recorded at 374 mg/kg in rats of both sexes. Results suggest caution on the long-term use of the polyherbal mixture due to its hepatotoxic potential.
Accuracy and precision of 88Sr/86Sr and 87Sr/86Sr measurements by MC‐ICPMS compromised by high barium concentrations
Authors: Scher Howie D. , Griffith Elizabeth M. , Buckley Wayne P. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBarite (BaSO4) is a widely distributed mineral that incorporates strontium (Sr) during formation. Mass‐dependent fractionation of Sr isotopes occurs during abiotic precipitation of barite and formation of barite associated with biological processes (e.g., bacterial sulfide oxidation). Sr isotopes in barite can provide provenance information as well as potentially reconstruct sample formation conditions (e.g., saturation state, temperature, biotic versus abiotic). Incomplete separation of Ba from Sr has complicated measurements of Sr isotopes by MC‐ICPMS. In this study, we tested the effects of Ba in Sr sample solutions and modified extraction chromatography of Sr using Eichrom Sr Spec (Eichrom Technologies LLC, USA) resin to enable rapid, accurate, and precise measurements of 88Sr/86Sr and 87Sr/86Sr ratios from Ba‐rich matrices. Sr isotope ratios of sample solutions doped with Ba were statistically indistinguishable from Ba‐free sample solutions below 1 ppm Ba. Deviations in both 87Sr/86Sr and δ88/86Sr occurred above 1 ppm Ba. An updated extraction chromatography method tested with barite and Ba‐doped seawater produces Sr sample solutions containing 10–100 ppb levels of Ba. The practice of Zr spiking for external mass‐discrimination correction of 88Sr/86Sr ratios was also evaluated, and it was confirmed that variable Zr levels do not have adverse effects on the accuracy and precision of 87Sr/86Sr ratios in the Zr concentration range required to produce accurate δ88/86Sr values.
An empirically observed pitch‐angle diffusion eigenmode in the Earth's electron belt near L* = 5.0
Authors: O'Brien T. P. , Claudepierre S. G. , Blake J. B. , Fennell J. F. , Clemmons J. H. , Roeder J. L. , Spence H. E. , Reeves G. D. , Baker D. N. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractUsing data from NASA's Van Allen Probes, we have identified a synchronized exponential decay of electron flux in the outer zone, near L* = 5.0. Exponential decays strongly indicate the presence of a pure eigenmode of a diffusion operator acting in the synchronized dimension(s). The decay has a time scale of about 4 days with no dependence on pitch angle. While flux at nearby energies and L* is also decaying exponentially, the decay time varies in those dimensions. This suggests the primary decay mechanism is elastic pitch angle scattering, which itself depends on energy and L*. We invert the shape of the observed eigenmode to obtain an approximate shape of the pitch angle diffusion coefficient and show excellent agreement with diffusion by plasmaspheric hiss. Our results suggest that empirically derived eigenmodes provide a powerful diagnostic of the dynamic processes behind exponential decays.
Impact of physical processes on the seasonal distribution of the fugacity of CO2 in the western tropical Atlantic
Authors: Lefèvre Nathalie , Urbano Domingos F. , Gallois Francis , Diverrès Denis 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe fugacity of CO2 (fCO2) has been measured underway during three quasi‐synoptic cruises in the western tropical Atlantic in March/April 2009 and July/August 2010 in the region 6°S–15°N, 52°W–24°W. The distribution of fCO2 is related to the main features of the ocean circulation. Temperature exerts a dominant control on the distribution of fCO2 in March/April whereas salinity plays an important role in July/August due to the more developed North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC) carrying Amazon water and to the high precipitation associated with the presence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The main surface currents are characterized by different fCO2. Overall, the NECC carries less saline waters with lower fCO2 compared to the South Equatorial Current (SEC). The North Equatorial Current (NEC) is usually characterized by CO2 undersaturation in winter and supersaturation in summer. Using empirical fCO2‐SST‐SSS relationships, two seasonal maps of fCO2 are constructed for March 2009 and July 2010. The region is a sink of CO2 of 0.40 mmol m−2d−1 in March, explained by the winter cooling in the northern hemisphere, whereas it is a source of CO2 of 1.32 mmol m−2d−1 in July. The equatorial region is a source of CO2 throughout the year due to the upwelling supplying CO2‐rich waters to the surface. However, the evolution of fCO2 over time, determined from all the available cruises in a small area, 1°S–1°N, 32°W–28°W, suggests that the source of CO2 has decreased in February‐March from 1983 to 2011 or has remained constant in October‐November from 1991 to 2010.
Capacity Flexibility of Chemical Plants
Authors: Seifert Tim , Lesniak Anna‐Katharina , Sievers Stefan , Schembecker Gerhard , Bramsiepe Christian 
Published: January 2014

AbstractIn the light of market uncertainties and globalization, the capacity of fast and flexible adaption of a chemical plant to changing market conditions becomes a major necessity in future production scenarios. The capacity flexibility of a plant can be influenced by oversizing and numbering up of unit operations. The additional costs for these measures have to be compensated for by the financial benefit arising from the option to adapt to uncertain market demands. Therefore, the additional costs have to be balanced against the gain in flexibility. In this work, methods for the evaluation of capacity flexibility are adapted from the manufacturing industries to enable a cost‐effective design of a modular plant. The evaluation methods are used to select modular plant setups allowing the best compromise between costs and flexibility in different market scenarios.
Synthesis of Dihydrothiophenes and Thiophenes by the Strategic Use of 2‐Vinylidene‐1,3‐dithiolane as a Masked Thiolate Anion
Authors: Fang Zhongxue , Liao Peiqiu , Yang Zonglian , Wang Yeming , Zhou Biying , Yang Yang , Bi Xihe 
Published: January 2014

AbstractDifferently substituted 4‐(1,3‐dithiolan‐2‐ylidene)but‐1‐ynes were conveniently converted into the corresponding thiophenes and dihydrothiophenes in good to high yields under mild conditions. 1,3‐Dithiolan‐2‐ylidene acted as a masked thiolate anion and underwent tandem fragmentation and 5‐exo‐dig annulation with an alkyne moiety to form the five‐membered sulfur heterocycles.
Foreign Direct Investment from Emerging Markets to Africa: The HRM Context
Authors: Wood Geoffrey , Mazouz Khelifa , Yin Shuxing , Cheah Jeremy Eng‐Tuck 
Published: January 2014

AbstractIn this article, we explore what determines the decisions of emerging‐market multinational corporations (MNCs) to invest in Africa and whether this is any different from their counterparts in mature markets, focusing on the HRM context. More specifically, we explore the effect of potential host‐country wages, local capabilities, and the relative rights of owners versus workers on foreign direct investment (FDI) decisions, as well as other relevant factors such as mineral resources and corruption. We found that emerging‐market MNCs were not deterred by relatively weak property owner rights (as indeed, was also the case for their counterparts from mature markets); hence, any weakening of countervailing worker rights is unlikely to unlock significant new FDI. However, emerging‐market MNCs were more likely to invest in low‐wage economies and did not appear to be concerned by local skills gaps; the latter would reflect the relative de facto ease with which even partially skilled expatriate labor can be imported into many African countries. At the same time, a reliance on low‐wage, unskilled labor, coupled with the extensive usage of expatriates, brings with it a wide range of challenges for the HR manager, which a firm committed to cost‐cutting may lack the capabilities to resolve. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spatial Analysis of Land Cover Changes in Eastern Tigray (Ethiopia) from 1965 to 2007: Are There Signs of a Forest Transition?
Authors: Belay Kassa Teka , Van Rompaey Anton , Poesen Jean , Van Bruyssel Simon , Deckers Jozef , Amare Kassa 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThis paper examines whether eastern Tigray is still in a phase of land degradation or if a trend of landscape greening has started. Hitherto, the land cover in five representative Tigray villages was mapped for three different periods: 1965, 1994, and 2007. These maps were based on the interpretation of aerial photographs and high‐resolution satellite imagery in combination with field validation. The results show a strong decrease of the forest and bush land in favor of arable land and rangeland from 1965 to 1994. This trend is, however, slowed down and even reversed from 1994 onwards whereby some of the arable land and rangeland are abandoned allowing shrubs and bushes to regenerate. Household interviews and census data showed that the rural population number is still increasing. However, the productivity of the farming activities did not show a significant increase. The observed abandonment of marginal farm and rangeland is, therefore, made possible only through food aid and the import of food from other regions. Furthermore, policymakers stimulate land abandonment and landscape greening by establishing exclosures. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
β‐Sitosterol attenuates high‐fat diet‐induced intestinal inflammation in mice by inhibiting the binding of lipopolysaccharide to toll‐like receptor 4 in the NF‐κB pathway
Authors: Kim Kyung‐Ah , Lee In‐Ah , Gu Wan , Hyam Supriya R. , Kim Dong‐Hyun 
Published: January 2014

Scopeβ‐Sitosterol, a common phytosterol, has been shown to exhibit anti‐inflammatory effects. Here, we investigated the effect of β‐sitosterol on high‐fat diet (HFD) induced colitis in mice and on LPS‐stimulated mouse intestinal macrophages.Methods and resultsC57BL/6J mice were maintained on an LFD (10 kcal% fat), an HFD (60 kcal% fat), or an HFD with β‐sitosterol (20 mg/kg) administration for 8 weeks. The increased levels of body weight and epididymal fat pad weight as well as the concentrations of circulating proinflammatory cytokines and LPS in HFD mice compared with LFD mice were decreased by oral administration of β‐sitosterol. The HFD‐induced colonic inflammation evidenced by the increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines and the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) in the colon was also inhibited by β‐sitosterol. In LPS‐stimulated intestinal macrophages, β‐sitosterol inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory enzymes as well as NF‐κB activation. In addition, β‐sitosterol significantly prevented the binding of LPS to intestinal as well as peritoneal macrophages. Furthermore, β‐sitosterol potently inhibited the interaction between LPS and toll‐like receptor 4 in intestinal macrophages transfected with control siRNA or MyD88 siRNA.ConclusionThese findings indicate that β‐sitosterol ameliorates HFD‐induced colitis by inhibiting the binding of LPS to toll‐like receptor 4 in the NF‐κB pathway.
Nanoemulsion of eucalyptus oil and its larvicidal activity against Culex quinquefasciatus
Authors: Sugumar S. , Clarke S.K. , Nirmala M.J. , Tyagi B.K. , Mukherjee A. , Chandrasekaran N. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractFilariasis is a mosquito-borne disease that causes lymphedema and the main vector is Culex quinquefasciatus. A simple measure was taken to eradicate the vector using nanoemulsion. Eucalyptus oil nanoemulsion was formulated in various ratios comprising of eucalyptus oil, tween 80 and water by ultrasonication. The stability of nanoemulsion was observed over a period of time and 1:2 ratios of eucalyptus oil (6%) and surfactant (12%) was found to be stable. The formulated eucalyptus oil nanoemulsion was characterized by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The nanoemulsion droplets were found to have a Z-average diameter of 9.4 nm and were spherical in shape. The larvicidal activity of eucalyptus oil nanoemulsion and bulk emulsion was tested and compared. Our nanoemulsion showed higher activity when compared to bulk emulsion. The histopathology of larvae-treated and untreated nanoemulsion was analyzed. Furthermore, biochemical assays were carried out to examine the effect of nanoemulsion on biochemical characteristics of larvae. The treated larval homogenate showed decrease in total protein content and a significant reduction in the levels of acetylcholinesterase. The levels of acid and alkaline phosphatase also showed reduction as compared to control larval homogenate.
The genus Herpothallon (Arthoniaceae) in the Andaman Islands, India
Authors: JAGADEESH RAM T. A. M. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractEight species of Herpothallon are recorded from the Andaman Islands, four of which are described as new: Herpothallon coralloides, H. globuliferum, H. lutescens and H. minutum. All these new species have a non-pigmented thallus, prothallus, hypothallus and pseudisidia. Herpothallon coralloides and H. lutescens possess cylindrical pseudisidia whereas H. globuliferum and H. minutum have granular to globose pseudisidia. Herpothallon globuliferum is foliicolous. Herpothallon echinatum, H. granulare, H. granulosum and H. philippinum are reported for the first time from the Andaman Islands. A key to the Indian species is provided. Heiomasia pallescens (Graphidaceae), a byssoid taxon with a disc-shaped isidioid structure, is also described as new to science.
Bryobilimbia, a new generic name forLecidea hypnorumand closely related species
Authors: FRYDAY Alan M. , PRINTZEN Christian , EKMAN Stefan 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe new generic nameBryobilimbiais proposed forLecidea hypnorumand the closely related taxaLecidea ahlesiivar. ahlesii, L. ahlesiivar.nemoralis, L. diapensiae, L. sanguineoatraandMycobilimbia australis. A phylogenetic analysis based on five genes shows thatLecidea berengerianadoes not belong to this group but is more closely related toRomjularia. Both groups of species have been included inMycobilimbiaby some authors but are instead shown to be most closely related to a group of genera (includingClauzadea, Farnoldia, LecidomaandRomjularia) that do not belong toLecideaceaes. str. A neotype is selected forLichen sanguineoaterWulfen and the new combinationsBryobilimbia ahlesiivar.ahlesii, B. ahlesiivar.nemoralis, B. australis, B. diapensiae, B. hypnorumandB. sanguineoatraare proposed. A lectotype is also selected forL. templetoniiTaylor.
New additions to the lichen genus Enterographa (Roccellaceae) from Everglades National Park including an updated world key
Authors: SEAVEY Frederick , SEAVEY Jean 
Published: January 2014

AbstractDuring 2010–12 collecting seasons, we visited 27 islands, locally called keys, in Florida Bay within the boundaries of Everglades National Park for the purpose of investigating their lichen flora. A disproportionate number of the resultant collections belong to Enterographa Fée, a genus mostly tropical in distribution. Currently, 11 species are known from Everglades National Park, of which Enterographa bradleyana, E. caudata, E. murrayana and E. nitidula are described here as new to science. Enterographa bradleyana is superificially similar to Enterographa divergens but has smaller ascospores, a wider perispore and contains gyrophoric acid. Enterographa candata is easily identified by an unusual chemistry of lichexanthone and schizopeltic acid and its extremely long tailed ascospores. Enterographa murrayana resembles E. anguinella in the field but has a different chemistry, wider ascospores with more septation and a wider perispore. Enterographa nitidula has an unusual fine powdery and glossy thallus, small 4-celled ascospores and contains an unidentified substance. Because a large number of Enterographa have been described (20 including those newly described here) since Sparrius monographed the genus in 2004, an updated world key to the genus is provided.
Large values of the additive energy in and
Authors: SHAO XUANCHENG 
Published: January 2014

AbstractCombining Freiman's theorem with Balog–Szemerédi–Gowers theorem one can show that if an additive set has large additive energy, then a large piece of the set is contained in a generalized arithmetic progression of small rank and size. In this paper, we prove the above statement with the optimal bound for the rank of the progression. The proof strategy involves studying upper bounds for additive energy of subsets of ${\mathbb{R}^d$ and ${\mathbb{Z}^d$.
Management of adults with Tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Martinez Richard M. , Ringewald Jeremy M. , Fontanet Hector L. , Quintessenza James A. , Jacobs Jeffrey P. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractTetralogy of Fallot is the most common form of cyanotic congenital cardiac disease. Patients with previously repaired tetralogy of Fallot are the most common patients seen in the Program for Adults with Congenital Heart Disease at The Johns Hopkins All Children's Heart Institute. Guidelines for the management of these patients are available from multiple sources including The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and The American Heart Association (AHA), The Canadian Cardiovascular Society, and The European Society of Cardiology (ESC). These guidelines describe multiple components related to the care for these patients including strategies for medical follow-up, the management of arrhythmias and electrophysiological diseases, and the treatment of chronic pulmonary insufficiency and stenosis. Several new strategies are available for replacement of the pulmonary valve including transcatheter replacement of the pulmonary valve and replacement of the pulmonary valve with a self-manufactured bicuspid polytetrafluoroethylene pulmonary valve.
Metaproteomic analysis of a winter to spring succession in coastal northwest Atlantic Ocean microbial plankton
Authors: Georges Anna A , El-Swais Heba , Craig Susanne E , Li William K W , Walsh David A 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
In this study, we used comparative metaproteomics to investigate the metabolic activity of microbial plankton inhabiting a seasonally hypoxic basin in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean (Bedford Basin). From winter to spring, we observed a seasonal increase in high-affinity membrane transport proteins involved in scavenging of organic substrates; Rhodobacterales transporters were strongly associated with the spring phytoplankton bloom, whereas SAR11 transporters were abundant in the underlying waters. A diverse array of transporters for organic compounds were similar to the SAR324 clade, revealing an active heterotrophic lifestyle in coastal waters. Proteins involved in methanol oxidation (from the OM43 clade) and carbon monoxide (from a wide variety of bacteria) were identified throughout Bedford Basin. Metabolic niche partitioning between the SUP05 and ARCTIC96BD-19 clades, which together comprise the Gamma-proteobacterial sulfur oxidizers group was apparent. ARCTIC96BD-19 proteins involved in the transport of organic compounds indicated that in productive coastal waters this lineage tends toward a heterotrophic metabolism. In contrast, the identification of sulfur oxidation proteins from SUP05 indicated the use of reduced sulfur as an energy source in hypoxic bottom water. We identified an abundance of Marine Group I Thaumarchaeota proteins in the hypoxic deep layer, including proteins for nitrification and carbon fixation. No transporters for organic compounds were detected among the thaumarchaeal proteins, suggesting a reliance on autotrophic carbon assimilation. In summary, our analyses revealed the spatiotemporal structure of numerous metabolic activities in the coastal ocean that are central to carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycling in the sea.