bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Dimensionality Reduction Approach for Motor Imagery BCI using Functional Clustering, Graph Signal Processing, and Differential Evolution
Authors: Khalili Mohammad Davood , Abootalebi Vahid , Saeedi-Sourck Hamid 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis paper aims to address the dimension reduction and classification of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals within the context of motor imagery brain-computer interface (MI-BCI). By leveraging modern brain signal processing tools, specifically Graph Signal Processing (GSP) and meta-heuristic techniques, we introduce the K-GLR-DE approach. This methodology encompasses functional clustering, Kron reduction, regularized common spatial patterns with generic learning (GLRCSP), and differential evolution (DE). Our approach is underpinned by a comprehensive structural-functional framework that carefully shapes the architecture of the brain graph. Edge weights are assigned based on geometric distance and correlation, imbuing the model with physiologically meaningful connectivity patterns. Graph reduction involves strategically employing physiological regions of interest (ROIs) and Kron reduction to select informative subgraphs while preserving vital information from all graph vertices. Feature extraction integrates total variation calculation and the GLRCSP method, followed by dimension reduction using the DE algorithm. The extracted features are then evaluated using well-established machine-learning classifiers. The validation process is carried out using Dataset IVa from BCI Competition III, providing a tangible benchmark for the performance of the K-GLR-DE approach. Significantly, the SVM-RBF classifier stands out as the top performer, achieving a remarkable average accuracy of 96.46±0.83. Noteworthy is our approach’s capacity to notably augment MI-BCI classification performance across diverse training trial scenarios, encompassing limited, small, and conventional settings.
Mental Tasks for Controlling Cursor Movements in a Brain Computer Interface
Authors: Sakkaff Zahmeeth , Freiburger Andrew P. , Henry Christopher , Nanayakkara A. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractTraumatic brain injury and neuro-degenerative diseases leave people dependent and with a low quality of life. Several technologies have been proposed to connect the central nervous system to silicon circuitry and thereby circumvent the damaged nervous tissue that is impairing normal function. These technologies rely upon a language of subtle movements within a patient’s capability to direct computer operations, however, selecting the proper abstraction for even a task as simple as moving a computer cursor can be challenging. Involuntary movements can create noise and false positives for the brain-computer-interface (BCI) receptors, and non-intuitive abstractions can be a barrier for adoption by neurologically damaged patients. We therefore introduce Visualization of Arrow Movements (VAM) as a set of mental tasks for controlling cursor movements in a BCI system. The performance of VAM was evaluated by six untrained subjects via 10-fold cross validation using band power and k-Nearest Neighbor classification methods as well as linear discriminant analysis (LDA) after spatial filtering. The binary classification accuracy in recognizing VAM tasks from each other was between 92% and 100% for four subjects and between 66% and 72% for the other two participants, which suggests that the tasks are most intuitive for even untrained persons. Non-EEG analysis revealed that this performance does not originate from ocular or other facial movements, but from cerebral electrical activity. The high classification accuracy and intuitive abstraction suggest that VAM is a promising abstraction for BCI systems.
Microbial dispersion in the human gut through the lens of fecal transplant
Authors: Algavi Yadid M. , Borenstein Elhanan 
Published: August 2023

AbstractMicroorganisms frequently migrate from one ecosystem to another, influencing and shaping their new environment. Yet, despite the potential importance of this process in modulating the environment and the microbial ecosystem, our understanding of the fundamental forces that govern microbial migration and dispersion is still lacking. Moreover, while theoretical studies and in-vitro experimental work have highlighted the contribution of biotic interactions to the assembly of the community, identifying such interactions in vivo, specifically in communities as complex as the human gut, remains challenging. To this end, we developed a new, robust, and compositionally invariant approach, and leveraged data from well-characterized translocation experiments, namely, clinical fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) trials, to rigorously pinpoint dependencies between taxa during the colonization of human gastrointestinal habitat. Our analysis identified numerous pairwise dependencies between co-colonizing microbes during migration between gastrointestinal environments. We further demonstrated that identified dependencies agree with previously reported findings from in-vitro experiments and population-wide distribution patterns. Finally, we characterized the web of metabolic dependencies between these taxa and explored the functional properties that may promote better dispersion. Combined, our findings provide insights into the principles and determinants of community dynamics following ecological translocation, informing potential opportunities for precise community design.
The digital literacy of first-year students and its function in an online method of delivery
Authors: Budiman Rahmat , Syafrony Andre Iman 
Published: August 2023

PurposeThis study aimed to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the digital literacy skills possessed by first-year students and how they impact students' participation in online classes.Design/methodology/approachThis research was conducted using a quantitative method to investigate first-year students' digital literacy and its effect on their interaction in online learning. Nine hundred and two students from 19 online English writing classes were invited to complete an online survey questionnaire. The sampling approach was conducted by a nonrandom method. Prior to the data collection, the instrument was reviewed by researchers and peers with quantitative and Indonesian language backgrounds. The procedure was conducted to ensure that the instrument covered the objective of the research.FindingsThe results showed that students digital literacy in the first semester, in general, is still in the low category. The average score for each competency area still varies. The average score on information and data literacy competence was low. The average score for communication and collaboration competence was in the medium category. The average score for the digital content creation competence area is low.Practical implicationsThe authors suggest that educational institutions should consider organizing primary student digital literacy training or optimizing the lecture process to improve students' digital literacy and further research could usefully explore how information and communication technology (ICT) skills affect student performance.Social implicationsThe study reveals the importance of digital literacy of students for online teaching learning. In order to achieve quality teaching in online methods, the digital literacy is a must for students. The study highlights the limitations of the study and indicates the necessity for further research in this area. The findings have immense implications for practice in a distance learning university, where online teaching learning has become a new normal post-Covid-19.Originality/valueThe authors present new findings on the digital literacy of first-year students and their effect on their interaction in online learning. The authors also make connections between digital literacy and student engagement in online classes, which is a significant contribution to the field. This paper also provides a comprehensive review of the literature on digital literacy and e-learning, which adds to the scholarship in the field.
The “fight” for adaptations: exploring the drivers and barriers to implementing home and environment modifications that support healthy ageing
Authors: McCall Vikki , Gibb Kenneth , Wang Yang 
Published: August 2023

PurposeThe ageing and disabled population is fast growing, which emphasises the need to effectively modify current homes and environments to support healthy ageing and increasingly diverse health needs. This paper aims to bring together findings and analyses from three adaptations-focussed projects, drawing on perspectives from key stakeholders alongside the lived experiences of service users acquiring adaptations.Design/methodology/approachFollowing an Adaptations Framework developed from interviews and focus groups with older people and key stakeholders, the paper discusses barriers experienced by older people and front-line workers in receiving and delivering adaptations through all stages of the process.FindingsThis paper reveals how experiences around adaptations might diverge with unseen, hidden investment and need amongst individuals, and how conceptual and cost-focussed evidence gaps impact wider understandings of adaptations delivery. In so doing, this paper highlights how the adaptations process is perceived as a “fight” that does not work smoothly for either those delivering or receiving adaptations services.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper suggests a systematic failure such that the adaptations process needs to be rehauled, reset and prioritised within social and public policy if the housing, health and social care sectors are to support healthy ageing and prepare for the future ageing population.Originality/valueThe paper brings together insights from key stakeholders alongside service users' experiences of adaptations to highlight key policy drivers and barriers to accessing and delivering adaptations.
Pay for performance at a crossroads: lessons from taking a global perspective
Authors: Kristensen Søren Rud , Anselmi Laura , Brown Garrett Wallace , Fichera Eleonora , Kovacs Roxanne , Loewenson Rene , Singh Neha , Midzi Nicholas , Mustapha Fatimah , White Lee , Borghi Josephine 
Published: August 2023

PurposeThe use of pay for performance (P4P) as an instrument to incentivise quality improvements in health care is at a crossroads in high-income countries but has remained a commonly used tool in low- and middle-income countries. The authors aimed to take stock of the evidence on effectiveness and design from across income settings to reveal insights for the future design of performance payment across income contexts.Design/methodology/approachThe authors identified Cochrane literature reviews of the use of P4P in health care in any income setting, tracked the development in the quantity and quality of evidence over time, and compared the incentive design features used across high-income countries compared to low- and middle-income countries.FindingsThe quantity and quality of the evidence base have grown over time but can still be improved. Scheme design varies across income settings, and although some design choices may reflect differences in context, the authors find that incentive designers in both income settings can learn from practices used in the other setting.Originality/valueThe research and literature on P4P in high-, low- and middle-income countries largely operate in silos. By taking stock of the evidence on P4P from across income settings, the authors are able to draw out key insights between these settings, which remain underexplored in the literature.
Emotional intelligence as a predictor of workgroup fit among police leaders
Authors: White David R. , Schafer Joseph 
Published: August 2023

PurposePolicing scholars have largely ignored the workgroup dynamics of police command staffs. These officers work closely at the top of police organizations, promoting strategic objectives and overseeing significant changes. As leaders, emotional regulation is critical to the maintenance of internal and external relationships. Only a few research studies address emotional intelligence (EI) among police leaders. The current study combines these two issues to examine whether emotionally intelligent leaders report better perceptions of workgroup fit with their respective command staffs.Design/methodology/approachUsing a survey of 304 United States (US) command staff officers attending the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy (NA), the authors apply person-environment fit theory and test several hypotheses using structural equation modeling.FindingsCommand staff officers with better EI report significantly better perceptions of workgroup fit, suggesting that they may be better equipped to navigate the command staff workgroup dynamics in this complex environment that demands high emotional regulation. Workgroup fit was also significantly higher among higher ranking officers and among officers racialized as White.Originality/valueFew studies have addressed perceptions of workgroup fit among command staff officers, and little attention has been given to the concept of EI. The authors add to these two important areas of research and provide evidence that emotional intelligence is an important characteristic for leaders when considering how well command staffs work together. This finding may have implications for the efficacy of agencies to facilitate change efforts or to carry out daily operations.
Testing for sign and size symmetry between futures prices and spot prices in the markets of energy commodities: risk diversification and policy implications
Authors: Panagiotou Dimitrios , Naka Filio 
Published: August 2023

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate for symmetries – in sign and size – between spot and futures prices in the markets of energy commodities.

Design/methodology/approach
The aforementioned objective is pursued using daily observations of spot and futures prices for the commodities of crude oil, Brent, heating oil, gasoline and natural gas, along with local nonlinear regression.

Findings
Symmetry in sign and size cannot be rejected. This means that, shocks of the same absolute magnitude, but of different sign, are transmitted from futures prices to spot prices with the same intensity. In addition, larger absolute value price shocks in the futures are transmitted to the spot markets with the same intensity compared with smaller ones. The findings of symmetry in the comovements among prices reveal a lack of those commodities on diversifying the investors’ investment risk.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to use local nonlinear regression to test for sign and size symmetry between futures and spot prices in the energy commodities markets.
Does guests-perceived value for money affect WOM and eWOM? The impact of consumer engagement on SNS on eWOM
Authors: Souki Gustavo Quiroga , Oliveira Alessandro Silva de , Barcelos Marco Túlio Correa , Guerreiro Maria Manuela Martins , Mendes Júlio da Costa , Moura Luiz Rodrigo Cunha 
Published: August 2023

PurposeHotels provide high-quality guest experiences to generate perceived value for money (PVM), positively influencing word-of-mouth (WOM) and electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) communication. This study aims to (1) verify the impacts of the perceived quality by the guests about their experiences in hotels on their PVM; (2) inspect the influence of guests' perception of hotel prices on PVM; (3) examine the impacts of guest PVM on their hotel experiences on WOM and eWOM and (4) investigate the consequences of the hotel guests' behavioural engagement on social networking sites (HGBE-SNS) on eWOM.Design/methodology/approachThis quantitative and descriptive study consists of a survey with 371 guests who evaluated their experiences at three hotels in Brazil. PLS-SEM tested the hypothetical model that resorted to the stimulus-organism-response theory (S-O-R), proposed by Mehrabian and Russell (1974). Cluster Analysis compared the PVM, WOM and eWOM of groups of hotel guests with different levels of social media engagement.FindingsPerceived quality by hotel guests positively impacts PVM. Perceived price negatively influences PVM. PVM had a positive and robust impact on WOM. PVM impacts and explains weakly eWOM. In contrast, HGBE-SNS affects and better explains eWOM than PVM.Originality/valueThis unprecedented investigation concomitantly exhibits the relationships between perceived quality, price, PVM, WOM, eWOM and HGBE-SNS. Hotels must offer high perceived quality experiences to influence PVM and WOM positively. PVM is unable to stimulate eWOM strongly. HGBE-SNS is pivotal for guests to share their hotel experiences through eWOM. This study suggests marketing strategies for hospitality companies to amplify customer engagement on SNS.
Trade‐Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Flexibilities and Public Health: Implementation of Compulsory Licensing Provisions into National Patent Legislation
Authors: McGIVERN LAUREN 
Published: August 2023

Policy Points
Given the challenges associated with negotiating the COVID‐19 Trade‐Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Waiver, there are questions as to whether the World Trade Organization is able to effectively address pandemics and global crises under the current architecture.
Although the framework set out by the TRIPS Agreement does not view intellectual property (IP) rights as a means to foster public health and development, IP rights should nonetheless be interpreted through a public health lens.
Countries should implement compulsory licensing provisions into their patent legislation, which increase access to medicines and allow governments (especially in developing and least‐developed countries) to better protect public health.
ContextThe protection of intellectual property (IP) rights, given international legal effect through the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade‐Related Aspects of IP Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, has long been a contentious issue. In recent years, the long‐standing debate on IP rights as a barrier to the access of affordable medicines has been heightened by the global vaccine inequity evidenced during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The TRIPS Agreement contains a number of flexibilities that WTO members can exploit in order to accommodate their policy needs. Among these is the mechanism of compulsory licensing, whereby patent licenses may be granted without consent of the patent holder in certain circumstances. TRIPS Article 31bis created a special mechanism for compulsory licenses specifically for the export of pharmaceutical products to countries with insufficient manufacturing capacity.MethodsWe analyzed domestic patent legislation for 195 countries (193 UN members and two observers) and three customs territories. We analyzed patent legislation for provisions on compulsory licenses, including those defined in Article 31bis of the TRIPS Agreement.FindingsWe identified 11 countries with no patent legislation. Of the 187 countries with domestic or regional patent laws, 176 (94.1%) had provisions on compulsory licensing and 72 (38.5%) had provisions implementing TRIPS Article 31bis.ConclusionsThe results of this study have highlighted the gap in the implementation of TRIPS flexibilities in countries’ national patent legislation, especially in least‐developed countries. Although it will not fully solve patent barriers to the access of medicines, implementation of compulsory licensing (and specifically those for the import and export of pharmaceutical products) will provide governments with another tool to safeguard their population's public health. Further discussions are needed to determine whether the WTO can provide effective responses to future pandemics or global crises.
The role of plasmapheresis in severe acute disseminated encephalomyelitis with clinical findings of transverse myelitis
Authors: Fjellbirkeland Olivia W. , Szpirt Wladimir M. , Børresen Malene L. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIntroductionAcute disseminated encephalomyelitis is a rare acute demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The pathogenesis remains unclear but is suspected to be autoimmune. High doses of methylprednisolone (HDMP) are currently considered standard of treatment. Plasmapheresis (PE) is typically given in steroid refractory cases. There is currently limited evidence supporting its use in ADEM.Materials and MethodsWe report a 16‐year‐old girl with ADEM who improved rapidly after initiating PE.ResultsThe patient presented with acute onset of multifocal CNS symptoms, including encephalopathy, requiring intensive care unit management. Despite HDMP administration, her clinical condition continued to deteriorate. PE was therefore initiated on the same day as HDMP. Her clinical condition improved significantly following the first session. She was extubated and discharged from the intensive care unit the following day.ConclusionHDMP combined with PE may be an effective first‐line treatment in patients with fulminant ADEM.
IFN‐γ enhances the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs‐derived exosome via miR‐126‐3p in diabetic wound healing by targeting SPRED1
Authors: Lu Wen , Du Xuan , Zou Shengyi , Fang Qionglei , Wu Mengjiao , Li Huijuan , Shi Bimin 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackground and AimsThe traditional treatment of diabetic wounds is unsatisfactory. Exosomes isolated from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) promote the healing of diabetic wounds. However, whether the exosomes secreted by interferon (IFN)‐γ‐pretreated BMSCs have an enhanced therapeutic effect on diabetic wound healing and the relevant mechanisms remain unclear.MethodsIn this study, we isolated exosomes from the corresponding supernatants of BMSCs with (IExos) or without IFN‐γ treatment (NExos). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to investigate the proliferation, migration, and tube formation under different treatments in vitro. Diabetic mice were induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin, and a circular full‐thickness dermal defect was then made on the back of each mouse, followed by a multisite subcutaneous injection of phosphate buffered saline or exosomes. Hematoxylin–eosin (H&E) staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and histological analysis were performed to assess the speed and quality of wound healing.ResultsNExos treatment accelerated the healing of diabetic wounds by promoting angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro, and IExos exhibited superior therapeutic efficiency. MicroRNA (miR)‐126‐3p was significantly increased in IExos, and exosomal miR‐126‐3p promoted angiogenesis and diabetic wound healing via its transfer to HUVECs. miR‐126‐3p regulates SPRED1 by directly targeting the 3′‐UTR. Mechanistically, IFN‐γ‐pretreated BMSCs secreted miR‐126‐3p‐enriched exosomes, which enhanced the function of HUVECs and promoted angiogenesis via the SPRED1/Ras/Erk pathway.ConclusionExosomal miR‐126‐3p secreted from IFN‐γ‐pretreated BMSCs exhibited higher therapeutic efficacy than NExos in diabetic wound healing by promoting angiogenesis via the SPRED1/Ras/Erk axis.