Application of P300 Event-Related Potential in Brain-Computer Interface

The primary purpose of this chapter is to demonstrate one of the applications of P300 event-related potential (ERP), i.e., brain-computer interface (BCI). Researchers and students will find the chapter appealing with a preliminary description of P300 ERP. This chapter also appreciates the importance and advantages of noninvasive ERP technique. In noninvasive BCI, the P300 ERPs are extracted from brain electrical activities [electroencephalogram (EEG)] as a signature of the underlying electrophysiological mechanism of brain responses to the external or internal changes and events. As the chapter proceeds, topics are covered on more relevant scholarly works about challenges and new directions in P300 BCI. Along with these, articles with the references on the advancement of this technique will be presented to ensure that the scholarly reviews are accessible to people who are new to this field. To enhance fundamental understanding, stimulation as well as signal processing methods will be discussed from some novel works with a comparison of the associated results. This chapter will meet the need for a concise and practical description of basic, as well as advanced P300 ERP techniques, which is suitable for a broad range of researchers extending from today’s novice to an experienced cognitive researcher

Hybrid Brain-Computer Interface Systems: Approaches, Features, and Trends

Brain-computer interface (BCI) is an emerging field, and an increasing number of BCI research projects are being carried globally to interface computer with human using EEG for useful operations in both healthy and locked persons. Although several methods have been used to enhance the BCI performance in terms of signal processing, noise reduction, accuracy, information transfer rate, and user acceptability, the effective BCI system is still in the verge of development. So far, various modifications on single BCI systems as well as hybrid are done and the hybrid BCIs have shown increased but insufficient performance. Therefore, more efficient hybrid BCI models are still under the investigation by different research groups. In this review chapter, single BCI systems are briefly discussed and more detail discussions on hybrid BCIs, their modifications, operations, and performances with comparisons in terms of signal processing approaches, applications, limitations, and future scopes are presented

Effects of Piracetam on Pediatric Breath Holding Spells: A Randomized Double Blind Controlled Trial

How to cite this article:Abbaskhanian A, Ehteshami S, Sajjadi S, Rezai MS. Effects of Piracetam on Pediatric Breath Holding Spells: A Randomized Double Blind Controlled Trial. Iran J Child Neurol Autumn 2012; 6(4): 9-15. Abstarct:Objective Breath holding spells (BHS) are common paroxysmal non-epileptic eventsin the pediatric population which are very stressfull despite their harmlessnature. There has been no specific treatment found for the spells yet. The aimof this study was to evaluate the efficacy of piracetam (2-oxo-l-pyrrolidine)on these children.Materials & MethodsIn this randomized double blind clinical trial study, 150 children with severe BHS referred to our pediatric outpatient service were enrolled from August2011 to July 2012. The patients were randomized into two equal groups.One received 40mg/kg/day piracetam and the other group received placebo,twice daily. Patients were followed monthly for three months. The numberof attacks/month before and after treatment were documented.ResultsOf the enrolled patients, 86 were boys. The mean age of the patients was17 months (range, 6 to 24 months). In the piracetam group, 1 month after treatment an 81% response to treatment was found. In the placebo group,none of the patients had complete remission and 7% of the cases had partialremission. Overall, control of breath-holding spells was observed in 91%of the patients in the group taking piracetam as compared with 16% in the group taking placebo at the end of the study. There wasd nosignificant difference detected between the groups regarding the prevalenceof drug side effects.ConclusionA significant difference was detected between piracetam and placebo in prevention and controlling BHS. Piracetam (40mg/kg/day) had a good effecton our patients. ReferencesDi Mario FJ Jr. Prospective study of children with cyanotic and pallid breath-holding spells. Pediatrics. 2001 Feb;107(2):265-9.Kotagal P, Costa M, Wyllie E, Wolgamuth B. Paroxysmal non epileptic events in children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2002 Oct:110(4):e46.Kolkiran A, Tutar E, Atalay S, Deda G, Cin S. Autonomic nervous system functions in children with breath-holding spells and effects of iron deficiency. Acta Pediatric. 2005 Sep;94(9):1227-31.Hüdaoglu O, Dirik E, Yiş U, et al. Parental attitude of mothers, iron deficiency anemia, and breath-holding spells. Pediatr Neurol. 2006:Jul;35(1):18-20.Ahmad Bhat M, Ali W, Mohidin K, Sultana M. Prospective study of severe breath holding spells and role of iron. J Pediatr Neurol. 2007;5(1):27-32.Lombroso CT, Lerman P. Breath holding spells (cyanotic and pallid infantile syncope). Pediatrics. 1967 Apr;39(4):563-81.Gouliaev AH, Senning A. Piracetam and other structurally related nootropics. Brain Res Rev. 1994 May;19(20:180-222.Azam M, Bhatti N, Shahab N. Piracetam in severe breath holding spells. Int J Pschyiatry Med. 2008;38(2):195-201.Garg RK. Piracetam  for the treatment of breath holding spells. Indian Pediatrics.1998 Oct;35(10):1034-5.Donma MM. Clinical efficacy of piracetam in treatment of breath holding spells. Pediatr Neurol. 1998 Jan;18(1):41-5.Murata R, Matsuoka O, Hattori H, Kawawaki H, Nakajima S, Nakamura M et al. Efficacy of Kan-baku-taiso-to (TJ-72) on breath-holding spells in children. Am J Chin Med. 1988;16(3-4):155-8.Kelly AM, Porter CJ, Mc Goon MD, Espinosa RE, Osborn MJ, Hayes DL. Breath-holding spells associated with significant bradycardia: successful treatment with permanent pacemaker implantation. Pediatrics. 2001 Sep;108(3):698-702.McWilliam RC, Stephenson JB. Atropine treatment of reflex anoxic seizures. Arch Dis Child. 1984 May;59(5):473-5.Ashrafi MR, Mohammadi M, Shervin Badve R.        Efficacy of piracetam in treatment of breath-holding spells Iran J Pediatr. 2002;12(4):33-6.Daoud AS, Batieha A, al-Sheyyab M, Abuekteish F, Hijazi S. Effectiveness of iron therapy on breath-holding spells. J Pediatr. 1997 Apr;130(4):547-50.Ziaullah Nawaz S, Shah S, Talaat A. Iron deficiency anemia as a cause of breath holding spells. J Postgrad Med Instit. 2005;19(2):171-4.Di lanni M, Wilsher CR, Blank MS, Conners CK, Chase CH, Funkenstein HH et al. The effects of piracetam in children with dyslexia. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1985 Oct;5(5):272-8.Wilsher CR, Bennett D, Chase CH, Conners CK, Dilanni M, Feagans L et al. Piracetam and dyslexia: effects on reading tests. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1987 Aug;7(4):230-7.DiMario FJ Jr, Sarfarazi M. Family pedigree analysis of children with severe breath-holding spells. J Pediatr. 1997 Apr;130(4):647-51.Winnicka K, Tomasiak M, Bielawska A. Piracetam-an old drug with novel properties. Acta Pol Pharm. 2005 Sep-Oct:62(5):405-9.Winblad, B. Piracetam: a review of pharmacological properties and clinical uses. CNS drug rev. 2005 Summer:11(2):169-82

The Role of Perceived Classroom Environment, Academic Optimism and Academic Emotions in Predicting School Bonding of Female Students

School bonding is one of the factors that cause the students to feel dependent or connected with the school, in which various factors play a role. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the role of perceived classroom environment, academic optimism and academic emotions in predicting the female students’ school bonding. The research method is a descriptive correlation. The statistical population of the study consisted of all female students of the second secondary school in Rasht in the academic year of 2019-2020, among whom 170 people were selected as the sample using the cluster random sampling method. Finally, 150 healthy questionnaires were analyzed. To collect data from Rezaei-Sharif, et al school bonding questionnaire (2014), Gentry, et al perceived classroom environment questionnaire (2002), the Schannen-Moran, et al academic optimism questionnaire (2013). And Pekran, et al academic emotions questionnaire (2002) were used. Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis tests were used to analyze the data. The findings showed that there was a significant positive relationship between perceived classroom environment, academic optimism and positive academic emotions associated with female students’ school bonding and a significant negative relationship between negative academic emotions and transplantation with female students’ school bonding (0/01). Also, the results of regression analysis revealed that 73% of the variance of the female students’ school bonding is based on the Perceived classroom, academic optimism and predictable academic emotions. Therefore, it can be concluded that perceived classroom environment, academic optimism and academic emotions are among the variables related to the students' school bonding

Evaluation and comparison of immunization level between recombinant proteins of binding subunit of entrotoxigenic Escherichia coli and botulinum toxin

زمینه و هدف: در میان عوامل باکتریایی، شایع ترین عامل بیماری اسهال، باکتری اشریشیاکلی انتروتوکسیژنیک است. زیر واحد LTB سم این باکتری قادر به ایجاد مصونیتی شش ماهه است. کلستریدیوم بوتولینوم نیز عامل بیماری کشنده بوتولیسم می باشد و زیر واحد BoNT/A-Hc سم آن می تواند تا دو سال در برابر این بیماری مصونیت ایجاد کند. میزان ایمنی زایی که هر یک از این زیر واحدهای نوترکیب ایجاد می کنند، می تواند از عواملی باشد که در به وجود آمدن مصونیتی با ماندگاری متفاوت تأثیرگذار باشد. هدف از این مطالعه بررسی و مقایسه میزان تولید آنتی بادی ناشی از استفاده از دو پروتئین LTB و BONT/A-Hc در موش آزمایشگاهی بود. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی از باکتری Bl21DE3 E. Coli تراریخت شده با وکتور pET28aاستفاده گردید. این وکتور حاوی ژن نوترکیب LTB اشریشیاکلی انتروتوکسیژنیک و ژن نوترکیب BONT/A-Hc بوتولینوم به طور جداگانه بود. پس از بهینه سازی بیان و تخلیص پروتئین نوترکیب LTB از فاز نامحلول و BoNT/A-Hc از فاز محلول عصاره سلولی، محصولات آن ها بر روی ژلSDS-PAGE بررسی گردید. موش های آزمایشگاهی به وسیله پروتئین های حاصل، ایمنی زایی شدند. تیتر آنتی بادی حاصل از هر دو نوع پروتئین نوترکیب با استفاده از آزمون آماری t-Test در نرم افزار SPSS ارزیابی و مورد مقایسه قرار گرفت. یافته ها: پروتئین های نوترکیب بیان شده BoNT/A-Hc و LTB با ستون نیکل تخلیص شدند. پس از ایمنی زایی موش های آزمایشگاهی، تفاوت معناداری در تیتر آنتی بادی برای دو پروتئین BoNT/A-Hc و LTB مشاهده گردید (01/0>P). نتیجه گیری: اختلاف کمی بین تیتر آنتی بادی برای دو پروتئین BoNT/A-Hc و LTB مشاهده گردید که می تواند به دلیل خاصیت قوی ادجوانسیتی LTBو ایمنی زایی ایجاد شده تقریباً یکسان، در فاصله زمانی محدود باش

Implicit Theories of Intelligence and Corrective Feedback Preferences

Considering the facilitative role of corrective feedback in language learning, the impact of learners’ noticing on its effectiveness, and the significant contributions of individual attributes in learners’ noticing the corrective feedback, this study is designed to examine how learners’ implicit theories of intelligence (Mindset), an individual attribute, predict their preferences for oral corrective feedback (henceforth, OCF). A total of 143 Iranian EFL learners participated in the study. The participants were assigned to groups of fixed mindset (N=26) and growth mindset (N=26) based on their scores on Language Mindset Inventory (LMI) scale. The data obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed quantitatively. The results indicated that there were significant differences between the fixed-mindset and the growth-mindset groups in their beliefs toward some aspects of OCF. All in all, it can be claimed that language mindset (henceforth, LM) has a significant role in EFL learners’ beliefs about OCF. Pedagogical implications for considering learners’ LM in providing OCF are also discussed

The Involvement of Drug Efflux System in Amikacin Resistance of Multiple Drug Resistant Acintobacter baumannii Isolates in Isfahan, Iran

Background: Due to the extensive usage of antibiotics in recent decades, the emergence of multiple drug-resistant (MDR) strains has dramatically increased. In the present study, we studied the distribution and involvement of drug efflux system in conferring resistance to amikacin in MDR isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from hospitalized patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study 80 MDR A. baumannii were isolates isolated from hospitalized patients in Alzahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran. A. baumannii isolates were identified by standard microbiologic procedure and were confirmed by specific PCR primers. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by agar dilution method according to CLSI guidelines. Carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhy­drazon (CCCP) was used as an efflux pump inhibitor for amikacin susceptibility. The presence of efflux genes was detected by PCR method. Results: Antibiotic susceptibility results showed that 39 of isolates had MIC ≥32 µg/mL and were amikacin-resistant. Totally, 41 isolates which had an amikacin MIC ≥2 μg/mL were tested for reduction of MIC in presence of 25 μg/mL efflux pumps inhibitor. After the treatment, 25 (61%) isolates had ≥2 fold and 15 (36.6%) isolates had 4 fold reduction in amikacin MIC. The results of PCR-amplifications indicated that the presence rate of AdeA, AdeB, AdeC, AbeM and AdeS genes were 100%, 96.3%, 95%, 98.8%, and 95%, respectively. Conclusion: In summary, significant involvement of drug efflux system in conferring resistance to amikacin along with high distribution of efflux genes suggests an alternative therapy using antibiotics in combination with efflux inhibitors in the fight against MDR isolates of A. baumannii

A scientometric analysis of the 100 most cited articles on magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound

Background Diagnostic ultrasound has long been a part of a physician’s armamentarium, but transcranial focused ultrasound (FUS) is an emerging treatment of neurological disorders. Consequently, the literature in this field is increasing at a rapid pace.ObjectiveThis analysis was aimed to identify the top-cited articles on FUS to discern their origin, spread, current trends highlighting future impact of this novel neurosurgical intervention.MethodsWe searched the Web of Science database on 28th May 2021 and identified the top 100 cited articles. These articles were analyzed with various scientometric parameters like the authors, corresponding authors, country of corresponding author, journal of publication, year of publication. Citation based parameters including total citations, mean citations per article and mean citations, citation count, and the citation per year, citations per year and co-authors per document were studied as well in addition to Hirsch h-index, g-index, m-index, Bradford’s Law, Lotka’s law and Collaboration index.ResultsThe 100 top-cited articles were published between 1998 and 2019 in 45 different journals. The average citations per document and citations per document per year were 97.78 and 12.47, respectively. The most prolific authors were Hynynen K (Medical Biophysics—Toronto), Elias WJ (Neurosurgery—Virginia), Zadicario (InSightec). The Journal of Neurosurgery published the most top-cited articles (n = 11), and most articles originated from the United States, followed by Canada. Among individual institutions, the University of Toronto was the most productive. Conclusion FUS is an emerging treatment of neurological disorders. With its increasing application, the FUS literature is increasing rapidly. Eleven countries contributed to the top 100 cited articles, with the top 2 countries (the United States and Canada) contributing to more than half of these articles

Study of The Relation Between the Status of The Isin Bandar Abbas Plain Aquifer and Land Use Changes

IntroductionGroundwater is among the most precious natural resources for human health, economic development and environmental diversity. Since the measurement of groundwater parameters and water quality is difficult, costly and far from being available, interpolation techniques are an easy solution. At the same time, there is a strong correlation between groundwater quality and land use in areas with sensitive aquifers. Changes in land use caused by factors such as rapid growth and expansion of urban centers, rapid population growth, and the lack of land, the need for increased production and the evolution of technologies are important concerns. The literature review shows that the quantitative and qualitative decline in groundwater is a global crisis. As a result, the factors affecting the quantitative and qualitative decline in groundwater range from climate factors to socio-economic factors.In the current research, find an answer to the poor condition of the Isin Plain aquifer by looking at the relationship between some hydrological factors and changes in cultivation pattern of the region is the main goal. For this purpose, the water table and EC of groundwater were interpolated using geostatistical methods. Using satellite imagery, the trend of culture pattern changes over time was obtained. Finally, the relation between the factors on the Isin plain was established. Material and MethodsFor this purpose, the quantity and quality of groundwater in eastern and western Isin plains were interpolated using the Kriging and IDW methods, during the four statistical years of 2004, 2011, 2018, and 2021 and the time series of 2004-2021. The RMSE statistic was used to evaluate the performance of the methods.Then, satellite images and ground truth data was used for land use change classes to investigate the land use changes during the cropping season, along with the determination of changes in the quantity and quality of groundwater in the eastern and western Isin plains for the mentioned years. Satellite data including Landsat 5 multi-temporal satellite images in 2004, 2011, and 2018 and Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2 images for February 2021 were obtained from the USGS.Following preparation of the related images using the flash module, atmospheric and radiometric corrections were performed. Then, the corrections information was extracted into the text file appended to each image. With field survey, the coordinates of the representative pixels were determined and seven land use classes of gardens, vegetables, bare lands, residential and industrial areas, saline lands, and Prosopis Cineraria and Juliflora species were determined. The maximum likelihood classification method was used to separate seven main land use classes based on 127 training samples. For the purpose of assessing accuracy, an error matrix was created for the producer's accuracy, the user's accuracy, the overall accuracy, and the kappa coefficient calculation. Finally, to examine the relationship, the land use map and the groundwater and EC interpolation maps were overlapped into the Arc Map software environment. Results and DiscussionBy comparing the interpolation methods of IDW and Kriging with the RMSE validation technique, it was found that the best interpolation method for estimating water table and EC is Kriging, followed by the IDW method. A review of the land use maps of the Eastern and Western Plains of Isin showed the increase and decrease of different land use categories over the years under study. The overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient were over 82% and 0.79, indicating the acceptable accuracy of the classification and maps obtained. The results of overlapping land use maps and spatial changes in ground water indicate that the location of agricultural land, especially gardens in the eastern Isin plain and vegetables in the western Isin plain, is compatible with the areas of having low water table. The results of overlapping the land use map obtained from Landsat 8 data and EC spatial changes showed the highest amount of EC in can be observed in Prosopis Cineraria and Juliflora species and residential and industrial uses in eastern and western Isin plain. The results obtained from Sentinel2 indicate that the value of EC was significant in the bare lands of eastern Isin and in the saline lands of western Isin. However, the increase in agricultural use, especially for gardens and vegetables, and the pairing with areas with the lowest water table indicates an over-extraction of groundwater for agricultural purposes. On the other hand, the significant extent of bare lands and the upward trend of saline lands, residential and industrial areas, and matching with areas with high EC and the adaptation of maximum EC with Prosopis Cineraria and Juliflora species uses may be a warning for poor condition of the Isin plain aquifer