Extraction of single-trial cortical beta oscillatory activities in EEG signals using empirical mode decomposition

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Brain oscillatory activities are stochastic and non-linearly dynamic, due to their non-phase-locked nature and inter-trial variability. Non-phase-locked rhythmic signals can vary from trial-to-trial dependent upon variations in a subject's performance and state, which may be linked to fluctuations in expectation, attention, arousal, and task strategy. Therefore, a method that permits the extraction of the oscillatory signal on a single-trial basis is important for the study of subtle brain dynamics, which can be used as probes to study neurophysiology in normal brain and pathophysiology in the diseased.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This paper presents an empirical mode decomposition (EMD)-based spatiotemporal approach to extract neural oscillatory activities from multi-channel electroencephalograph (EEG) data. The efficacy of this approach manifests in extracting single-trial post-movement beta activities when performing a right index-finger lifting task. In each single trial, an EEG epoch recorded at the channel of interest (CI) was first separated into a number of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). Sensorimotor-related oscillatory activities were reconstructed from sensorimotor-related IMFs chosen by a spatial map matching process. Post-movement beta activities were acquired by band-pass filtering the sensorimotor-related oscillatory activities within a trial-specific beta band. Signal envelopes of post-movement beta activities were detected using amplitude modulation (AM) method to obtain post-movement beta event-related synchronization (PM-bERS). The maximum amplitude in the PM-bERS within the post-movement period was subtracted by the mean amplitude of the reference period to find the single-trial beta rebound (BR).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results showed single-trial BRs computed by the current method were significantly higher than those obtained from conventional average method (<it>P </it>< 0.01; matched-pair Wilcoxon test). The proposed method provides high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) through an EMD-based decomposition and reconstruction process, which enables event-related oscillatory activities to be examined on a single-trial basis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The EMD-based method is effective for artefact removal and extracting reliable neural features of non-phase-locked oscillatory activities in multi-channel EEG data. The high extraction rate of the proposed method enables the trial-by-trial variability of oscillatory activities can be examined, which provide a possibility for future profound study of subtle brain dynamics.</p

Purple urine bag syndrome in nursing homes: Ten elderly case reports and a literature review

Purple urine bag syndrome (PUBS) is a rare occurrence, in which the patient has a purple-colored urine bag following urinary catheterization for hours to days. Most of authors believe it is a mixture of indigo (blue) and indirubin (red) that becomes purple. Previous study showed that PUBS occurred predominantly in chronically catheterized, constipated women. We collected 10 elderly patients with PUBS in two nursing homes. The first two cases were identified by chart review in 1987 and 2003, and then later eight cases (42.1%) were collected among 19 urinary catheterized elderly in the period between January 2007 and June 2007. In the present report, PUBS probably can occur in any patients with the right elements, namely urinary tract infection (UTI) with bacteria possessing these enzymes, diet with enough tryptophan, and being catheterized. Associations with bed-bound state, Alzheimer’s, or dementia from other causes are reflections of the state of such patients who are at higher risk for UTI, and hence PUBS occurred. Although we presented PUBS as a harmless problem, prevention and control of the nosocomial catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs) has become very important in the new patient-centered medical era. Thus, we should decrease the duration of catheterization, improve catheter care, and deploy technological advances designed for prevention, especially in the elderly cared for in nursing homes

Fluoroquinolone therapy for bloodstream infections caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae

AbstractBackground/PurposeFor extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae infections, carbapenems are recommended as first line therapy, and clinical data on the therapeutic efficacy of fluoroquinolones (FQs) is limited. This study compares the efficacy of FQs and carbapenems for bloodstream infections caused by ESBL-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae.MethodsBetween 2008 and 2010, adults with ESBL-producing E. coli or K. pneumoniae bacteremia at two medical centers were reviewed. Adults receiving definitive FQ or carbapenem therapy were compared in a propensity score-matched analysis, and 30-day mortality was the primary endpoint.ResultsA total of 299 patients were eligible. Patients receiving a FQ (n = 24), either ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin, had a lower 30-day mortality rate than those with carbapenem therapy (8.3%, 2/24 vs. 23.3%, 64/275; p = 0.12). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that a critical illness [Pitt bacteremia score ≥ 4 points; odds ratio (OR), 7.09; p < 0.001], rapidly fatal underlying disease (OR, 5.73; p < 0.001), and hospital-associated infection (OR, 2.57; p = 0.01) were independently associated with 30-day mortality. By contrast, FQ definitive therapy was a protective factor compared with carbapenems (OR, 0.18; p = 0.04). There were 72 matched cases with carbapenem therapy in a propensity score-matched analysis, and a difference in the 30-day mortality rate of two groups was noted (8.3% vs. 29.2%; p = 0.05).ConslusionFor ESBL-producing E. coli or K. pneumoniae bacteremia, ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin, if active in vitro, can be considered as a carbapenem-sparing alternative

Konsep Demokrasi Politik Dalam Islam

Coexistence of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with asthma appears to impair asthma control. Type-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) respond to the cytokines of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), interleukin (IL)-25 and IL-33, thus contributing to airway diseases such as CRS and asthma. We investigate whether the augmented Th2-cytokines in CRS might be related to sinonasal tract ILC2s corresponding to enhanced IL-25, IL-33 and TSLP release in severe asthmatics, and be involved in asthma control. Twenty-eight asthmatics (12 non-severe and 16 severe) with CRS receiving nasal surgery were enrolled. The predicted FEV1 inversely associated with CRS severity of CT or endoscopy scores. Higher expression of Th2-driven cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13), TSLP, IL-25 and IL-33 in nasal tissues was observed in severe asthma. Severe asthmatics had higher ILC2 cell counts in their nasal tissues. ILC2 counts were positively correlated with Th2-cytokines. Nasal surgery significantly improved asthma control and lung function decline in severe asthma and CRS. The higher expression of IL-33/ILC2 axis-directed type 2 immune responses in nasal tissue of CRS brought the greater decline of lung function in severe asthma. ILC2-induced the upregulated activity of Th2-related cytokines in asthmatics with CRS may contribute to a recalcitrant status of asthma control

The application of infrared thermography in evaluation of patients at high risk for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease

ObjectiveWe investigated the usefulness of infrared thermography in evaluating patients at high risk for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD), including severity, functional capacity, and quality of life.MethodsA total of 51 patients (23 males; age 70 ± 9.8 years) were recruited. They completed three PAD-associated questionnaires, including walking impairment, vascular quality of life, and 7-day physical activity recall questionnaires before a 6-minute walking test (6MWT). Ankle-brachial index (ABI) and segmental pressure were analyzed for PAD diagnosis and stenotic level assessment. The cutaneous temperature at shin and sole were recorded by infrared thermography before and after the walk test. Detailed demographic information and medication list were obtained.ResultsTwenty-eight subjects had abnormal ABI (ABI <1), while PAD was diagnosed in 20. No subjects had non-compressible artery (ABI >1.3). Demographic profiles and clinical parameters in PAD and non-PAD patients were similar, except for age, smoking history, and hyperlipidemia. PAD patients walked shorter distances (356 ± 102 m vs 218 ± 92 m; P < .001). Claudication occurred in 14 patients, while seven failed in completing the 6MWT. The rest temperatures were similar in PAD and non-PAD patients. However, the post-exercise temperature dropped in the lower extremities with arterial stenosis, but was maintained or elevated slightly in the extremities with patent arteries (temperature changes at sole in PAD vs non-PAD patients: −1.25 vs −0.15°C; P < .001). The exercise-induced temperature changes at the sole were not only positively correlated with the 6MWD (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.31, P = .03), but was also correlated with ABI (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.48, P < .001) and 7-day physical activity recall scores (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.30, P = .033).ConclusionBy detecting cutaneous temperature changes in the lower extremities, infrared thermography offers another non-invasive, contrast-free option in PAD evaluation and functional assessment

Mixed Sequence Reader: A Program for Analyzing DNA Sequences with Heterozygous Base Calling

The direct sequencing of PCR products generates heterozygous base-calling fluorescence chromatograms that are useful for identifying single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertion-deletions (indels), short tandem repeats (STRs), and paralogous genes. Indels and STRs can be easily detected using the currently available Indelligent or ShiftDetector programs, which do not search reference sequences. However, the detection of other genomic variants remains a challenge due to the lack of appropriate tools for heterozygous base-calling fluorescence chromatogram data analysis. In this study, we developed a free web-based program, Mixed Sequence Reader (MSR), which can directly analyze heterozygous base-calling fluorescence chromatogram data in .abi file format using comparisons with reference sequences. The heterozygous sequences are identified as two distinct sequences and aligned with reference sequences. Our results showed that MSR may be used to (i) physically locate indel and STR sequences and determine STR copy number by searching NCBI reference sequences; (ii) predict combinations of microsatellite patterns using the Federal Bureau of Investigation Combined DNA Index System (CODIS); (iii) determine human papilloma virus (HPV) genotypes by searching current viral databases in cases of double infections; (iv) estimate the copy number of paralogous genes, such as β-defensin 4 (DEFB4) and its paralog HSPDP3

Eleven generations of selection for the duration of fertility in the intergeneric crossbreeding of ducks

A 12-generation selection experiment involving a selected line (S) and a control line (C) has been conducted since 1992 with the aim of increasing the number of fertile eggs laid by the Brown Tsaiya duck after a single artificial insemination (AI) with pooled Muscovy semen. On average, 28.9% of the females and 17.05% of the males were selected. The selection responses and the predicted responses showed similar trends. The average predicted genetic responses per generation in genetic standard deviation units were 0.40 for the number of fertile eggs, 0.45 for the maximum duration of fertility, and 0.32 for the number of hatched mule ducklings' traits. The fertility rates for days 2–8 after AI were 89.14% in the S line and 61.46% in the C line. Embryo viability was not impaired by this selection. The largest increase in fertility rate per day after a single AI was observed from d5 to d11. In G12, the fertility rate in the selected line was 91% at d2, 94% at d3, 92% at days 3 and 4 then decreased to 81% at d8, 75% at d9, 58% at d10 and 42% at d11. In contrast, the fertility rate in the control line showed an abrupt decrease from d4 (74%). The same tendencies were observed for the evolution of hatchability according to the egg set rates. It was concluded that selection for the number of fertile eggs after a single AI with pooled Muscovy semen could effectively increase the duration of the fertile period in ducks and that research should now be focused on ways to improve the viability of the hybrid mule duck embryo

Modification of thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters comprising acridan– pyrimidine moieties for efficient sky-blue to greenish-blue OLEDs

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) is a promising approach to harvest triplet excitons and achieve high-performance organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) for displays. In this study, we synthesized two new TADF emitters, 4Ac25CzPy and 4Ac35CzPy, featuring acridan–pyrimidine–carbazole moieties. Remarkably, a slight modification in the carbazole group position enables precise control of luminous color, resulting in emissions at 483 nm and 494 nm for 4Ac25CzPy and 4Ac35CzPy, respectively, in the electroluminescent device. Both compounds exhibit small energy difference between their singlet and triplet states (DEST) of 0.14 eV and 0.15 eV, confirming their TADF characteristics. Notably, OLEDs utilizing 4Ac35CzPy achieve outstanding performance with the maximum external quantum efficiency (ZEQE) of 21.2% and a photoluminescence quantum yield of 65.1%. This high efficiency is attributed to efficient energy transfer from the host to the emitter. Moreover, the 4Ac35CzPy device exhibits a high light outcoupling efficiency of 0.3, further enhancing its remarkable performance