Signal2Image Modules in Deep Neural Networks for EEG Classification

Deep learning has revolutionized computer vision utilizing the increased availability of big data and the power of parallel computational units such as graphical processing units. The vast majority of deep learning research is conducted using images as training data, however the biomedical domain is rich in physiological signals that are used for diagnosis and prediction problems. It is still an open research question how to best utilize signals to train deep neural networks. In this paper we define the term Signal2Image (S2Is) as trainable or non-trainable prefix modules that convert signals, such as Electroencephalography (EEG), to image-like representations making them suitable for training image-based deep neural networks defined as `base models'. We compare the accuracy and time performance of four S2Is (`signal as image', spectrogram, one and two layer Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs)) combined with a set of `base models' (LeNet, AlexNet, VGGnet, ResNet, DenseNet) along with the depth-wise and 1D variations of the latter. We also provide empirical evidence that the one layer CNN S2I performs better in eleven out of fifteen tested models than non-trainable S2Is for classifying EEG signals and we present visual comparisons of the outputs of the S2Is.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, EMBC 201

Gravitational Influence on Human Living Systems and the Evolution of Species on Earth

Gravity constituted the only constant environmental parameter, during the evolutionary period of living matter on Earth. However, whether gravity has affected the evolution of species, and its impact is still ongoing. The topic has not been investigated in depth, as this would require frequent and long-term experimentations in space or an environment of altered gravity. In addition, each organism should be studied throughout numerous generations to determine the profound biological changes in evolution. Here, we review the significant abnormalities presented in the cardiovascular, immune, vestibular and musculoskeletal systems, due to altered gravity conditions. We also review the impact that gravity played in the anatomy of snakes and amphibians, during their evolution. Overall, it appears that gravity does not only curve the space–time continuum but the biological continuum, as well

Identification of Co-Deregulated Genes in Urinary Bladder Cancer Using High-Throughput Methodologies

Urinary bladder cancer (UBC) is the second most common urogenital solid tumor and the eleventh in the rank among all types of solid tumors. Although several oncogenes and tumor suppressors are known to be implicated in the disease, the list of candidate prognostic markers has recently expanded, as a result of the power of new high-throughput methodologies. The prognosis and therapy of UBC have progressed greatly during the last years. However, a majority of the different tumor subtypes still relapses, manifesting poor prognosis. Here, we identified gene expression patterns being common across different histological phenotypes of UBC. Such an approach could be useful in the discovery of prognostic and therapeutic targets able to be applied in the majority of the tumor’s subtypes

Information, Thermodynamics and Life: A Narrative Review

Information is probably one of the most difficult physical quantities to comprehend. This applies not only to the very definition of information, but also to the physical entity of information, meaning how can it be quantified and measured. In recent years, information theory and its function in systems has been an intense field of study, due to the large increase of available information technology, where the notion of bit dominated the information discipline. Information theory also expanded from the “simple” “bit” to the quantal “qubit”, which added more variables for consideration. One of the main applications of information theory could be considered the field of “autonomy”, which is the main characteristic of living organisms in nature since they all have self-sustainability, motion and self-protection. These traits, along with the ability to be aware of existence, make it difficult and complex to simulate in artificial constructs. There are many approaches to the concept of simulating autonomous behavior, yet there is no conclusive approach to a definite solution to this problem. Recent experimental results have shown that the interaction between machines and neural cells is possible and it consists of a significant tool for the study of complex systems. The present work tries to review the question on the interactions between information and life. It attempts to build a connection between information and thermodynamics in terms of energy consumption and work production, as well as present some possible applications of these physical quantities

How lesson study is used in initial teacher education: an international review of literature

© 2022 The Authors. Published by Taylor & Francis. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1080/13664530.2022.2063937This article focuses on the use of lesson study (LS) in initial teacher education (ITE) from a mapping review of international research published in peer-reviewed journals. This method enables identification of characteristic features of the research field along with any gaps in the existing evidence base. The authors map out variations in ITE LS practices by employing a seven-dimensional framework of LS to illustrate the range and draw conclusions about the design and use of LS in ITE. They conclude that LS is an example of teacher enquiry-based practice, identified by researchers as one of the means of building the capacity for a self-improving education system. LS and related practices play a crucial role in preparing teachers to adopt a research orientation to their own practice. However, the article also discusses the organisational challenges and the balance between acquiring skills and reflection for beginning teachers when introducing LS into ITE

Cost-effective health services for interactive lifestyle management: the PANACEIA-iTV and the e-Vital concepts, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2005, nr 4

Information technology applications in medicine are rapidly expanding, and new methods and solutions are evolving since they are considered pivotal in the success of preventive medicine. In this paper two different concepts will be presented, the PANACEIA-iTV and the e-Vital concept. PANACEIA-iTV is a home care service provision system based on interactive TV technology and supported by the IST programme of the European Commission. The e-Vital service, supported by the eTEN programme of the European Commission, regards an integrated home care and telemonitoring service chain aimed at large sensitive parts of the European population, the "at-risk" citizens, who are usually patients with a stable medical condition that allow a near normal life but may suddenly deteriorate and put life at risk

Developing a multidimensional framework for wine tourist behavior: Evidence from Greece

In response to the need for a better empirical understanding of the multiple factors that drive the demand of wine tourism, this paper serves a twofold objective: first, to test the distinctiveness of motivations for visiting a wine region along with a winery; and secondly, to explore whether geographical distance between tourists׳ place of origin and the wine region can add to the ability of other wine consumer/tourist variables (product involvement; product knowledge; wine tourist identity; past experience) to predict specific aspects of wine tourist behavior. In doing so, quantitative survey data were collected from 381 visitors of 12 wineries located in Northern Greece. Results from Principal Component and Multiple Hierarchical Regression Analyses indicate that travel distance predicts wine purchasing at the cellar door as well as the motivational factors associated with ׳Socialization׳ and ׳Destination attractiveness׳. Further, the study proposes a conceptual framework for wine tourism motivation