Improving the Brain-Computer Interface Learning Process with Gamification in Motor Imagery: A Review

Brain-computer-interface-based motor imagery (MI-BCI), a control method for transferring the imagination of motor behavior to computer-based commands, could positively impact neural functions. With the safety guaranteed by non-invasive BCI devices, this method has the potential to enhance rehabilitation and physical outcomes. Therefore, this MI-BCI control strategy has been highly researched. However, applying a non-invasive MI-BCI to real life is still not ideal. One of the main reasons is the monotonous training procedure. Although researchers have reviewed optimized signal processing methods, no suggestion is found in training feedback design. The authors believe that enhancing the engagement interface via gamification presents a potential method that could increase the MI-BCI outcome. After analyzing 2524 articles (from 2001 to 2020), 28 pieces of research are finally used to evaluate the feasibility of using gamified MI-BCI system for training. This paper claims that gamification is feasible for MI-BCI training with an average accuracy of 74.35% among 111 individuals and positive reports from 26 out of 28 studies. Furthermore, this literature review suggests more emphasis should be on immersive and humanoid design for a gaming system, which could support relieving distraction, stimulate correct MI and improve learning outcomes. Interruptive training issues such as disturbing graphical interface design and potential solutions have also been presented for further research

Exploring Memorization in Fine-tuned Language Models

LLMs have shown great capabilities in various tasks but also exhibited memorization of training data, thus raising tremendous privacy and copyright concerns. While prior work has studied memorization during pre-training, the exploration of memorization during fine-tuning is rather limited. Compared with pre-training, fine-tuning typically involves sensitive data and diverse objectives, thus may bring unique memorization behaviors and distinct privacy risks. In this work, we conduct the first comprehensive analysis to explore LMs' memorization during fine-tuning across tasks. Our studies with open-sourced and our own fine-tuned LMs across various tasks indicate that fine-tuned memorization presents a strong disparity among tasks. We provide an understanding of this task disparity via sparse coding theory and unveil a strong correlation between memorization and attention score distribution. By investigating its memorization behavior, multi-task fine-tuning paves a potential strategy to mitigate fine-tuned memorization

Clinical characteristics and related influencing factors of common rheumatic diseases concomitant with tuberculosis

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical characteristics and risk factors of common systemic rheumatism concomitant with tuberculosis (TB).MethodsA total of 3,906 patients of RA, SLE, and SS diagnosed in the People's Hospital of Sichuan Province from January 2007 to January 2017 were collected. One hundred and five patients with TB were included as TB group, including 42 RA, 41 SLE, and 22 SS patients. In the non-TB group, 84 RA, 82 SLE, and 44 SS patients were randomly selected during the same period.ResultsFever was the most common symptom among RA, SLE, and SS patients with TB, accounting for 83.3%, 92.7%, and 68.2%, respectively. Cough, weight loss or fatigue were the next common. RA patients with TB were mostly pulmonary TB (PTB), accounting for 64.3%. The proportion of PTB for SLE and SS were 46.3%, 59.01%, respectively. In TB group, 59% RA, 57% SLE, and 62% SS with PTB had two or more chest CT findings. There were 48 TB cases received both Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) and Tuberculin skin test (TST) with positive rates of 91.8%, 45.8%, respectively. The daily average dose of glucocorticoids within 1 year in TB group was higher than that in non-TB group of SLE patients, lower counts of CD4+ T cell count were found in TB group (P < 0.05), while no such differences were found in RA and SS patients.ConclusionRA patients with TB are mainly pulmonary TB. For SLE and SS patients, the chance of PTB and extrapulmonary tuberculosis is similar. Daily average dose of glucocorticoids within 1 year may be a common risk factor for RA, SLE and SS patients developing TB. Decreased CD4+ T cell count may also be a risk factor for SLE patients with TB. Symptoms of RA, SLE, SS with TB, are similar with the primary disease or other infection. It is recommended to conduct both TST and IGRA to help diagnose TB

Serum proteomic profiling of precancerous gastric lesions and early gastric cancer reveals signatures associated with systemic inflammatory response and metaplastic differentiation

The noninvasive detection technique using serum for large-scale screening is useful for the early diagnosis of gastric cancer (GC). Herein, we employed liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to determine the serum proteome signatures and related pathways in individuals with gastric precancerous (pre-GC) lesions and GC and explore the effect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Differentially expressed proteins in GC and pre-GC compared with non-atrophic gastritis (NAG) group were identified. APOA4, a protein associated with metaplastic differentiation, and COMP, an extracellular matrix protein, were increased in the serum of patients with pre-GC lesions and GC. In addition, several inflammation-associated proteins, such as component C3, were decreased in the GC and pre-GC groups, which highlight a tendency for the inflammatory response to converge at the gastric lesion site during the GC cascade. Moreover, the abundance of proteins associated with oxidant detoxification was higher in the GC group compared with that in the NAG group, and these proteins were also increased in the serum of the H. pylori-positive GC group compared with that in the H. pylori-negative GC patients, reflecting the importance of oxidative stress pathways in H. pylori infection. Collectively, the findings of this study highlight pathways that play important roles in GC progression, and may provide potential diagnostic biomarkers for the detection of pre-GC lesions