Enhancing Epileptic Seizure Detection with EEG Feature Embeddings

Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent brain disorders that disrupts the lives of millions worldwide. For patients with drug-resistant seizures, there exist implantable devices capable of monitoring neural activity, promptly triggering neurostimulation to regulate seizures, or alerting patients of potential episodes. Next-generation seizure detection systems heavily rely on high-accuracy machine learning-based classifiers to detect the seizure onset. Here, we propose to enhance the seizure detection performance by learning informative embeddings of the EEG signal. We empirically demonstrate, for the first time, that converting raw EEG signals to appropriate embeddings can significantly boost the performance of seizure detection algorithms. Importantly, we show that embedding features, which converts the raw EEG into an alternative representation, is beneficial for various machine learning models such as Logistic Regression, Multi-Layer Perceptron, Support Vector Machines, and Gradient Boosted Trees. The experiments were conducted on the CHB-MIT scalp EEG dataset. With the proposed EEG feature embeddings, we achieve significant improvements in sensitivity, specificity, and AUC score across multiple models. By employing this approach alongside an SVM classifier, we were able to attain state-of-the-art classification performance with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 99%, setting a new benchmark in the field

Metabolic Dependencies in Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a highly lethal cancer with a long-term survival rate under 10%. Available cytotoxic chemotherapies have significant side effects, and only marginal therapeutic efficacy. FDA approved drugs currently used against PDA target DNA metabolism and DNA integrity. However, alternative metabolic targets beyond DNA may prove to be much more effective. PDA cells are forced to live within a particularly severe microenvironment characterized by relative hypovascularity, hypoxia, and nutrient deprivation. Thus, PDA cells must possess biochemical flexibility in order to adapt to austere conditions. A better understanding of the metabolic dependencies required by PDA to survive and thrive within a harsh metabolic milieu could reveal specific metabolic vulnerabilities. These molecular requirements can then be targeted therapeutically, and would likely be associated with a clinically significant therapeutic window since the normal tissue is so well-perfused with an abundant nutrient supply. Recent work has uncovered a number of promising therapeutic targets in the metabolic domain, and clinicians are already translating some of these discoveries to the clinic. In this review, we highlight mitochondria metabolism, non-canonical nutrient acquisition pathways (macropinocytosis and use of pancreatic stellate cell-derived alanine), and redox homeostasis as compelling therapeutic opportunities in the metabolic domain

THE RELATIONSHIP OF SELF-EFFICACY WITH TEHRAN CITY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT'S MOTIVATION AND TAKING PART IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

The present study has investigated the relationship of self-efficacy with Tehran city high school student's motivation and taking part in physical activities. The present study methodologically is divided in to 8 kind's hypothesis inductive research approaches, quantitative research strategy, the objectives of the research are descriptive and explaining, and in the end of method and data collection, library resources review and questionnaire. The statistical society of this research consists of all the students of Tehran education districts 14, 6, 3 in 2013 – 2014 academic years. To specify the sample volume Cochran formula was used. Based on this formula the minimum needed volume for this sample for such a research are 203 individuals. The research sample consisted in 400 of Tehran education students (boys and girls) that were selected via stratified cluster sampling method among girls and boys students. The data collection tool was a standard questionnaire. To analyses the research findings, Pearson correlation coefficient and multi-variable regression model in %95 coefficient level were used. The result showed that in the research statistical sample, the subjects have evaluated self-efficacy characteristics higher than average, and evaluated important individuals subscales lower than average. And also specified that there isn’t significant relation between self-efficacy and physical activities and motivation to participate in sports, with %95 confidence level. And also calculated coefficient of determination showed that %2.56 of physical activities variance and %3.68 of motivation to participate in sports is specified via self-efficacy.   Article visualizations

Enterprise Social Networks and Innovation Productivity: The Role of Innovation Culture

Enterprise Social Network (ESN) applications offer new opportunities for organizations to innovate. This paper proposes a new theoretical framework that explains how ESN applications facilitate ideation, socialization, and collaboration which in turn fosters the innovation culture of knowledge sharing, transparency, and risk tolerance. This study suggests that organizations maintaining this innovative culture will be able to find higher success in driving product, process, and social innovation, especially when management support is present. A key proposition is how dimensions of innovation culture, namely knowledge sharing, transparency, and risk tolerance mediate the effects of ESN applications on measures of firm performance namely product or service, process, and social innovation. The findings have implications for theory and practice, especially concerning building an organizational culture using social technologies such as ESN that foster innovative behavior

The Relationship of School Participation with Motor Proficiency and Executive Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract Objective participation in meaningful activities are important aspects of development in children with developmental disorder such as autism spectrum disorder. The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation of school participation with motor proficiency and executive function in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Materials & Methods In this cross-sectional (descriptive-analytic) study, 52 students aged 6 to 12 years old with ASD were selected through the convenience sampling method. The GARS-2 scale was used to confirm ASD diagnosis. Other psychiatric comorbidities such as ADHA were studied by the CSI-4 tool, and students with comorbidities were excluded. Data were collected using SFA, BOTMP-2, and BRIEF questionnaires. It should be noted that in the BRIEF questionnaire, a higher score indicates a more severe disability Results Our findings showed that motor proficiency and its components had a significant direct correlation with school participation in childrenwith ASD (P ≤0.001). On the other hand, school participation was inversely and significantly correlated with the behavioral regulation and metacognition monitoring indices of the executive function dimension (P <0.05). Conclusion Based on the findings of this research, the development of motor proficiency and improvements in the behavioral regulation andmetacognition monitoring of students with ASD will boost their participation in school activities. Motor proficiency was significantly correlated with school participation in children with ASD. More attention should be paid to perceptual motor interventions and cognitive rehabilitation programs (with a focus on monitoring metacognition and shifting behavioral regulation) to increase the participation of children with ASD in school activities

Enterprise Social Network Applications: Enhancing and Driving Innovation Culture and Productivity Through Digital Technologies

Enterprise Social Network (ESN) applications offer new opportunities for organizations to mobilize employees, promoting innovation beyond traditional R&D functions. Despite the popularity and success of these applications, current research has yet to fully explore the potential of ESN applications as both drivers of productive innovation and innovation culture, specifically. This paper proposes a theoretical framework that explains the role of ESN applications in facilitating organizational-wide ideation, collaboration, and socialization, thereby promoting innovation culture and innovation productivity. This study reveals that the dimensions of innovation culture, namely knowledge sharing, transparency, and risk tolerance, mediate the effects of ESN applications on the measures of firm innovation productivity— product/service innovation, process innovation, and social innovation. The findings presented here have implications for theory and practice, namely concerning building an organizational culture that promotes open innovative behavior using social technologies

Metabolic Dependencies in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a highly lethal cancer with a long-term survival rate under 10%. Available cytotoxic chemotherapies have significant side effects, and only marginal therapeutic efficacy. FDA approved drugs currently used against PDA target DNA metabolism and DNA integrity. However, alternative metabolic targets beyond DNA may prove to be much more effective. PDA cells are forced to live within a particularly severe microenvironment characterized by relative hypovascularity, hypoxia, and nutrient deprivation. Thus, PDA cells must possess biochemical flexibility in order to adapt to austere conditions. A better understanding of the metabolic dependencies required by PDA to survive and thrive within a harsh metabolic milieu could reveal specific metabolic vulnerabilities. These molecular requirements can then be targeted therapeutically, and would likely be associated with a clinically significant therapeutic window since the normal tissue is so well-perfused with an abundant nutrient supply. Recent work has uncovered a number of promising therapeutic targets in the metabolic domain, and clinicians are already translating some of these discoveries to the clinic. In this review, we highlight mitochondria metabolism, non-canonical nutrient acquisition pathways (macropinocytosis and use of pancreatic stellate cell-derived alanine), and redox homeostasis as compelling therapeutic opportunities in the metabolic domain

A mobile-based educational intervention on media health literacy: A quasi-experimental study

Background: Health misinformation on social media is a persistent public health concern that requires the proper skill set for interpreting and evaluating accurate information. This study aimed to determine the effects of a mobile app-based educational intervention on media health literacy (MHL) development among Iranian adults. Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental design conducted in 2022 that included 100 Iranian adults aged 18 to 65 years old. The inclusion criteria for participation were ownership of an Android smartphone, no prior training in MHL, and membership in at least one virtual social media app. As the primary outcome of the study, MHL was assessed using the validated MeHLit questionnaire with two follow-up time points (immediately after program completion and 12 weeks after program completion) in addition to a pre-test. Participants were divided into an experimental group that received the mobile app-based training program and a control group that received none. Results: The repeated measures test revealed a significant effect of the group-time interaction on the mean MHL score in both the intervention and control groups. Within the intervention group, the follow-up test indicated a significant increase in mean MHL scores for post-test 1 (63.54±12.57) and post-test 2 (65.72±7.97) compared to the pre-test phase (55.14±12.04), with these increases being statistically significant (P<0.001). No significant difference was observed within the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the mobile app-based educational intervention was effective in improving MHL among Iranian adults. These findings highlight the potential of mobile app-based interventions for promoting MHL and addressing health misinformation on social media

Correlations between biomarkers of oxidative stress, glycemic control and insulin resistance in women with type 2 diabetes

Background. The main characteristic of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is hyperglycemia due to insulin resistance. Enhanced oxidative stress owing to increased oxygen free radicals and/or reduced antioxidant defense has very important roles in T2DM development and also most of its complications. The aim of the current study was to evaluate correlations between biomarkers of oxidative stress, glycemic control and insulin resistance in women with T2DM. Materials and methods. Seventy nine women with T2DM were included in the current study and fasting blood samples were collected. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c); glucose; oxidative stress biomarkers including malodialdehyde, 8-isoprostane, catalase and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured. The adiponectin/leptin (A/L) ratio and the homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function (HOMA-B) were calculated. The results were considered significant when the p-value was less than 0.05. Results. Serum levels of TAC showed a significant positive correlation with the A/L ratio (r = 0.261, p = 0.02). A significant negative correlation was observed between values of HbA1c and TAC (r = –0.300, p = 0.007). However, HbA1c correlated positively with 8-isoprostane (r = 0.236, p = 0.036). Values of HOMA-B correlated negatively with values of HbA1c (r = –0.327, p = 0.003). Serum levels of 8-isoprostane were significantly higher in obese (BMI &gt; 30 kg/m2) women than in non-obese (BMI &lt; 30 kg/m2) women (p = 0.032). Values of catalase (p = 0.022) and HOMA-B (p = 0.009) were significantly lower in women with HbA1c ≥ 7.6% compared with women with HbA1c &lt; 7.6%. Conclusions. In summary, chronic hyperglycemia results in oxidative stress. This situation might lead to less beta cells function. In addition, low levels of the A/L ratio were associated with increased oxidative stress

CRISPR Knockout of the HuR Gene Causes a Xenograft Lethal Phenotype.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, whereas colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer. The RNA-binding protein HuR (ELAVL1) supports a pro-oncogenic network in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer cells through enhanced HuR expression. Using a publically available database, HuR expression levels were determined to be increased in primary PDA and colorectal cancer tumor cohorts as compared with normal pancreas and colon tissues, respectively. CRISPR/Cas9 technology was successfully used to delete the HuR gene in both PDA (MIA PaCa-2 and Hs 766T) and colorectal cancer (HCT116) cell lines. HuR deficiency has a mild phenotype