EEG-ITNet: An Explainable Inception Temporal Convolutional Network for Motor Imagery Classification

In recent years, neural networks and especially deep architectures have received substantial attention for EEG signal analysis in the field of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). In this ongoing research area, the end-to-end models are more favoured than traditional approaches requiring signal transformation pre-classification. They can eliminate the need for prior information from experts and the extraction of handcrafted features. However, although several deep learning algorithms have been already proposed in the literature, achieving high accuracies for classifying motor movements or mental tasks, they often face a lack of interpretability and therefore are not quite favoured by the neuroscience community. The reasons behind this issue can be the high number of parameters and the sensitivity of deep neural networks to capture tiny yet unrelated discriminative features. We propose an end-to-end deep learning architecture called EEG-ITNet and a more comprehensible method to visualise the network learned patterns. Using inception modules and causal convolutions with dilation, our model can extract rich spectral, spatial, and temporal information from multi-channel EEG signals with less complexity (in terms of the number of trainable parameters) than other existing end-to-end architectures, such as EEG-Inception and EEG-TCNet. By an exhaustive evaluation on dataset 2a from BCI competition Ⅳ and OpenBMI motor imagery dataset, EEG-ITNet shows up to 5.9% improvement in the classification accuracy in different scenarios with statistical significance compared to its competitors. We also comprehensively explain and support the validity of network illustration from a neuroscientific perspective. We have also made our code freely accessible at https://github.com/AbbasSalami/EEG-ITNet

Towards Decoding of Depersonalisation Disorder Using EEG: A Time Series Analysis Using CDTW

Depersonalisation/derealisation refers to a transient psychological condition characterised by losing the sense of body ownership and feeling detached from the outside world. It is often accompanied by a lack of emotional responsiveness and sometimes memory fragmentation. Studies have shown the temporary occurrence of this condition among 34-70% of the general population during their life span. However, if the symptoms become consistent, they can be intolerable and can profoundly affect the quality of life in such an extent that it would be considered as one type of the dissociative disorders, depersonalisation disorder (DPD). Currently, there is no laboratory method to diagnose DPD, and studies have expressed a period of seven to 12 years for the correct diagnosis of DPD. We recently aimed to investigate DPD and its symptoms based on inexpensive and convenient electroencephalogram (EEG) neuroimaging technique, using calculation of event-related-potentials (ERPs) over the somatosensory cortex. We showed that DPD symptoms could be as a result of impairment in early (implicit) stages of information processing in the brain. We also introduced P45 as a potential electrophysiological biomarker to study DPD. In this paper, we first replicated our results and then used P45 as a feature to discriminate between individuals with high and low tendency to DPD symptoms. We used Continuous Dynamic Time Warping (CDTW) to address the possible time shift and distortion in the ERP signals and to reach better classification performance. We reached 85% accuracy (Kappa 0.7) using leave-one-subject-out cross-validation, which confirms the feasibility for discrimination between DPD patients and a control group using EEG signals

Molecular detection of antimicrobial resistance genes among ciprofloxacin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is an opportunistic pathogen that is considered one of the most important causes of nosocomial infections, especially in burns and immunocompromised individuals. So this study was aimed todetection of quinolone-resistant genes among ciprofloxacin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. Data showed out of 168 specimens obtained from burns patients the rate women and men in this study were 107(63..69%) and 61(36.3%) respectively, positive bacterial growth were 159 (94.64 %) while 9(5.3%) of specimens were no growth. According to result of the vitek-2 system recorded 75 isolates as P. aeruginosa. Results of ciprofloxacin susceptibility recorded 29(38.67%) of P.auroginosa was resistance to ciprofloxacin, while was 34(45.33%), and 12(16%) of isolates were intermediate and sensitive respectively. Results of antibiotic susceptibility showed that the highest bacterial resistance was imipenem 29(100%), while the least resistance were meropenem and Piperacillin-Tazobactam reached 22(75.8%). Results of Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that 29(100%), 28 (96.06%), 26(89.65%), 23(79.31%) and 21(72.41%) of ciprofloxacin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were harbored aac(6’)-Ib, parC, qnrS, qnrB and qnrVC respectively, while qnrA, qnrC, qnrD, and qepA genes were not detect in present study. Sequence results for qnrB, qnrvc showed that they are identical to qnrB2, qnrvc1 when compared with international NCBI isolates

Genotypic investigation of drugs resistance and biofilm genes among ciprofloxacin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from burn patients

Burn patients are the serious targets of hospital-acquired infection occurred by Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( P. aeruginosa) , which is a main cause of burn patients morbidity and mortality, so this study aimed to molecular investigation of genes associated with antibiotic resistance among ciprofloxacin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Current study involved 168 burn patients involved 107(63.69%) and 61 (36.3%) were females and male respectively, the results showed 132(78.57%) gram negative bacteria and 27(16.0%) gram positive bacteria while 9(5.3%) no bacterial growth. The results of Vitek-2 compact system recorded 75(44.64%) as P. aeruginosa isolates. Results of ciprofloxacin susceptibility showed 29(38.67%), while 34(45.33%) and 12(16%) of isolates were intermediate and sensitive respectively. Congo red agar assay was applied in current study for qualitative evaluation of pathogenic biofilm were 23/29 (79.31%), and 6/26(20.86%) as high, and moderate biofilm producer among isolates respectively. Result of Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that gyrB was recorded among ciprofloxacin-resistant P. aeruginosa at rate 28/29 (96.55%). At same respect. results of efflux pump genes for oqxA and oqxB genes were detected among this pathogen at rate 26/29 (89.65%) and 29/29(100%) respectively. outer membrane genes, revealed that mexR gene was 27/29 (93.1%), while the spreading of the oprD gene was 26/29(89.65%). Results of molecular detection about colistin resistance genes revealed that the mcr-3 gene was 8/29 (27.58%), but genes of mcr-1 and mcr-2 were no detected in this work, Finally, results showed that 23/29 (79.31%) of ciprofloxacin-resistant P. aeruginosa were harbored pml gene

A System Based on Fuzzy Logic to Manage Operations in Container Yards

This article focuses on the assignment of arrived containers to pre-existing stacks stored in one of the container yards, particularly when the containers' date of departure and time are unknown. This becomes more difficult when different-sized, typed, and weighted containers needs be stored in pre-existing containers yard. The main objective is to create a Fuzzy Knowledge-Based System (FKB_CYM) that considers practical factors and limitations such as container quantity per stack and customer, type, size, and weight. Various tools and methodologies are used, including Discrete Event (DE), Fuzzy Knowledge-Based Modelling (FKBM), and a Neighborhood Algorithm (NA). The paper thoroughly discusses and evaluates the system's findings

Trypsin-based diet for the growth indices of Spanish mackerel

To protect the sustainability of the aquaculture industry, fishmeal is being replaced with alternative feed ingredients such as plant-based protein components. However, most plant-based feedstuffs contain a wide array of anti-nutritional factors. These factors can potentially hinder nutrient consumption, which in turn can interfere with fish health and performance. Protease enzyme supplements can reverse the impacts of anti-nutritional factors and enhance fish growth. This study aimed to incorporate the trypsin enzyme into the food of Spanish mackerel and explore its effects on growth factors, body composition, and blood biochemical parameters. This study was a fully-randomized experiment with three treatments and three replications. This experiment was carried out as a completely randomized design with three treatments and three replications, and the trypsin enzyme was added to the fish diet at different levels: 0%, 0.015%, and 0.025%. For a timeframe of 60 days, the fish were given experimental diets. The growth indices considered were: specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), condition factor (CF), feed conversion ratio (FCR), weight gain percentage (WGP), and hepatic steatosis index (HSI). The results showed that FCR, PER, SGR, and WGP at enzyme levels of 0.015% and 0.025% were substantially different from the control group

Practice of intercropping and its impact on legume productivity in Egypt

In Egypt, conserving irrigation water and raising crop output are significant concerns. Egypt's climate ranges from semi-arid and arid to desert. The number of summer legumes cultivated on a per-capita basis is declining. Excessively applied nitrogen (N) mineral fertilization and irrigation water are widespread agricultural techniques that harm the quality of the soil and the surrounding environment. It should be possible to increase overall agricultural yield while working with scarce agricultural resources through intercropping. In developing countries, intercropping is the most common farming system for increasing and maintaining agricultural production. As a widely spaced crop, maize provides ample opportunity for the practice of intercropping. Legumes are well-known for their effectiveness as intercropping companions. In light of this information, an investigation into the possibility of intercropping maize with legumes, specifically groundnut and green gram, was carried out. Seeds for groundnuts and green grams were sown between rows of paired row maize. The results demonstrated that the intercropping system had no considerable impact on maize grain and straw yields. However, there was a substantial disparity in total biomass production between the experiments; maize and groundnut (2:3) recorded the highest yield, followed by groundnut (2:2) and green gram (2:3). The land equivalent ratio (LER) unequivocally demonstrated the benefits of intercropping, and the highest LER was achieved by growing maize and groundnut (2:1)

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised