Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Difficulties and Successes of the Introduction of Psychoacoustic Indicators in the Industrial World

Laboratory of Mechanics and Acoustics (LMA) worked for several years with the French railway company (SNCF) and the telecommunication operator Orange. These collaborations had different consequences in terms of applications. LMA and SNCF worked together on annoyance, loudness, and on detection of emerging signals in noise. From the knowledge provided by this cooperation, but also from the state of the art, SNCF tried to integrate loudness in the standard used in the railway domain (ISO-EN-3381). But it was not accepted for various reasons: suppliers are used to use 1/3 octave bands and dB(A) in their models for interior prediction, loudness is too complicated to calculate. However, SNCF included in its own specification loudness density and loudness for the comfort, but without penalty. Concerning emergent signals, a method measuring tonality was included in the standard, but it is a simplified method which does not work for multicomponent signals. In telecommunications, loudness of speech is one of the main parameters for a good listening quality. For 30 years, the Loudness Rating (LR) has been used to evaluate loudness at sending and receiving terminals. This indicator was first developed for narrow-band (0.3-3.4kHz) handset terminals, then extended to wideband (0.1-8kHz). But it failed in predicting loudness in wideband and has not been extended to larger bandwidths. Orange Labs highlighted the problem several years ago and proposed collaboration with LMA to study how it would be possible to use loudness instead of LR, through a PhD supervised jointly. Orange Labs proposed a model to ITU-T, where SG12 eventually adopted a new standard (P.700) in which loudness is calculated using the ISO-532B model adapted for telephonometry. This standard is valid for all bandwidths and all conditions (handset, handfree, teleconference). Now Orange Labs use ITU-T P. 700 and ask their suppliers to characterize their products using loudness.
Nose ‐To ‐Brain Delivery of Mitochondria for Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease Model Rats With 6-Hydroxydopamine

BackgroundFeasibility of mitochondrial organelle transport via the olfactory bulb route for Parkinson's disease (PD) therapy was evaluated in the unilateral 6-OHDA-lesioned rats due to the distinct difference based on payload properties. MethodsAn intranasal infusion with 200 μg of allogeneic mitochondria conjugated with Pep-1 (P-Mito) or not (Mito) was executed once a week at the ipsilateral side of lesioned brain for three months of treatments.Results A significant improvement of rotational and locomotor behaviors in PD rats was found in both mitochondria-treating groups in contrast to Sham group or Pep-1 group. There was more than 60% recovery survival of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in substantia nigra (SN) and striatum (ST) of lesioned sides compared to the intact sides in groups of Mito and P-Mito. Treatment effect in P-Mito group was higher in the P-Mito group than Mito group but not significant. The mechanism was associated with the restoration of mitochondrial function and attenuation of oxidative damage in lesioned SN. Notably, Pep-1 modification suppressed the plasma level of inflammatory cytokines induced by infused mitochondria. The 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine-labelled tracks showed the mitochondrial penetrating into doublecortin-positive neurons of rostral migratory stream (RMS) along with the accessory olfactory bulb in ipsilateral side of lesion and it was expressed in striatal DA neurons, but not in SN, of two cerebral hemispheres via commissural fibers. Conclusion This study showed a promising approach of nose-to-brain delivery for mitochondrial transplantation by confirming the mitochondrial internalization via RMS neurons migration in olfactory bulb for therapeutic action of PD in rats.
Effect of COVID-19 Infection on the Clinical Course of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) in People with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Background: COVID-19 in people with diabetes is associated with poorer outcomes. Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute complication of diabetes with a mortality rate of 0·67%. Little is known about the natural history of DKA in the presence of COVID-19. This study aimed to explore the effects of COVID-19 on presentation, clinical course and outcome in patients with DKA. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all patients with DKA between 01 March 2020 and 30 May 2020. Patients were categorised as COVID-positive or COVID-negative. A pre-COVID group was established using data from 01 March 2019 to 30 May 2019 as control. Data regarding demographics, diabetes type, admission pH, bicarbonate, lactate, glucose, serum electrolytes, urea, creatinine, time to DKA resolution, complications, and outcome were collected. Findings: A total of 88 episodes (20 COVID-positive, 31 COVID-negative and 37-pre-COVID) were included in this study. There was no significant difference in the severity or duration of DKA between the three groups. COVID-positive type 1 diabetes (T1DM) were more hyperglycaemic on admission compared to COVID-negative and pre-COVID patients. There was an over representation of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in COVID-positive patients than in pre-COVID or COVID-negative groups. Interpretation: COVID-19 appears to influence the natural history of DKA differently in T1DM and T2DM. In patients with T1DM, infection was associated with more hyperglycaemia and acidosis on presentation with DKA. Patients with T2DM were unusually presenting in DKA when infected with COVID-19. These patients were also more likely to need ITU with higher mortality rates. There is a need for a collaborative, multi-centre approach in order to conduct larger cohort studies to provide more definitive results. Funding: No funding was received for this work. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was registered as a retrospective audit and was approved by the hospital governance team with no further ethical input needed.
Small business training to improve management practices in developing countries: re-assessing the evidence for ‘training doesn’t work’

Despite the popularity of business training among policy-makers, its use has faced increasing scepticism. Most of the first randomized experiments could not detect statistically significant impacts of training on firm profits or sales. I reassess the evidence for whether small business training works, incorporating more recent results. A meta-analysis of these estimates shows that training increases profits and sales on average by 5–10 per cent. This is in line with what is optimistic to expect, but impacts of this magnitude are too small for most experiments to detect. I then discuss five approaches for improving the effectiveness of traditional training by incorporating gender, kaizen methods, localization and mentoring, heuristics, and psychology. The challenge is then how to deliver a quality programme on a cost-effective basis at a much larger scale. Three possible approaches to scaling up training are discussed: using the market, using technology, or targeting and funnelling firms.
The use of the qualitative methodology of the Grounded Theory in Nursing researcha

Objective: To discuss the use of the qualitative methodology of the Grounded Theory (GT), according to the strands of Strauss and Corbin (2008), in Nursing research, using data from a doctoral research. Methodology: A qualitative research study, using the Grounded Theory as methodological framework. Data collection took place with 13 participants, between October/2017 and August/2019, in two High-Complexity Oncology Care Centers. Results and Discussion: Strauss and Corbin’s (2008) approach contributes to the understanding of the method, as it provides a clearer view on the stages of data analysis. Its use should be encouraged more, especially for researchers who wish to approach the method. Conclusion and implications for practice: The methodology is learned experimentally and each research study involving it is an opportunity to learn and improve knowledge, becoming a resource that favors Nursing research, as it contributes to improving practices during care.
Immigrants’ Leisure Participation and Acculturative Stress Management: The Mediating Effect of Community Embeddedness

The increasing trend of migration has driven studies from multiple perspectives, including the conceptual lens of their mobility and professional activities. Another important dimension of immigrants’ settlement is the role of leisure participation. One issue in immigrants’ settlement is acculturative stress, an issue related to the difficulties immigrants face in their adjustment to the lifestyle of their host country. This paper explores the role of leisure participation by investigating a mediating effect of community embeddedness which assists immigrants to manage acculturative stress. Community embeddedness enables immigrants to adjust and develop emotional and functional connections to their new community and fosters their social integration. This mediator is likely to be related to leisure participation. Mediated regression analysis confirmed that leisure participation lessened two components of acculturative stress; immigrants’ not feeling at home and perceived discrimination when mediated by community embeddedness.
PERCEPTIONS OF STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT ON INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: A NARRATIVE META-ANALYSIS

This study focused on the perceptions of students with visual impairment. A narrative meta-analysis was utilized to synthesize the findings of investigations that employed quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methodological designs. Based on the contents of the reviewed articles, three broad categories were established: barriers, feelings of acceptance, and successful components of inclusion. Barriers included the physical environments of schools, accessibility, and social interactions. With respect to feelings of acceptance, the constructs of homophily and fitting in were discussed. Several components of successful inclusion were delineated such as a positive school climate and a positive, supportive attitude associated with teachers, especially those who possess knowledge and skills and held high expectations for students. Students with visual impairment also needed skills to be autonomous and assertive, which are conducive to academic success and the initiation and building of friendships with sighted peers. A number of findings of the present study corroborated those from previous investigations; however, the uniqueness of this seminal research pertains to the specific perceptions of students with visual impairment in inclusive settings. Limitations of the study were also discussed.
Bridging the Gap between Bulk Compression and Indentation Test on Room-Temperature Plasticity in Oxides: Case Study on SrTiO3

Dislocation-based functionalities in inorganic ceramics and semiconductors are drawing increasing attention, contrasting the conventional belief that the majority of ceramic materials are brittle at room temperature. Understanding the dislocation behavior in ceramics and advanced semiconducting materials is therefore critical for the mechanical reliability of such materials and devices designed for harvesting the dislocation-based functionalities. Here we compare the mechanical testing between indentation at nano-/microscale and bulk uniaxial deformation at macroscale and highlight the dislocation plasticity in single crystal SrTiO3, a model perovskite. The similarities and differences as well as the advantages and limitations of both testing protocols are discussed based on the experimental outcome of the crystal plasticity, with a focus on the pre-existing defect population being probed with different volumes across the length scales (“size effect”). We expect this work to pave the road for studying dislocation-based plasticity in various advanced functional ceramics and semiconductors.
HUMIC ACID AND Azospirillum brasilense APPLIED TO COTTON SEEDS

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da inoculacao de Azospirillum brasilense na presenca e ausencia de substâncias humicas aplicados em sementes de algodao. Foi aplicada uma dose unica de acido humico Humykos ® : 3 mL kg -1 de sementes; e seis doses do biorregulador Stimulate ® : 0; 50,0; 100,0; 150,0; 200,0 e 250,0 mL kg -1 de sementes. Avaliou-se o indice de velocidade de emergencia, a percentagem de emergencia e de germinacao, a contagem de plântulas anormais, o comprimento da parte aerea, da raiz e o comprimento total, a massa seca da raiz, da parte aerea e total de plântulas de algodao. Utilizou-se delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 2x6, com quatro repeticoes. Na presenca de acido humico o biorregulador nao promoveu aumento no vigor de plântulas, a massa seca da raiz, parte aerea e total decrescem de acordo com o aumento da dose do biorregulador na presenca de acido humico.
Accumulative effects of humic acid and multinutrient foliar fertilizers on the vegetative and reproductive attributes of citrus (Citrus reticulata cv. kinnow mandarin)

Abstract Field trials were performed to investigate the effects of humic acid (HA) and multinutrient foliar fertilizer “Micro Power” (MP) coupled with farmer’s practices ( FP ), addressed in single and/or split dose frames at different plant phenological stages on various vegetative, reproductive, and physiological attributes of citrus trees (Citrus reticulata cv. kinnow mandarin). The results exhibited a profound response of treatments on various growth parameters (32.5% increase in plant height, 22.2% increase in fruit set branch−1, 5.25% decrease in fruit drop percentage, 89.81% increase in fruit yield (kg), etc.) of citrus trees when compared to the control (FP). Likewise, a significant positive response was observed regarding various plant physiological parameters (leaf nutrients, total chlorophyll content, etc.) and physicochemical characteristics (ascorbic acid, total sugars, etc.) of citrus fruits. This study confirmed the reproducibility of HA and MP applications to improve the yield/quality of citrus and can lead to an organically sustainable citriculture.
The role of the molecular environment for the primary photoprocesses of phenol in solution

Quantum yields of fluorescence as well as of solvated electron and H atom formation have been measured for phenol in several pure solvents and mixtures of varying polarity. The influence of excitation energy has been studied by excitation of phenol in the first and second excited singlet states. The solvent dependences of fluorescence and photoejection parameters are strongly correlated. The results are interpreted in terms of specific solute–solvent interactions, in particular H-bonded structures.
Helminths from the red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans (Chelonia: Emydidae) in marshes from the eastern Iberian Peninsula: first report of Telorchis attenuata (Digenea: Telorchiidae)

The present work describes the presence of a digenean in the red-eared turtle Trachemys scripta elegans (Wied-Neuwied, 1839) in marshes of the Valencian Community. The faeces and intestinal tract of 105 animals were examined. Only one helminth species was found and identified as the digenean trematode Telorchis atenuatta (Goldberger, 1911), present in the 7.6% of the animals analysed. This is the first report of the parasite in sliders from Spain. Although conclusions are preliminary due to the limited sampling, our results suggest that the presence of red-eared turtles in new habitats may increase the risk of introducing new microorganisms and new diseases with them, altering the sanitary status of the autochthonous terrapins Mauremys leprosa (Schweigger, 1812) and Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758).
Free in-plane vibrations of annular sector plates with elastic boundary supports

In this investigation, a generalized Fourier series method is proposed for the in-plane vibration analysis of annular sector plates with elastic restraints along each of its edges. The in-plane displacement fields are universally expressed as a new form of trigonometric series expansions with a drastically improved convergence as compared with the conventional Fourier series. The expansion coefficients are considered as the generalized coordinates, and determined using the Rayleigh-Ritz technique. Several examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of the current method for predicting the modal characteristics of annular sector plates with various cutout ratios and sector angles under different boundary conditions. It is also shown that annular and circle plates can be readily included as the special cases of the annular sector plates when the sector angle is set equal to 360°.
Using Mind Mapping as a Visual Literacy Technique for Developing EFL Vocabulary Learning among Primary School Pupils

The present study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of using mind mapping as a visual literacy technique for developing EFL vocabulary learning among primary school pupils. The participants were 60 pupils of sixth year primary school. Sixty pupils were randomly selected from Alandalus Private School in Sidi Salim Governorate, in Kafr-El SHeikh during the second semester of the academic year 2018/2019. They were assigned to two groups:(30) pupils as an experimental group, and (30) pupils as a control group . The experimental group received teaching vocabulary by using visual literacy techniques while the control group received the regular method in teaching vocabulary. The instrument was an EFL pre-post vocabulary learning test. The test was scored and the findings were analyzed using a t-test. Results of the study revealed that there was a significant difference in the pre-post test in favor of the post test. Accordingly, the visual literacy is effective for developing the sixth year primary school pupils' vocabulary learning
Improved executive functioning in healthy older adults after multifactorial cognitive training targeting controlled processes

Among the different cognitive training approaches tested in healthy older adults, multifactorial programs, which target higher-order processes such as memory and attention, best promote the transfer of learning to untrained cognitive processes. Objective: In the present study, we investigated the effects of a multifactorial cognitive training program on executive functions in older adults. Method: This training was developed to embed the processing of executive information in memory and attention training tasks, and mnemonic and executive strategies were implemented progressively throughout training. Results: The results showed that this training program (24 sessions, 2 sessions per week) improved executive functions in older adults (n=15; mean age=74.5±2.1). Significant improvements were found for the switching and inhibition of irrelevant stimuli. We also report enhanced performance in the efficiency of a dual-task activity. Additionally, we report that these benefits were present at the 6-month follow-up without any additional training. Conclusion: Taken together with previous results obtained with the same training protocol, the present results showed that the multifactorial training program we developed is an efficient tool to positively act on memory-related and executive aspects of the cognitive decline found in normal aging.
The impact of Ramadan fasting on immune system function during COVID-19 pandemic

Recently, the infection transmitted by the latest coronavirus (COVID-19), was associated with significant increase in morbidity and mortality, reflecting major public health issue. However, Ramadan fasting throughout an outbreak may be a new phenomenon for many of Muslims worldwide. The aim of this review was to determine the impact of Ramadan fasting on immune system function during COVID-19 pandemic. This review gathered the contemporary information throughout PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct databases from relevant articles, to provide understanding of the potential impact of Ramadan fasting on the immune system during pandemic viral infection. The results of this review show many justifiable concerns arise to the consequences of refraining the body from essential nutrients and fluids for prolonged periods of time through a day. Especially this practice might intricate the health status of selected groups including the elderly and people having chronic diseases. On the other hand, many studies suggest that intermittent fasting boost the immune response of the body towards infections. Furthermore, there is no conclusive evidence regarding the relationship between fasting and increasing or decreasing the risk of catching a virus or improving oxidative stress status as well. Therefore, Muslims who practice fasting during pandemic face a circumstance in which no concrete scientific evidence proves the safety or danger of this religious practice. We conclude that there are proven benefits of fasting in augmenting the immune response; however, this summoned by many factors including general health status of the person who fasts, lifestyle, and epidemiological circumstances.
The Impact of Missing Values on PLS, ML and FIML Model Fit

Structural equation modelling has become widespread in the marketing research domain due to the possibility of creating and investigating latent constructs. Today, several estimation methods are available, each with strengths and drawbacks. This study investigates how the established estimation methods of partial-least-squares (PLS), maximum likelihood (ML) and full-information maximum likelihood (FIML) perform with an increasing percentage of missing values (MVs). The research was conducted by investigating an adapted model of the European customer satisfaction index (ECSI). MVs were randomly generated with an algorithm. The performance of PLS, ML and FIML was tested with eight data sets that contained between 2.22% and 27.78% randomly generated MVs. It was shown that ML performs relatively poorly if the percentage of MVs exceeds 7%, while PLS performs satisfactorily if the percentage of MVs does not exceed 9%. FIML was shown to be mostly stable up to 17% MVs.
Controls on Physical and Chemical Denudation in a Mixed Carbonate‐Siliciclastic Orogen

Mixed siliciclastic‐carbonate active orogens are common on Earth's surface, yet most studies have focused on erosion and weathering in silicate‐rich landscapes. Relative to purely siliciclastic landscapes, the response of erosion and weathering to uplift may differ in mixed‐lithology regions. However, our knowledge of weathering and erosion in mixed carbonate‐silicate lithologies is limited and, thus, so is our understanding of the mechanistic coupling between uplift, weathering, and the carbon cycle. Here, we partition denudation fluxes into erosion and weathering fluxes of carbonates and silicates in the Northern Apennines—a mixed carbonate‐siliciclastic active orogen—using dissolved solutes, the carbonate sand fraction, and existing 10Be denudation rates. Erosion generally dominates total denudation fluxes relative to weathering by an order of magnitude. Carbonate and silicate contributions to erosion vary between lithologic units, but weathering fluxes are systematically dominated by carbonates. Silicate weathering may be kinetically limited, whereas carbonate weathering may be limited by acid supply. Carbonate re‐precipitation estimated by comparing ion ratios (Sr, Ca, Na) from rivers and bedrock suggests that up to 90% of dissolved Ca2+ is lost from carbonate‐rich catchments. Corresponding [Ca2+] estimates for the weathering zone are high, likely driven by high soil CO2 partial pressures (pCO2); however, re‐equilibration with atmospheric pCO2 in rivers converts solutes back into grains that become part of the physical denudation flux. Weathering limits in this landscape therefore differ between the subsurface weathering zone and riverine exports, and our findings suggest that carbon cycle models may overestimate the sensitivity to erosion of solute exports (Ca2+ and HCO3−) derived from carbonate weathering.