Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effectiveness of Targeted Electrical Stimulation via Cochlear Implant on Tinnitus-Perceived Loudness

Introduction The cause of tinnitus improvement in cochlear implant (CI) users is not understood. On the basis that a spatially limited dysfunction in the auditory pathway could cause tinnitus, we used single-channel stimulation to evaluate any variation of tinnitus-perceived loudness and identify the cochlear regions involved. Materials and Methods It was an observational prospective case-crossover study. After the first mapping, 21 adults with unilateral CI and chronic tinnitus expressed their tinnitus loudness based on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score (0–10) at baseline (L0), during a 10 s single-channel stimulation with C-level of electric current (L1) and 30 min after CI activation (L2). Tinnitus reduction [RT = (L0 – L1) × 100/L0] > 50% was considered significant. VAS outcomes were compared between baseline (L0) and (each) single-channel stimulation (L1) to find the channel with the greatest RT (suppressive channel-SC), whose frequency range revealed the cochlear region involved. Seven patients with asymmetric hearing loss underwent the pitch-matching test to identify the actual frequency evoked by the SC. We compared selective (L1) and non-selective (L2) intracochlear stimulation using paired t-test. Preoperative Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score was compared with those at 1, 6, and 12 months with paired t-tests to evaluate long-term tinnitus perception. Results We observed a significant reduction of tinnitus loudness during the experimental procedure [L0 (6.4 ± 2.4) vs. L1 (1.7 ± 2.7), p = 0.003]. A total of 15/21 patients (71.4%) had a significant (RT > 50%) and selective improvement, reporting a mean L1 of 0.4 ± 2.0 (p = 0.0001). In 10/15 (66.6%) patients, the SC was in the apical turn, within 1,000 Hz; in 5/15 patients (33.4%) within 4,000 Hz. The cochlear region 125–313 Hz was the most affected by tinnitus improvement (p = 0.0074). Targeted stimulation was more effective than non-selective stimulation [L1 vs. L2 (4.3 ± 2.5), p = 0.0022]. In 3/7 patients, the perceived pitch did not fall within the SC frequency ranges. All patients with selective attenuation described tinnitus as monotone. Patients with non-selective attenuation had polyphonic tinnitus and better THI results after 1 year. Conclusion Targeted intracochlear electrical stimulation improved chronic tinnitus perception, especially in monotone tinnitus, and the apical region was mainly involved. Our results provide new insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of tinnitus and targets for innovative therapeutic strategies.
Replacement of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum Populations in an Endemic Focus of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Brazil

Visceral leishmaniasis is an important global health problem with an estimated of 50,000 to 90,000 new cases per year. VL is the most serious form of leishmaniasis as it can be fatal in 95% of the cases if it remains untreated. VL is a particularly acute problem in Brazil which contributed with 97% of all cases reported in 2020 in the Americas. In this country, VL affects mainly the poorest people in both urban and rural areas and continues to have a high mortality rate estimated around 8.15%. Here, we performed a temporal parasite population study using whole genome sequence data from a set of 34 canine isolates sampled in 2008, 2012 and 2015 from a re-emergent focus in Southeastern Brazil. Our study found the presence of two distinct sexual subpopulations that corresponded to two isolation periods. These subpopulations diverged hundreds of years ago with no apparent gene flow between them suggesting a process of rapid replacement during a two-year period. Sequence comparisons and analysis of nucleotide diversity also showed evidence of balancing selection acting on transport-related genes and antigenic families. To our knowledge this is the first population genomic study showing a turn-over of parasite populations in an endemic region for leishmaniasis. The complexity and rapid adaptability of these parasites pose new challenges to control activities and demand more integrated approaches to understand this disease in New World foci.
Ozone Impact on Emission of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds in Three Tropical Tree Species From the Atlantic Forest Remnants in Southeast Brazil

Plants emit a broad number of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOCs) that can impact urban ozone (O3) production. Conversely, the O3 is a phytotoxic pollutant that causes unknown alterations in BVOC emissions from native plants. In this sense, here, we characterized the constitutive and O3-induced BVOCs for two (2dO3) and four (4dO3) days of exposure (O3 dose 80 ppb) and evaluated the O3 response by histochemical techniques to detect programmed cell death (PCD) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in three Brazilian native species. Croton floribundus Spreng, Astronium graveolens Jacq, and Piptadenia gonoacantha (Mart.) JF Macbr, from different groups of ecological succession (acquisitive and conservative), different carbon-saving defense strategies, and specific BVOC emissions. The three species emitted a very diverse BVOC composition: monoterpenes (MON), sesquiterpenes (SEQ), green leaf volatiles (GLV), and other compounds (OTC). C. floribundus is more acquisitive than A. graveolens. Their most representative BVOCs were methyl salicylate—MeSA (OTC), (Z) 3-hexenal, and (E)-2-hexenal (GLV), γ-elemene and (−)-β-bourbonene (SEQ) β-phellandrene and D-limonene (MON), while in A. graveolens were nonanal and decanal (OTC), and α-pinene (MON). Piptadenia gonoachanta is more conservative, and the BVOC blend was limited to MeSA (OTC), (E)-2-hexenal (GLV), and β-Phellandrene (MON). The O3 affected BVOCs and histochemical traits of the three species in different ways. Croton floribundus was the most O3 tolerant species and considered as an SEQ emitter. It efficiently reacted to O3 stress after 2dO3, verified by a high alteration of BVOC emission, the emergence of the compounds such as α-Ionone and trans-ß-Ionone, and the absence of H2O2 detection. On the contrary, A. graveolens, a MON-emitter, was affected by 2dO3 and 4dO3, showing increasing emissions of α-pinene and β-myrcene, (MON), γ-muurolene and β-cadinene (SEQ) and H2O2 accumulation. Piptadenia gonoachanta was the most sensitive and did not respond to BVOCs emission, but PCD and H2O2 were highly evidenced. Our results indicate that the BVOC blend emission, combined with histochemical observations, is a powerful tool to confirm the species’ tolerance to O3. Furthermore, our findings suggest that BVOC emission is a trade-off associated with different resource strategies of species indicated by the changes in the quality and quantity of BVOC emission for each species.
Theoretical modeling of strain in the single screw feeder of cassava flash dryer

The aim of this study is to model screw feeder unit to handle granulated wet cassava to the flash dryer column. The knowledge of the flow behavior, physical and mechanical properties, rheology of the product and the geometrical characteristics of feeders unit were essential to evaluate the best conditions of handling granulated cassava based on the theory of virtual works. The effect of granular media strain on the rotational speed which is limited to 2 rps corresponding to the elastic limit of 30% was studied. With the same strain limit, maximum screw length of 1300 mm and the maximum residence time of 100 s in the bin were identified as the best area used to design the screw feeder unit and conduct the process operation. The modeling of the strain was based on the theory of virtual works or energies. Key words: Modeling, virtual works, strain, screw feeder, cassava.
Solar heat driven water circulation and aeration system for aquaculture

The proposed design concept of water aeration and updraft circulation in aquaculture is based on the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology and uses a solar energy absorbed by a floating collector. The pressure required for the aerator is created by evaporating a working fluid and optimized for an average depth of a pond. The working pressure is defined by the maximum achievable temperature of the working fluid. The condensing heat is rejected at a certain depth with the lowest temperature and drives the convective circulation. A prototype is designed by using common materials and off-the-shelf components to ensure maintenance-free and proper capacity to fulfil the needs of an average or a small aquaculture farm: the working fluid in the working chamber evaporates increasing in volume and pumping air out of the vessel as well as the expanded working fluid in the second working chamber. The working fluid is cooled down in the condenser which is submerged into the pond and it is condensed while decreasing in volume. The new design can perform multiple cycles per day increasing the volume of pumped air. In order to make the operation of this unit possible during the night, a heat buffer with a phase changing material (PCM) is used. A parametric study of suitable working fluids and PCMs has been performed in order to select the most appropriate combination for the target applications.
Between othering and recognition: in search of transformative practice at the street level

ABSTRACT Critical social work scholars consider recognition a counterpractice to othering, but, empirical evidence of recognition as a contextualized and feasible challenge to othering in social services is scarce. This gap in the existing literature is significant in light of the operation of conservative and neo-managerial approaches known in the European context to enable othering while hindering critical practices. This article traces the implementation of the Poverty-Aware Paradigm in welfare agencies in Israel to qualitatively analyze the detailed ways in which 25 street-level social caseworkers navigated the tensions between othering and recognition. By showing how recognition operates at the discursive, relational, and institutional levels, the article expands the current articulation of recognition as solely relational. Its portrayal of recognition as posing a potential transformative challenge to othering contributes to its conceptualization as a contextualized challenge to neo-managerialism and to the feasible promotion of practice informed by social justice.
Investigation of Implantable Antennas for Exploratory Neuroscience Studies

In this paper we present a thorough and rigorous characterisation of the dielectric properties of rat skin tissue, including statistical processing. This data is used for a proof of concept study of the design, fabrication, and measurement of lightweight, flexible, and conformable microstrip patch antennas, to later enable improved chronic neuroscience research studies.
Prognostic Value and Biological Function of Galectins in Malignant Glioma

Malignant glioma is the most common solid tumor of the adult brain, with high lethality and poor prognosis. Hence, identifying novel and reliable biomarkers can be advantageous for diagnosing and treating glioma. Several galectins encoded by LGALS genes have recently been reported to participate in the development and progression of various tumors; however, their detailed role in glioma progression remains unclear. Herein, we analyzed the expression and survival curves of all LGALS across 2,217 patients with glioma using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), and Rembrandt databases. By performing multivariate Cox analysis, we built a survival model containing LGALS1, LGALS3, LGALS3BP, LGALS8, and LGALS9 using TCGA database. The prognostic power of this panel was assessed using CGGA and Rembrandt datasets. ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms confirmed that patients in high-risk groups exhibited significant stromal and immune cell infiltration, immunosuppression, mesenchymal subtype, and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) wild type. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), CancerSEA, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed that pathways related to hypoxia, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), stemness, and inflammation were enriched in the high-risk group. To further elucidate the function of LGALS in glioma, we performed immunohistochemical staining of tissue microarrays (TMAs), Western blotting, and cell viability, sphere formation, and limiting dilution assays following lentiviral short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated LGALS knockdown. We observed that LGALS expression was upregulated in gliomas at both protein and mRNA levels. LGALS could promote the stemness maintenance of glioma stem cells (GSCs) and positively correlate with M2-tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) infiltration. In conclusion, we established a reliable survival model for patients with glioma based on LGALS expression and revealed the essential roles of LGALS genes in tumor growth, immunosuppression, stemness maintenance, pro-neural to mesenchymal transition, and hypoxia in glioma.
Optimum Thermal Concentration of Solar Thermoelectric Generators (STEG) in Realistic Meteorological Condition

Global warming and air pollution concerns make renewable energies inevitable. Thermoelectric (TE) generators—solid-state devices which can convert thermal energy into electricity—are one of the candidates to capture the energy of the sun’s rays. Impact of high thermal on flat panel Solar Thermoelectric Generator (STEG) performance is known. In this research, a method to optimize thermal concentration in realistic terrestrial condition is introduced. To this end, a Simulink model of the STEG was developed, and module performance curves are determined. According to the results, Thermal concentration in realistic condition is more than double, compared to standard condition. The efficiency of the STEG was 4.5%, 6.8%, and 7.7% when the module figure of merit (ZT) was set to 0.8, 1.2, and 1.5, respectively, in locations with a higher ratio of diffused radiation (e.g., Aalborg and Denmark). These values corresponded to 70%, 106%, and 121% of the electrical power produced by parabolic troughs under the same meteorological condition. Furthermore, the possibility of controlling the ratio of heat and electricity in the cogeneration system is possible by controlling the heating flow or electric current. Heating flow can be controlled by the electrical current in STEG over 17 percent of its value in optimum condition.
Impact of Industrial Practices on the Microbial and Quality Attributes of Fresh Vacuum-Packed Lamb Joints

The impact of different industrial practices at lamb export abattoirs in Ireland on the microbial and quality attributes of fresh vacuum-packed (VP) lamb leg joints, including Clean Livestock Policy (CLP), fleece clipping, carcass chilling times and vacuum pack storage, at typical chill and retail display temperatures was investigated. Five separate slaughter batches of lamb (ranging in size from 38 to 60 lambs) were followed at two lamb export plants over a two-year period, accounting for seasonal variation. In general, fleece clipping resulted in significantly lower microbial contamination on the fleece than the use of CLP alone. Lamb from carcasses chilled for 24 h had significantly lower psychrophilic total viable counts and Brochothrix thermosphacta and pseudomonad counts than carcasses chilled for 72 h. Following vacuum-packed (VP) storage of meat from these carcasses at 1.7 ± 1.6 °C for 23 days in the meat plant followed by retail display at 3.9 ± 1.7 °C (up to day 50), the dominant microorganisms were lactic acid bacteria, Br. thermosphacta, Enterobacteriaceae and pseudomonads, and all had reached maximum population density by storage day 34. Aligned with this, after day 34, the quality of the raw meat samples also continued to deteriorate, with off-odours and colour changes developing. While the mean values for cooked meat eating quality attributes did not change significantly over the VP storage period, high variability in many attributes, including off-flavours and off-odours, were noted for lamb meat from all storage times, highlighting inconsistences in lamb quality within and between slaughter batches.
Thymomas With Intravascular and Intracardiac Growth

Thymomas are derived from the epithelial component of the thymus and constitute the most common tumor of the anterior mediastinum. These neoplasms are considered malignant for their potential for invasion and metastases. Several histopathologic subclassification schemes have been proposed over the years, however, correlation of histotypes with prognosis remains controversial. In contrast, studies invariably have shown that staging and resection status correlate with oncologic behavior and disease outcomes. In this regard, several staging systems have been presented, though transcapsular invasion and degree of involvement of adjacent anatomic structures are common denominators of all schemes. Involvement of the great vessels and heart most commonly results from direct invasion, which may lead to unusual clinical presentations such as superior vena cava syndrome. Moreover, intravascular and intracardiac growth with or without direct mural invasion rarely occurs. We provide an overview of thymomas with intravascular and intracardiac involvement.
Affordances and Barriers to Creating Educational Change: A Case Study of an Educational Innovation Implemented into a First-year Engineering Design Course

This evidence-based instructional-practice paper describes a case study of the implementation of an educational innovation into a multi-instructor, multi-section first-year design course in the College of Engineering at Penn State University. Although literature from education and psychology fields provides many examples of how to enhance student learning, adoption rates for evidence-based instructional practices have been fairly low among engineering faculty. Even when teaching and learning centers are able to facilitate the adoption of evidence-based practices, encouraging a large fraction of engineering faculty to make substantial changes in instruction remains very challenging. This paper describes an educational innovation adopted by the engineering design program and the results of a qualitative study focusing on the affordances and barriers that emerged during the change process. The findings show that affordances that supported change were related to flexibility, fit of the instructional methods with the course, meeting a perceived need, ease of use, and financial incentives offered by the college’s teaching and learning center. A sense of community yet autonomy also encouraged faculty to participate. Barriers included implementation ambiguity, time required to implement and to prepare, and a perceived lack of expertise in some of topics involved in the innovation such as ethics. Faculty resistance to change, the logistical concerns of the course, and characteristics of the university, as well as interpersonal dynamics also impacted the likelihood of adoption. The results are discussed in terms of implications for faculty developers and teaching and learning centers. Introduction and Literature Review In the past several decades, engineering education has seen a significant increase in the amount of research and funding dedicated to implementing instructional change to better enhance student learning. Funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation have invested substantial monetary resources into changing engineering education to better meet global and societal challenges. Abundant research has been conducted in the STEM education context supporting the efficacy of instructional practices such as active learning (e.g., Prince, 2003; Freeman et al., 2014). However, research has also shown that many engineering faculty members still teach in a traditional manner (i.e., Bender & Weimer, 2005; Borrego, Froyd, & Hall, 2010; Dancy & Henderson, 2008). In addition, many educational initiatives, funded or unfunded, often fail to be long-lasting or transformative. The paper examines affordances and barriers in a case study of an educational initiative implemented in a first-year design course, in order to identify elements that support instructional change as well as those elements that could be potential barriers to change. Studying this initiative, funded by a teaching and learning center, can provide insight on how various resources can best
Linear Stability Analysis of the Cahn–Hilliard Equation in Spinodal Region

We study a linear stability analysis for the Cahn–Hilliard (CH) equation at critical and off-critical compositions. The CH equation is solved by the linearly stabilized splitting scheme and the Fourier-spectral method. We define the analytic and numerical growth rates and compare these growth rates with respect to the different average levels. In this study, the linear stability analysis is conducted by classifying three average levels such as zero average, spinodal average, and near critical point levels of free energy function, in the one-dimensional (1D) space. The numerical results provide insight for the dynamics of CH equation at critical and off-critical compositions.
The effect of lactic acid bacteria addition on microbiota and occurrence of mycotoxins in rye silages

In the rye silages (control and with additive) microbiota isolation and identification (total count of bacteria, coliform bacteria, enterococci, lactic acid bacteria and microscopic filamentous fungi) and occurrence of mycotoxins were evaluated. Total count of bacteria on Plate count agar at 30 °C for 48-72 hours, coliform bacteria on McConkey agar at 37 °C for 24-48 hours, enterococci on Enterococcus selective agar at 37 °C for 48-72 hours, lactic acid bacteria on De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe agar, Mayeux, Sandine and Elliker and All Purpose TWEEN® agar 37 °C for 48-72 hours in microaerophilic condition and microscopic filamentous fungi on Malt extract agar at 25 °C for 7 days were evaluated and identified with mass spectrometry. The most isolated family from both types of silage was Lactobacillaceae . The most isolated species from the control group was Lentilactobacillus buchneri (22%) and lowest number of isolated species was Mucor spp. The most isolated species from silage with additive was Lactobacillus gasseri (16%). The ELISA method (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) with using reader at wavelength 650 nm for detection and quantification of mycotoxins (total aflatoxins, total ochratoxins, total fumonisins, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and T-2/HT-2 toxin) was used. The rye silages of control and with additive were characterized by occurrence of all analyzed mycotoxins, whereas deoxynivalenol was mycotoxin with the highest concentration. The rye silages with additive had significantly lower content of total aflatoxins compared to the control, while significantly higher concentration of total ochratoxins, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and T-2/HT-2 toxin was determined.
Repair of Iron Center Proteins—A Different Class of Hemerythrin-like Proteins

Repair of Iron Center proteins (RIC) form a family of di-iron proteins that are widely spread in the microbial world. RICs contain a binuclear nonheme iron site in a four-helix bundle fold, two basic features of hemerythrin-like proteins. In this work, we review the data on microbial RICs including how their genes are regulated and contribute to the survival of pathogenic bacteria. We gathered the currently available biochemical, spectroscopic and structural data on RICs with a particular focus on Escherichia coli RIC (also known as YtfE), which remains the best-studied protein with extensive biochemical characterization. Additionally, we present novel structural data for Escherichia coli YtfE harboring a di-manganese site and the protein’s affinity for this metal. The networking of protein interactions involving YtfE is also described and integrated into the proposed physiological role as an iron donor for reassembling of stress-damaged iron-sulfur centers.