Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Current View on Dual-Task Paradigms and Their Limitations to Capture Cognitive Load

Dual-task paradigms encompass a broad range of approaches to measure cognitive load in instructional settings. As a common characteristic, an additional task is implemented alongside a learning task to capture the individual’s unengaged cognitive capacities during the learning process. Measures to determine these capacities are, for instance, reaction times and interval errors on the additional task, while the performance on the learning task is to be maintained. Opposite to retrospectively applied subjective ratings, the continuous assessment within a dual-task paradigm allows to simultaneously monitor changes in the performance related to previously defined tasks. Following the Cognitive Load Theory, these changes in performance correspond to cognitive changes related to the establishment of permanently existing knowledge structures. Yet the current state of research indicates a clear lack of standardization of dual-task paradigms over study settings and task procedures. Typically, dual-task designs are adapted uniquely for each study, albeit with some similarities across different settings and task procedures. These similarities range from the type of modality to the frequency used for the additional task. This results in a lack of validity and comparability between studies due to arbitrarily chosen patterns of frequency without a sound scientific base, potentially confounding variables, or undecided adaptation potentials for future studies. In this paper, the lack of validity and comparability between dual-task settings will be presented, the current taxonomies compared and the future steps for a better standardization and implementation discussed.
Results of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Correlate With Treatment Outcome in Canine Neoplasia Treated With Electrochemotherapy and Interleukin-12 Plasmid Electrotransfer

Electrochemotherapy (ECT) and/or gene electrotransfer of plasmid DNA encoding interleukin-12 (GET pIL-12) are effective treatments for canine cutaneous, subcutaneous, and maxillofacial tumors. Despite the clinical efficacy of the combined treatments of ECT and GET, data on parameters that might predict the outcome of the treatments are still lacking. This study aimed to investigate whether dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US) results of subcutaneous tumors differ between tumors with complete response (CR) and tumors without complete response (non-CR) in dogs treated with ECT and GET pIL-12. Eight dogs with a total of 12 tumor nodules treated with ECT and GET pIL-12 were included. DCE-US examinations were performed in all animals before and immediately after therapy as well as 8 h and 1, 3, and 7 days later. Clinical follow-up examinations were performed 7 and 14 days, 1 and 6 months, and 1 year after treatment. Numerous significant differences in DCE-US parameters were noted between tumors with CR and non-CR tumors; perfusion and perfusion heterogeneity were lower in CR tumors than in non-CR tumors. Therefore, studies with larger numbers of patients are needed to investigate whether DCE-US results can be used to predict treatment outcomes and to make effective decisions about the need for repeated therapy or different treatment combinations in individual patients.
Complement-Opsonized HIV Modulates Pathways Involved in Infection of Cervical Mucosal Tissues: A Transcriptomic and Proteomic Study

Genital mucosal transmission is the most common route of HIV spread. The initial responses triggered at the site of viral entry are reportedly affected by host factors, especially complement components present at the site, and this will have profound consequences on the outcome and pathogenesis of HIV infection. We studied the initial events associated with host-pathogen interactions by exposing cervical biopsies to free or complement-opsonized HIV. Opsonization resulted in higher rates of HIV acquisition/infection in mucosal tissues and emigrating dendritic cells. Transcriptomic and proteomic data showed a significantly more pathways and higher expression of genes and proteins associated with viral replication and pathways involved in different aspects of viral infection including interferon signaling, cytokine profile and dendritic cell maturation for the opsonized HIV. Moreover, the proteomics data indicate a general suppression by the HIV exposure. This clearly suggests that HIV opsonization alters the initial signaling pathways in the cervical mucosa in a manner that promotes viral establishment and infection. Our findings provide a foundation for further studies of the role these early HIV induced events play in HIV pathogenesis.
The “Glymphatic-Lymphatic System Pathology” and a New Categorization of Neurodegenerative Disorders

Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy, Neurosurgical Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy, University of Florence, Florence, Italy, Neurosurgical Unit, Cardinale Panico Hospital, Lecce, Italy, Department of Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
Position Validation of the Dwarfing Gene Dw6 in Oat (Avena sativa L.) and Its Correlated Effects on Agronomic Traits

An F6:8 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross between WAOAT2132 (Dw6) and Caracas along with the two parents were used to evaluate the genetic effects of Dw6 dwarfing gene on plant height and other agronomic traits in oat (Avena sativa L.) across three environments, and develop closely linked markers for marker-assisted selection (MAS) for Dw6. The two parents differed in all investigated agronomic traits except for the number of whorls. The RIL lines showed a bimodal distribution for plant height in all three tested environments, supporting the height of this population was controlled by a single gene. Dw6 significantly reduced plant height (37.66∼44.29%) and panicle length (13.99∼22.10%) but without compromising the coleoptile length which was often positively associated with the reduced stature caused by dwarfing genes. Dw6 has also strong negative effects on hundred kernel weight (14.00∼29.55%), and kernel length (4.21∼9.47%), whereas the effects of Dw6 on the kernel width were not uniform across three environments. By contrast, lines with Dw6 produced more productive tillers (10.11∼10.53%) than lines without Dw6. All these together suggested the potential yield penalty associated with Dw6 might be partially due to the decrease of kernel weight which is attributed largely to the reduction of kernel length. Eighty-one simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer pairs from chromosome 6D were tested, five of them were polymorphic in two parents and in two contrasting bulks, confirming the 6D location of Dw6. By using the five polymorphic markers, Dw6 was mapped to an interval of 1.0 cM flanked by markers SSR83 and SSR120. Caution should be applied in using this information since maker order conflicts were observed. The close linkages of these two markers to Dw6 were further validated in a range of oat lines. The newly developed markers will provide a solid basis for future efforts both in the identification of Dw6 in oat germplasm and in the determination of the nature of the gene through positional cloning.
Ribosomal Protein L13 Participates in Innate Immune Response Induced by Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus

In addition to ribosomal protein synthesis and protein translation, ribosomal proteins also participate in tumorigenesis and tumor progression, immune responses, and viral replication. Here, we show that ribosomal protein L13 (RPL13) participates in the antiviral immune response induced by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), inhibiting FMDV replication. The overexpression of RPL13 promoted the induction and activation of the promoters of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and interferon-β (IFN-β) genes, and the expression and protein secretion of the antiviral factor IFN-β and proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). The knockdown of RPL13 had the opposite effects. We also found that the FMDV 3Cpro protease interacts with RPL13, and that its activity reduces the expression of RPL13, thus antagonizing the RPL13-mediated antiviral activity. This study extends our knowledge of the extraribosomal functions of ribosomal proteins and provides new scientific information on cellular antiviral defenses and virus-antagonizing mechanisms.
A Systematic Review of MRI Neuroimaging for Education Research

This study aims to disclose how the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) neuroimaging approach has been applied in education studies, and what kind of learning themes has been investigated in the reviewed MRI neuroimaging research. Based on the keywords “brain or neuroimaging or neuroscience” and “MRI or diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) or white matter or gray matter or resting-state,” a total of 25 papers were selected from the subject areas “Educational Psychology” and “Education and Educational Research” from the Web of Science and Scopus from 2000 to 2019. Content analysis showed that MRI neuroimaging and learning were studied under the following three major topics and nine subtopics: cognitive function (language, creativity, music, physical activity), science education (mathematical learning, biology learning, physics learning), and brain development (parenting, personality development). As for the type of MRI neuroimaging research, the most frequently used approaches were functional MRI, followed by structural MRI and DTI, although the choice of approach was often motivated by the specific research question. Research development trends show that the neural plasticity theme has become more prominent recently. This study concludes that in educational research, the MRI neuroimaging approach provides objective and empirical evidence to connect learning processes, outcomes, and brain mechanisms.
Osteosarcopenia in Very Old Age Adults After Hip Fracture: A Real-World Therapeutic Standpoint

Loss of bone and muscle mass and strength (i. e., osteosarcopenia) is a highly prevalent clinical condition in older adults, associated with an increased risk of fragility fractures and unfavorable clinical outcomes. Although sarcopenia is a potential risk factor for osteoporosis and subsequent fracture, and the management of this hazardous duet is the key to preventing osteoporotic fracture, evidence pertaining to the treatment of sarcopenia for the purpose of preventing fragile fractures remains insufficient. Given this scenario we aimed at prospectively compare the long-term effectiveness of bisphosphonates vs. denosumab, on bone and muscle, in a cohort of old age hip fractured patients by virtue of a timely osteo-metabolic and sarcopenic assessment. Ninety-eight patients consecutively enrolled at the IRCCS Hospital San martino, Genoa, Italy, received at baseline comprehensive geriatric assessment and Bone Densitometry (DXA) with the quantitative and quantitative bone analysis and evaluation of relative skeletal muscle index (RSMI) and longitudinally after 1 year form hip surgery. The results showed a slightly and non-significant osteo-metabolic improvement in the Alendronate group compared to the Denosumab group, and a positive trend of RSMI measurements in the Denosumab group. Although preliminary in nature, this is the first report to longitudinally analyze osteosarcopenia in a real-world cohort of very old age patients after hip fracture and moved a step forward in the understanding of the best osteo-metabolic therapy for long- term treatment, exploring as well the potential dual role of denousumab as antiresorptive and muscle strength specific drug for osteosarcopenia in this vulnerable population.
Navigating Hereditary Hearing Loss: Pathology of the Inner Ear

Inherited forms of deafness account for a sizable portion of hearing loss among children and adult populations. Many patients with sensorineural deficits have pathological manifestations in the peripheral auditory system, the inner ear. Within the hearing organ, the cochlea, most of the genetic forms of hearing loss involve defects in sensory detection and to some extent, signaling to the brain via the auditory cranial nerve. This review focuses on peripheral forms of hereditary hearing loss and how these impairments can be studied in diverse animal models or patient-derived cells with the ultimate goal of using the knowledge gained to understand the underlying biology and treat hearing loss.
Safranal Alleviated OVA-Induced Asthma Model and Inhibits Mast Cell Activation

Introduction Asthma is a chronic and recurring airway disease, which related to mast cell activation. Many compounds derived from Chinese herbal medicine has promising effects on stabilizing mast cells and decreasing inflammatory mediator production. Safranal, one of the active compounds from Crocus sativus, shows many anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we evaluated the effect of safranal in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model. Furthermore, we investigate the effectiveness of safranal on stabilizing mast cell and inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators in passive systemic anaphylaxis (PSA) model. Methods OVA-induced asthma and PSA model were used to evaluate the effect of safranal in vivo. Lung tissues were collected for H&E, TB, IHC, and PAS staining. ELISA were used to determine level of IgE and chemokines (IL-4, IL-5, TNF-α, and IFN-γ). RNA sequencing was used to uncovers genes that safranal regulate. Bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) were used to investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of safranal. Cytokine production (IL-6, TNF-α, and LTC4) and NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathway were assessed. Results Safranal reduced the level of serum IgE, the number of mast cells in lung tissue were decreased and Th1/Th2 cytokine levels were normalized in OVA-induced asthma model. Furthermore, safranal inhibited BMMCs degranulation and inhibited the production of LTC4, IL-6, and TNF-α. Safranal inhibits NF-κB and MAPKs pathway protein phosphorylation and decreases NF-κB p65, AP-1 nuclear translocation. In the PSA model, safranal reduced the levels of histamine and LTC4 in serum. Conclusions Safranal alleviates OVA-induced asthma, inhibits mast cell activation and PSA reaction. The possible mechanism occurs through the inhibition of the MAPKs and NF-κB pathways.
CAT-CAD: A Computer-Aided Diagnosis Tool for Cataplexy

Narcolepsy with cataplexy is a severe lifelong disorder characterized, among others, by sudden loss of bilateral face muscle tone triggered by emotions (cataplexy). A recent approach for the diagnosis of the disease is based on a completely manual analysis of video recordings of patients undergoing emotional stimulation made on-site by medical specialists, looking for specific facial behavior motor phenomena. We present here the CAT-CAD tool for automatic detection of cataplexy symptoms, with the double aim of (1) supporting neurologists in the diagnosis/monitoring of the disease and (2) facilitating the experience of patients, allowing them to conduct video recordings at home. CAT-CAD includes a front-end medical interface (for the playback/inspection of patient recordings and the retrieval of videos relevant to the one currently played) and a back-end AI-based video analyzer (able to automatically detect the presence of disease symptoms in the patient recording). Analysis of patients’ videos for discovering disease symptoms is based on the detection of facial landmarks, and an alternative implementation of the video analyzer, exploiting deep-learning techniques, is introduced. Performance of both approaches is experimentally evaluated using a benchmark of real patients’ recordings, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed solutions.
How an array of discrete resonators, coupled by fluid, can reproduce the dynamics of click-evoked otoacoustic emissions.

This paper describes a basic representation of cochlear mechanics. To represent the cochlear partition, we begin with an array of discrete tuned resonators, immersed in fluid. The resonators are stimulated by an impulse from another resonator, which is taken to be the middle ear. A “state space” representation of the classic transmission line model is used to describe the multiple fluid-borne interactions which take place between all the resonators. The overall response seen at the middle ear looks remarkably similar to a click-evoked otoacoustic emission (CEOAE) if the place–frequency map of the cochlea contains tuning irregularities. The paper describes, step by step, how the CEOAEs are generated. We show that impulse responses from each oscillator are transported back to the ear canal, and that these responses add up to create a standing wave pattern in the fluid pressure. This standing wave is the sum of waves repeatedly travelling back and forth between an irregularity and oscillator 1. If only one irregularity is present, the impulse response of oscillator 1 (the “stimulus”) is followed by a weak single oscillation, with the characteristics of a “gammachirp”. If irregularities are present all along the cochlear partition, many gammachirps add up to produce a signal with similar characteristics as a CEOAE measured in a normal hearing ear. The model therefore describes the generation of click-evoked otoacoustic emissions.
Tumor-tumor Cell Fusion Hybrids Obtained by the Modified PHA-DMSO-PEG Method Promote Temozolomide Resistance in Glioma

Background: Cell fusion and the subsequent aneuploidy are commonly observed in different kinds of tumor. In glioma, cell fusion and the number of the polyploid giant cells were found to be augmented with the tumor grades (WHO Ⅰ-Ⅳ) and closely related to poor prognosis. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) holds an ability to induce cell-cell membrane contact and accelerates the cell fusion process mediated by the fusogenic agent polyethylene glycol (PEG). Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is well known as a cryoprotective agent involving in cell cryopreservation. In this study, we aim to obtain the glioma fusion hybrids by the modified fusion method in vitro, and then investigate the pathological consequences and the related molecular mechanism with the cell hybrids.Methods: Glioma cells were labelled by lentiviruses infection. The PEG fusion efficiency was respectively improved by the addition of PHA and DMSO, and quantified by flow cytometry. Then, fusion hybrids were obtained by puromycin screening and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Furthermore, DNA content was analyzed through flow cytometry. Cell proliferation rate and cell viability under temozolomide (TMZ) was detected by CCK-8 assay. Lastly, the related gene expression was measured through qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: Glioma cell-cell contact was achieved by adding certain concentration of PHA in vitro. Tumor-tumor cell fusion efficiency was improved by PHA and DMSO. Glioma fusion hybrids were successfully obtained after puromycin screening and FACS. Cell size, DNA content and chromosome numbers of the fusion hybrids were almost twice that of the parental glioma cells. Moreover, glioma fusion hybrids showed an enhanced TMZ resistance potential compared to the parental cells, and also the MGMT expression was up-regulated in the hybrids.Conclusions: We successfully obtained the glioma tumor-tumor cell fusion hybrids through the modified PHA-DMSO-PEG fusion method. Cell fusion may contribute to TMZ resistance in glioma, thus inhibition of cell fusion could be a promising orientation to improve TMZ resistance. Moreover, combining TMZ and MGMT inhibitor could be a beneficial approach in patients with glioma polyploid giant cells.
Nutrient intake, digestibility and rumen fermentation characteristics of sheep fed on selected forage sweet potato cultivars

ABSTRACT Selected forage sweet potato cultivars (Ipomoea batatas Lam) have superior forage characteristics, have high rates of regeneration after harvest, are able to smother weeds and can tolerate diseases and moisture stress. However, little information is documented on their feeding value. The study objective was to determine nutrient intake, digestibility and rumen fermentation characteristics of sheep fed on four selected forage sweet potato cultivars (K158, Marooko, Mugande and Wagabolige). Cultivars did not influence intake of dry matter (DM) (93.8–98.1), organic matter (OM) (82.0–85.6), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (37.6–38.8 g/kg W0.75) and metabolizable energy (0.94–0.99 MJ/kg W0.75); digestibility of DM (740.3–744.1) and OM (747.0–751.7 g/kg DM) and intake of digestible DM (69.8–72.6) and OM (61.3–64.4 g per kg W0.75); rumen pH (6.80–6.86), molar percentages of acetate (68.34–69.59), propionate (21.35–22.58), butyrate (7.43–7.57) and acetate to propionate ratio (3.03–3.20). Cultivars influenced intake of crude protein (CP) (10.7–16.9) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) (25.9–28.5 g/kg W0.75). Digestibility of CP (655.7–821.1), NDF (594.1–712.8) and ADF (477.0–483.7 g/kg DM); intake of digestible CP (7.0–13.9) and NDF (22.4–27.7 g per kg W0.75) were also influenced by cultivar. CP and NDF digestibility differed among all four cultivars with Morooko and K158 having the highest CP and NDF digestibility, respectively. Sheep fed on K158 and Wagabolige ingested similar quantities of digestible CP (11.6–11.8 g per kg W0.75), which was lower than in Marooko (13.9 g per kg W0.75). The four cultivars provided superior feeds to sheep which classify them as high quality forages. Hence they have the potential to improve livestock production in Kenya.
A 4-to-1 240 Gb/s PAM-4 MUX with a 7-tap Mixed-Signal FFE in 55nm BiCMOS

Next generation high-speed wireline and optical communications will target single lane data rates over 200Gb/s. For this, the generation and transmission of $\gt100$ Gbaud PAM-4 is a key step. Recent transmitters in advanced CMOS and FinFET nodes [1,2] provide extensive transmit-side FFE capabilities at respectively 64 and 56Gbaud. Speed limitations in these technologies will make the transition to $\gt100$ Gbaud a challenge. Alternatively, InP-based multiplexers like [3] manage to reach $\gt100$ Gbaud easily. They also offer the possibility to create high-swing output drivers, necessary to efficiently drive optical modulators. However, InP solutions lack the ability to introduce more complex equalization of the signal. BiCMOS based transmitters like in [4], enable the integration of more complex circuits with respect to InP technologies, are capable to deliver high signal swings required for optical drivers and promise increased bandwidth compared to CMOS/FinFET. This paper presents a 120Gbaud PAM-4 TX incorporating a 7-tap FFE in a 55nm BiCMOS technology. The advantage of the presented FFE architecture is the efficient use of both digital and analog delay structures to obtain $\gt100$ Gbaud operation with a large amount of filter taps in a compact configuration.