Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Case for Humans-in-the-Loop: Decisions in the Presence of Misestimated Algorithmic Scores

The increased use of machine learning to assist with decision-making in high-stakes domains has been met with both enthusiasm and concern. One source of ongoing debate is the effect and value of decision makers’ discretionary power to override algorithmic recommendations. In this paper, we study the adoption of an algorithmic tool used to help with decisions in child maltreatment hotline screenings. By taking advantage of an implementation glitch, we investigate corrective overrides : whether decision makers are more likely to override algorithmic recommendations when the tool misestimates the risk score shown to call workers. We find that, after the deployment of the tool, decisions became better aligned with algorithmic assessments, but human adherence to the tool’s recommendation was less likely when the displayed score was misestimated as a result of the glitch. Then, analyzing the effect of adoption and overrides on racial and socioeconomic disparities, we find that the deployment of the tool did not affect disparities with respect to the pre-deployment period. We also observe that ∗ Indicates equal contribution. the disparities resulting from algorithmic-informed decisions were substantially smaller than those associated with the algorithm in isolation. Together, these results make a case for the value of humans in-the-loop, showing that in high-stakes contexts, human discretionary power can mitigate the risks of algorithmic errors and reduce disparities.
Nutrient Digestibility and Fecal Quality in Beagle Dogs Fed Meat and Bone Meal Added to Dry Food

Meat and bone meal (MBM) is one animal by-product used in pets. This study purposed to provide information on MBM including either coarsely (MBMc) or finely (MBMf) ground with regard to diet digestibility and fecal characteristics in dogs. Three different levels of MBM (6%, 12% and 24%) of each grinding form (MBM6, MBM12 and MBM24) were added to a basic diet. Six Beagle dogs (body weight 16.7 kg ± 0.42) participated in a Latin Square experiment. Each trial began with the animals adapting to the food for a five-day period, followed by five days of fecal collection. The feed particle size had no effect on the apparent digestibility of organic matter, crude protein and crude fat. The fecal score was significantly affected by the particle size × level interaction among treatments (p < 0.0001). It was noted that the different particle sizes or levels of MBM as main effects had no significant effect on the fecal fatty acid concentrations. These findings suggest that using coarse or fine grinding even including MBM up to 24% in dog diets does not affect the apparent digestibility of protein nor fecal quality negatively in our experimental study.
Fine arts for medical students: driving transformative debates

Introduction: Debating arts during graduation can be a creative way to develop new perceptions and perspectives for medical students. To promote activities that aim to create moments involving humanistic themes, simultaneously to technical medical knowledge, such as arts and physical activities in a playful setting, remains a challenge. A extracurricular Global Improvement Programme of Medical Students (GIPMS) of the University of Fortaleza was created on this context, and included meetings involving various artistic stimuli. Purpose: The objective of this paper is to evaluate if the contact with art during graduation in the context of GIPMS can generate perceptions, feelings and reflections to provide important debates. Methods: A prospective qualitative study was conducted including a total of 42 focal group sessions, which were recorded and fully transcribed. Each group was conducted by 2 mentors, and all 6 focal groups used standardized qualitative questionnaires each session, which were performed every 45 days. A thematic analysis of the transcripts was performed, confirmed with the QSR NVIVO software (version 11). Results: A total of 40 students (15 men and 25 women) participated in this one-year study. The categories found were: Artistic stimuli were able to make participants think (124 quotes), feel (78, 65 about positive feelings and 13 about negative ones) and remember (41). The following stood out: the influence of the time load of studies in the time dedicated to the arts and the reflections. (61); relationship between the arts and life and academic productivity (75); changes in attitudes provided by the proposed artistic stimuli (38 citations). Conclusions: The program was able to generate, in an innovative way, new perceptions of feelings, sensations and reflections, as well as to evoke memories that provided important debates, which, according to the students themselves, served as inspiration to change perspectives and attitudes and provided subjective benefits in academic life.
Optimizing Safety Stock Levels in Modular Production Systems Using Component Commonality and Group Technology Philosophy: A Study Based on Simulation

Modular production and component commonality are two widely used strategies in the manufacturing industry to meet customers growing needs for customized products. Using these strategies, companies can enhance their performance to achieve optimal safety stock levels. Despite the importance of safety stocks in business competition, little attention has been paid to the way to reduce them without affecting the customer service levels. This paper develops a mathematical model to reduce safety stock levels in organizations that employ modular production. To construct the model, we take advantage of the benefits of aggregate inventories, standardization of components, component commonality, and Group Technology philosophy in regard to stock levels. The model is tested through the simulation of three years of operation of two modular product systems. For each system, we calculated and compared the safety stock levels for two cases: ( ) under the only presence of component commonality and ( ) under the presence of both component commonality and Group Technology philosophy. The results show a reduction in safety stock levels when we linked the component commonality with the Group Technology philosophy. The paper presents a discussion of the implications of each case, features of the model, and suggestions for future research.
Lactobacillus salivarius CML352 Isolated from Chinese Local Breed Chicken Modulates the Gut Microbiota and Improves Intestinal Health and Egg Quality in Late-Phase Laying Hens

Lactobacillus strains with fine probiotic properties are continuously needed in the laying hen industry to improve the animals’ gut health and production performance. In this study, we isolated 57 Lactobacillus strains from the gut microbiota of 17 different chicken breeds in China. We characterized the probiotic features of these isolates, and evaluated the effects of a selected strain, Lactobacillus salivarius CML352, on the production performance and gut health of the late-phase laying hens. The results showed that the isolates varied much in probiotic properties, among which L. salivarius CML352 displayed high acid and bile salt tolerance, high hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation, and antibacterial activities. Whole genome sequencing analysis showed that CML352 was closely related to a strain isolated from human fecal samples, but had different functional potentials. Dietary supplementary of L. salivarius CML352 significantly reduced the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, increased the expression of Muc-2, and decreased the expression of MyD88, IFN-γ, and TLR-4. Furthermore, strain CML352 reduced the birds’ abdominal fat deposition, and improved egg quality. Taken together, this study indicated that the newly isolated L. salivarius strain might be a worthy probiotic with positive impacts on the intestinal health and production performance of late-phase laying hens.
A proposal of optimal sampling design using a modularity strategy

In real water distribution networks (WDNs) are present thousands nodes and optimal placement of pressure and flow observations is a relevant issue for different management tasks. The planning of pressure observations in terms of spatial distribution and number is named sampling design and it was faced considering model calibration. Nowadays, the design of system monitoring is a relevant issue for water utilities e.g., in order to manage background leakages, to detect anomalies and bursts, to guarantee service quality, etc. In recent years, the optimal location of flow observations related to design of optimal district metering areas (DMAs) and leakage management purposes has been faced considering optimal network segmentation and the modularity index using a multiobjective strategy. Optimal network segmentation is the basis to identify network modules by means of optimal conceptual cuts, which are the candidate locations of closed gates or flow meters creating the DMAs. Starting from the WDN‐oriented modularity index, as a metric for WDN segmentation, this paper proposes a new way to perform the sampling design, i.e., the optimal location of pressure meters, using newly developed sampling‐oriented modularity index. The strategy optimizes the pressure monitoring system mainly based on network topology and weights assigned to pipes according to the specific technical tasks. A multiobjective optimization minimizes the cost of pressure meters while maximizing the sampling‐oriented modularity index. The methodology is presented and discussed using the Apulian and Exnet networks.
Anatomical characteristics of Prunus domestica vascular tissue and their implications for selection programmes

Knowledge of varieties’ morphological and anatomical characteristics could assist in cultivar selection aimed at higher production, better fruit quality and lower orchard maintenance costs. The aim of the study was to evaluate anatomical characteristics of vascular tissue of shoots, petioles and leaf main veins of plum (Prunus domestica L.) cultivars with a particular emphasis on xylem and vessel hydraulic properties. The results singled out the cultivars with the most desirable combination of anatomical characters in terms of moderate vegetative growth, high yield and good fruit quality (‘Toptaste’ followed by ‘Čačanska lepotica’). A possible application of xylem parameters as preselection criteria in early vegetative period was evaluated, and the link between anatomical properties, tree vigour, cropping potential and fruit quality was discussed. Anatomical traits, especially vessel lumen area, vessel frequency and distribution of vessels in size classes, affect vegetative growth as well as fruit production and quality, since they jointly affect water conductivity and vulnerability to cavitation and drought. Lower shoot vessel lumen values and more numerous small-sized vessels indicated lower vegetative growth, whilst higher vessel lumen values in petiole and lamina induced better lamina photosynthetic tissue water supply, which increased productivity and fruit quality parameters. Obtaining information about the key anatomical traits at early vegetative stage could help breeders to predict the ultimate tree vigour.
A Perspective for Ménière’s Disease: In Silico Investigations of Dexamethasone as a Direct Modulator of AQP2

Ménière’s disease is a chronic illness characterized by intermittent episodes of vertigo associated with fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus and aural pressure. This pathology strongly correlates with a dilatation of the fluid compartment of the endolymph, so-called hydrops. Dexamethasone is one of the therapeutic approaches recommended when conventional antivertigo treatments have failed. Several mechanisms of actions have been hypothesized for the mode of action of dexamethasone, such as the anti-inflammatory effect or as a regulator of inner ear water homeostasis. However, none of them have been experimentally confirmed so far. Aquaporins (AQPs) are transmembrane water channels and are hence central in the regulation of transcellular water fluxes. In the present study, we investigated the hypothesis that dexamethasone could impact water fluxes in the inner ear by targeting AQP2. We addressed this question through molecular dynamics simulations approaches and managed to demonstrate a direct interaction between AQP2 and dexamethasone and its significant impact on the channel water permeability. Through compartmentalization of sodium and potassium ions, a significant effect of Na+ upon AQP2 water permeability was highlighted as well. The molecular mechanisms involved in dexamethasone binding and in its regulatory action upon AQP2 function are described.
SCAN SEGMENTED STUMPS ARCHITECTURE FOR LOW POWER

Built-In-Self-Test is one of the technique for test power reduction that uses a scan segmented chains in a CUT the goal of this technique is to minimize the power consumption during test mode. One of the DFT technique is to design a circuit so that the circuit can test itself is called BIST which eliminates the need for external ATE. BIST architectures may results in increased test power and reduced fault coverage. This paper proposes a new test power reduction technique for BIST. The idea is to reduce the number of shift cycles required to test the CUT by dividing the scan chain into number of segments and only two segments will be triggered at a time. The BIST environment is implemented by taking S15850 benchmark circuit as CUT and it achieved 21% reduction in test power.
Interactions at Interface between Nanomaterial’s and Biofilm: A General Survey

A biofilm is a consortium that exhibits three dimensions, syntrophic, and physiologically active-matrix. It displays a successful critical interdependency amongst producers and consumers. This association promotes microbial adherence, growth, antimicrobial resistance, and a high degree of persistence. The microbial cells are residing in the slimy extracellular medium consisting of polymeric polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids. The resident microbes adhere, float, or swim in the biofilm. This matrix can develop on non-living and living, including natural, industrial, or biomedical devices. The parameters such as cellular recognition, suitable attachment sites, nutritional signals, nature of earlier colonizers, etc., play a significant role in the formation of biofilm. This matrix is the most appropriate location to sustain a colony of microbes. Changes occurring in the ambient environment of biofilm enhance its development. The chemotherapeutic drugs or any other agents, like nanomaterials, have to overcome all these structural and functional aspects of biofilm to secure or cause the damage, as per the target. Commonly, a biofilm develops in an oral cavity, pulmonary system, in the form of cystic fibrosis, etc. Biofilms are also effective in causing pathogenesis in economically important plants and play an important significant role in geochemical cycles. The vast impacts of biofilms on plants are known phenomena but the concerning mechanism is still obscure. This review is an effort to understand the informative lacunae existing between interactions of nanomaterials and the biofilm.
Helicobacter pylori culture: from bench to bedside

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a widespread infection that causes various gastroduodenal diseases and some extraintestinal disorders. Curing this infection remains challenging for clinicians, mainly because of bacterial resistance towards the few available antibiotics. Therefore, as for other infectious diseases, therapeutic approaches should be opportunely designed using the principles of antimicrobial stewardship. Theoretically, only susceptibility-based antimicrobial therapy should be considered as appropriate for treating this infection. Unfortunately, H. pylori owns some particular characteristics that make the infection slightly peculiar. More specifically, it is “fastidious” about growing in culture, and its isolation is not easily achieved, even in dedicated laboratories that, to make matters worse, are only scantily spread among countries. We examined the pros and cons of bacterial culture for antibiotic susceptibility testing before different therapy lines, and its applicability in the real clinical life.
Ozone Effects on the Quality of Swiss Chard. Peri-Urban Crops a Case Study

: The results of this open-top chamber study show that the variety of chard cv. Fuenlabrada, cultivated on the outskirts of Madrid, can be considered moderately sensitive to ozone. A signiﬁcant loss of marketable production, the alteration of pigment concentration and alteration of nutritional quality was measured in the plants exposed to different ozone levels. Swiss chard has a high nutritional value due to its high macronutrient content and the presence of micronutrients essential for human health. The results of this study showed a signiﬁcant reduction in the concentration of Mg and Ca in commercial chard leaves of the local variety Fuenlabrada. These results suggest that ozone can induce a loss of nutritional quality in leafy crops with negative consequences for human health.
Voice Navigation Created by VIP Improves Spatial Performance in People with Impaired Vision

The difficulty associated with spatial navigation is one of the main obstacles to independent living for visually impaired people. With a lack of visual feedback, visually impaired people must identify information from the external environment through other sense organs. This study employed an observational survey to assess voice navigation version A, created by visually impaired people, and voice navigation version B, created by non-visually impaired people. Thirty-two simulated visually impaired people were assigned to conduct task assessments of voice navigation version A and version B. For mission 1, the mean completion rate is 0.988 ± 0.049 (version A); the mean error rate is 0.125 ± 0.182 (version A). For mission 2, the mean completion rate is 0.953 ± 0.148 (version A); the mean error rate is 0.094 ± 0.198 (version A). The assessment results concluded that version A has a higher completion rate (p = 0.001) and a lower error rate (p = 0.001). In the assessment of subjective satisfaction, all the indicators regarding the impression of navigation directives in version A were significantly superior to those indicators in version B. It appears that version A has a different logic of framing than version B. In future applications, a voice navigation version shall be built, according to the way visually impaired people think, because it will facilitate the direction guide when there is a lack of visual feedback.
High‐resolution satellite imagery meets the challenge of monitoring remote marine protected areas in the Antarctic and beyond

Remote, high‐latitude oceans can prove challenging for the designation and implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs), partly due to issues in monitoring inaccessible localities and large spatial scales. A lack of protection combined with damage from growing human activities has contributed to the degradation of some of the Earth's richest marine biodiversity and highlights the urgent need to support improved marine conservation. High‐resolution satellite imagery (VHR; 0.3–0.6 m spatial resolution) provides a much‐needed tool for monitoring sentinel species in remote oceans, which would strengthen current and future MPA research and monitoring programs across the globe. This perspective specifies how recent advances in VHR studies have contributed to knowledge regarding occurrence, habitat suitability, and abundance of mesopredators in the Southern Ocean. We demonstrate how knowledge gained through VHR offers a cost‐effective and easily accessible method for collecting previously unobtainable data to inform a representative network of Southern Ocean MPAs, and how the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) could utilize this technology. As VHR and automated detection algorithms continue to improve, we showcase a promising opportunity to use these methods to complement current research and monitoring efforts, thus strengthening MPA efforts in the Southern Ocean and beyond.
Endovascular Treatment and Outcomes for Femoropopliteal In-Stent Restenosis: Insights from the XLPAD Registry

Background There is limited “real-world” evidence examining treatment modalities and outcomes in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease undergoing endovascular treatment of femoropopliteal (FP) in-stent restenosis (ISR). Materials and Methods We compared outcomes in 2,895 patients from the XLPAD registry (NCT01904851) between 2006 and 2019 treated for FP ISR (n = 347) and non-ISR (n = 2,548) lesions. Primary endpoint included major adverse limb events (MALE) at 1 year, a composite of all-cause death, target limb repeat revascularization, or major amputation. Results ISR patients were more frequently on antiplatelet (94.5% vs 89.4%, p=0.007) and statin (68.9% vs 60.3%, p=0.003) therapies. Lesion length was similar (ISR: 145 ± 99 mm vs. non-ISR: 142 ± 99 mm, p=0.55). Fewer treated ISR lesions were chronic total occlusions (47.3% vs. 53.7%, p=0.02) and severely calcified (22.4% vs. 44.7%, p < 0.001). Atherectomy (63.5% vs. 45.0%, p < 0.001) and drug-coated balloons (DCB; 4.7% vs. 1.7%, p < 0.001) were more frequently used in ISR lesions. The distal embolization rate was higher in ISR lesions (2.4% vs. 0.9%, p=0.02). Repeat revascularization (21.5% vs. 16.7%, p=0.04; Figure) was higher and freedom from MALE at 1 year was significantly lower (87% vs. 92.5%, p < 0.001) in the ISR group. Conclusion Atherectomy and DCB are more frequently used to treat FP ISR lesions. Patients with FP ISR have more intraprocedural distal embolization, higher repeat revascularization procedures, and lower freedom from MALE at 1 year.
STUDY OF SEISMIC EFFECTS ON CHANGES IN GROUNDWATER PRESSURE: EQUIPMENNT AND SOME WELL OBSERVASTION RESULTS FOR THE KAMCHATKA PENINSULA

The relevance of the work is determined by the necessity to develop the hardware part of the seismic subsystem of the Large-Scale Research Facilities functioning at the Federal Research Center of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences to study seismic signals in groundwater pressure changes. For this purpose, the well monitoring on the territory of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky test site, Kamchatka Peninsula, was updated using Keller equipment, Switzerland (sensors of PAA36 XiW CTD Si, PAA36 XiW modifications, data logger GSM-2), Campbell Scientific Inc, USA (CR6 and CR1000 data loggers) and a budgetary hydrogeodynamic data recorder (HDDR) based on the STK-1 minicomputers, created at the Kamchatka Branch of the GS RAS. A description has been provided concerning the sets of digital equipment installed in four wells for precise recording of groundwater pressure variations with a frequency of 20.00–0.08 Hz. Consideration is being given to the characteristics of the equipment installed in individual wells and to the problems solved in the process of updating the well observation system in order to study vibration effects and hydrogeodynamic precursors of earthquakes. The paper presents the newly obtained results of recording the high-frequency variations in groundwater pressure in wells during the 2020–2021 local and remote earthquakes. A discussion is provided of new possibilities for studying vibration effects on changes in ground water pressure with a frequency comparable to the frequency of recording seismic events by seismometric equipment. Using a new equipment for recording water pressure in the unique well E-1 made it possible to record, a hydrogeodynamic precursor in real time before the March 16, 2021, Mw=6.6 earthquake which occurred at the epicentral distance of 350 km from the well.