Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Editorial: Impact of digitalization on workers' health and work-life balance

COPYRIGHT © 2023 Gualano, Buttigieg and Moscato. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Editorial: Impact of digitalization on workers’ health and work-life balance
Investigation of brain iron levels in Chinese patients with Alzheimer’s disease

Introduction We aimed (i) to explore the diagnostic value of deep gray matter magnetic susceptibility in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in China and (ii) to analyze its correlation with neuropsychiatric scales. Moreover, we conducted subgroup analysis based on the presence of the APOE-ε4 gene to improve the diagnosis of AD. Methods From the prospective studies of the China Aging and Neurodegenerative Initiative (CANDI), a total of 93 subjects who could undergo complete quantitative magnetic susceptibility imaging and APOE-ε4 gene detection were selected. Differences in quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) values between and within groups, including AD patients, individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and healthy controls (HCs), both APOE-ε4 carriers and non-carriers, were analyzed. Results In primary analysis, the magnetic susceptibility values of the bilateral caudate nucleus and right putamen in the AD group and of the right caudate nucleus in the MCI group were significantly higher than those in the HCs group (P < 0.05). In APOE-ε4 non-carriers, there were significant differences in more regions between the AD, MCI, and HCs groups, such as the left putamen and the right globus pallidus (P < 0.05). In subgroup analysis, the correlation between QSM values in some brain regions and neuropsychiatric scales was even stronger. Discussion Exploration of the correlation between deep gray matter iron levels and AD may provide insight into the pathogenesis of AD and facilitate early diagnosis in elderly Chinese. Further subgroup analysis based on the presence of the APOE-ε4 gene may further improve the diagnostic efficiency and sensitivity.
Association of age of adverse childhood experiences with thalamic volumes and post-traumatic stress disorder in adulthood

Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to brain development and mental disorders, however, the impact of the age of occurrence of ACEs on thalamic volume and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after adult trauma remains unclear. This study assessed associations between ACEs at different ages to thalamic volumes and PTSD development following acute adult trauma. Methods Seventy-nine adult trauma survivors were recruited immediately after trauma. Within 2 weeks of the traumatic event, participants completed the PTSD Checklist (PCL) to assess PTSD symptoms, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and Childhood Age Range Stress Scale (CARSS) to evaluate ACEs and perceived stress level at preschool (<6 years old) and school (6–13 years old) ages, and structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) to measure thalamic volumes. Participants were divided into three groups: those who experienced no childhood trauma or stress (non-ACEs), those who experienced childhood trauma and stress onset at preschool ages (Presch-ACEs), and those who experienced childhood trauma and stress onset at school ages (Sch-ACEs). At 3 months, participants underwent PTSD symptom evaluation using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Results Adult trauma survivors in the Presch-ACEs group had higher CTQ and CAPS scores. In addition, survivors in the Presch-ACEs group had smaller thalamic volume compared to survivors in the non-ACEs and Sch-ACEs groups. Furthermore, smaller thalamic volume moderated a positive association between post-trauma 2-week PCL and subsequent 3-month CAPS scores. Discussion Earlier occurrence of ACEs was associated with smaller thalamic volume, which appears to moderate a positive association between early posttraumatic stress symptom severity and PTSD development after adult trauma. This raises the possibility that early occurrence of ACEs may impact thalamic structure, specifically a reduction in thalamic volume, and that smaller thalamic volume may contribute to susceptibility to PTSD development after adult trauma.
Distinct neural signaling characteristics between fibromyalgia and provoked vestibulodynia revealed by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging in the brainstem and spinal cord

Introduction Fibromyalgia and provoked vestibulodynia are two chronic pain conditions that disproportionately affect women. The mechanisms underlying the pain in these conditions are still poorly understood, but there is speculation that both may be linked to altered central sensitization and autonomic regulation. Neuroimaging studies of these conditions focusing on the brainstem and spinal cord to explore changes in pain regulation and autonomic regulation are emerging, but none to date have directly compared pain and autonomic regulation in these conditions. This study compares groups of women with fibromyalgia and provoked vestibulodynia to healthy controls using a threat/safety paradigm with a predictable noxious heat stimulus. Methods Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired at 3 tesla in the cervical spinal cord and brainstem with previously established methods. Imaging data were analyzed with structural equation modeling and ANCOVA methods during: a period of noxious stimulation, and a period before the stimulation when participants were expecting the upcoming pain. Results The results demonstrate several similarities and differences between brainstem/spinal cord connectivity related to autonomic and pain regulatory networks across the three groups in both time periods. Discussion Based on the regions and connections involved in the differences, the altered pain processing in fibromyalgia appears to be related to changes in how autonomic and pain regulation networks are integrated, whereas altered pain processing in provoked vestibulodynia is linked in part to changes in arousal or salience networks as well as changes in affective components of pain regulation.
Teaching computer programming: impact of Brown and Wilson's didactical principles

This research studies the effects of the application of didactics to the teaching of computer programming, focusing on programming skills in the Python computer language. The problem arises from the failure and dropout rates of students in computer programming in computer science careers in INACAP and the consequent interest in promoting better learning. The general objective is to study the effects of an innovative methodology, based on Brown and Wilson's didactic principles, on the teaching process of Python programming in computer science students at INACAP. The theoretical framework is based on the didactics of teaching computer programming and the concepts of computational thinking skills of various theoretical references, and in particular on the didactic principles of Brown and Wilson. This research is carried out with a quantitative methodology of explanatory scope and with a quasi-experimental design, with a purposive sample, for the experimental stage the sample will consist of 100 first year undergraduate students of Computer Science, of which 50 will be the experimental group and 50 will be the control group. The hypothesis proposed is that “The students in the experimental group obtain a higher performance when applying Brown and Wilson's didactic principles than the students in the control group who are taught in a traditional way. ” The data collection technique used will be a 45-question multiple-choice test. The data analysis will be performed by applying statistical criteria, comparison of means and variances, among others.
Expression quantitative trait locus studies in the era of single-cell omics

Genome-wide association studies have revealed that the regulation of gene expression bridges genetic variants and complex phenotypes. Profiling of the bulk transcriptome coupled with linkage analysis (expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) mapping) has advanced our understanding of the relationship between genetic variants and gene regulation in the context of complex phenotypes. However, bulk transcriptomics has inherited limitations as the regulation of gene expression tends to be cell-type-specific. The advent of single-cell RNA-seq technology now enables the identification of the cell-type-specific regulation of gene expression through a single-cell eQTL (sc-eQTL). In this review, we first provide an overview of sc-eQTL studies, including data processing and the mapping procedure of the sc-eQTL. We then discuss the benefits and limitations of sc-eQTL analyses. Finally, we present an overview of the current and future applications of sc-eQTL discoveries.
Space-filling curves of self-similar sets (II): From finite skeleton to substitution rule

This paper is one of the four papers in a series, which provide a systematic treatment for the space-filling curves (or optimal parameterizations) of self-similar sets. It is folklore that the constructions of space-filling curves depend on certain `substitution rules'. For a given self-similar set, how to obtain such substitution rules is a long-standing open problem. In this paper, we obtain a satisfactory answer to this problem. We introduce the \emph{finite skeleton property} for an iterated function system (IFS). From a finite skeleton, we construct a graph G_0 and its `iteration' graph G_1; By studying the relation between G_0 and G_1, we obtain define various substitution rules. We show that is a rule is consistency and primitive, then a space-filling curve of the self-similar set can be constructed accordingly. In a sequential paper \cite{RaoZh16}, we show that there always exists consistency and primitive rule, and hence finite skeleton property leads to optimal parameterizations. Furthermore, in \cite{RaoZh17}, we show that a connected self-similar set with finite type condition always possesses finite skeletons. Our results cover a large class of self-similar sets, and extend almost all the previous studies in this direction. All the proofs are constructive, and hence an algorithm of constructing space-filling curves is obtained automatically.
Beneficial or detrimental activity of regulatory T cells, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, and heme oxygenase-1 in the lungs is influenced by the level of virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain infection

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by the complex Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the main cause of death by a single bacterial agent. Last year, TB was the second leading infectious killer after SARS-CoV-2. Nevertheless, many biological and immunological aspects of TB are not completely elucidated, such as the complex process of immunoregulation mediated by regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and the enzymes indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). In this study, the contribution of these immunoregulatory factors was compared in mice infected with Mtb strains with different levels of virulence. First Balb/c mice were infected by intratracheal route, with a high dose of mild virulence reference strain H37Rv or with a highly virulent clinical isolate (strain 5186). In the lungs of infected mice, the kinetics of Treg cells during the infection were determined by cytofluorometry and the expression of IDO and HO-1 by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Then, the contribution of immune-regulation mediated by Treg cells, IDO and HO-1, was evaluated by treating infected animals with specific cytotoxic monoclonal antibodies for Treg cells depletion anti-CD25 (PC61 clone) or by blocking IDO and HO-1 activity using specific inhibitors (1-methyl-D,L-tryptophan or zinc protoporphyrin-IX, respectively). Mice infected with the mild virulent strain showed a progressive increment of Treg cells, showing this highest number at the beginning of the late phase of the infection (28 days), the same trend was observed in the expression of both enzymes being macrophages the cells that showed the highest immunostaining. Animals infected with the highly virulent strain showed lower survival (34 days) and higher amounts of Treg cells, as well as higher expression of IDO and HO-1 one week before. In comparison with non-treated animals, mice infected with strain H37Rv with depletion of Treg cells or treated with the enzymes blockers during late infection showed a significant decrease of bacilli loads, higher expression of IFN-g and lower IL-4 but with a similar extension of inflammatory lung consolidation determined by automated morphometry. In contrast, the depletion of Treg cells in infected mice with the highly virulent strain 5186 produced diffuse alveolar damage that was similar to severe acute viral pneumonia, lesser survival and increase of bacillary loads, while blocking of both IDO and HO-1 produced high bacillary loads and extensive pneumonia with necrosis. Thus, it seems that Treg cells, IDO and HO-1 activities are detrimental during late pulmonary TB induced by mild virulence Mtb, probably because these factors decrease immune protection mediated by the Th1 response. In contrast, Treg cells, IDO and HO-1 are beneficial when the infection is produced by a highly virulent strain, by regulation of excessive inflammation that produced alveolar damage, pulmonary necrosis, acute respiratory insufficiency, and rapid death.
A Comparison Study of the Contributions of Additional Observations in the Sensitive Regions Identified by CNOP and FSV to Reducing Forecast Error Variance for the Typhoon Morakot

Abstract The sensitive regions of conditional nonlinear optimal perturbations (CNOPs) and the first singular vector (FSV) for a northwest Pacific typhoon case are reported in this paper. A large number of probes have been designed in the above regions and the ensemble transform Kalman filter (ETKF) techniques are utilized to examine which approach can locate more appropriate regions for typhoon adaptive observations. The results show that, in general, the majority of the probes in the sensitive regions of CNOPs can reduce more forecast error variance than the probes in the sensitive regions of FSV. This implies that adaptive observations in the sensitive regions of CNOPs are more effective than in the sensitive regions of FSV Furthermore, the reduction of the forecast error variance obtained by the best probe identified by CNOPs is twice the reduction of the forecast error variance obtained by FSV This implies that dropping sondes, which is the best probe identified by CNOPs, can improve the forecast more than the best probe identified by FSV. These results indicate that the sensitive regions identified by CNOPs are more appropriate for adaptive observations than those identified by FSV.
Editorial: Variability in language predictions: assessing the influence of speaker, text and experimental method

COPYRIGHT © 2023 Kretzschmar, Alday, Grice and Brilmayer. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Editorial: Variability in language predictions: assessing the influence of speaker, text and experimental method
Editorial: Mathematical and empirical foundations of models of consciousness

COPYRIGHT © 2023 Arsiwalla, Kleiner, Tull, Resende and Kremnitzer. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Editorial: Mathematical and empirical foundations of models of consciousness
Fatores contingenciais e as influências para internacionalização das empresas familiares: um estudo no setor industrial

Este artigo tem como objetivo investigar quais os fatores relacionados com a Teoria da Contingência são evidenciados pelas empresas familiares do ramo industrial localizadas no sul do Brasil como influentes para o processo de internacionalização. Para sua consecução, foi aplicada uma survey a 51 empresas familiares do ramo industrial, localizadas nos Estados do Paraná, Santa Catarina e Rio Grande do Sul. Os dados foram tratados com a aplicação das técnicas de estatística descritiva e do ranking médio. A amostra é composta por 64,71% de empresas com mais de 25 anos de atuação, 45,09% delas possuem gestão mista ou profissional, sendo que 31,37% possuem iniciativas e/ou ações de internacionalização. Os resultados evidenciam que a estratégia se sobressai como fator contingencial para o processo de internacionalização das empresas familiares. Entre as empresas que possuem iniciativas ou ações consolidadas, destaca-se como fatores contingenciais para a internacionalização: (i) estratégia futura da empresa (87,5%); (ii) demandas de expansão dos negócios (87,5%), (iii) estratégia de fortalecimento da marca (75%); (iv) alternativa de crescimento de vendas (87,5%); (v) influência de processos aduaneiros, portuários (93,75%). Os achados estão alinhados com a literatura da Teoria da Contingência, na qual as empresas familiares podem reavaliar suas estratégias de gestão, de modo a ampliar sua atuação internacional. Como sugestões de pesquisas futuras recomenda-se a análise de estudos de caso em indústrias que já possuem ações de internacionalização consolidadas, para identificar dificuldades e especificidades do processo. Sugere-se ainda aplicar o estudo em organizações não industriais para identificar similaridades ou dissimilaridades dos achados.
Optimisation of buffer layers for InP-metamorphic heterojunction bipolar transistor on GaAs

InP-like metamorphic buffers on GaAs for double heterojunction bipolar transistor (mDHBT) have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy. A two-stage procedure dedicated to DHBT is proposed to study the effect of the metamorphic growth. First, a DHBT-like InP/InGaAs/InP structure is used to evaluate bulk materials quality by photoluminescence, relaxation state by double axis high-resolution X-ray diffraction and surface/interface morphology by optical and atomic force microscopy. Secondly, the emitter-base junction has been studied on metamorphic diodes. First results obtained on In/sub x/Al/sub 1-x/As and ln/sub x/(Al/sub y/Ga/sub 1-y/)/sub 1-x/As gradual buffers, as well as on In/sub 0.52/Al/sub 0.48/As and InP uniform buffers, are presented and discussed.
Dynamic response of an embedded block impacted by aerated high-velocity jets

ABSTRACT Uplift of blocks from the rock mass at the bottom of plunge pools is the main process of the scouring phenomenon caused by high-velocity jet impact. Although the influence of water and rock on dynamic block ejection has been investigated, no systematic research has been done regarding the influence of air entrainment. This study presents theoretical developments and experimental investigations of the vertical displacements of a block embedded in the pool bottom impacted by aerated plunging jets. The theoretical model reproduces well the measured block vibrations, especially for high-velocity jets where the properties of the air–water mixture inside the fissures are steadier. Block displacements reduce with jet aeration for shallow pools, but, inversely, they increase with jet aeration for deep pools. This confirms that jet aeration reduces jet momentum due to a lower apparent density, but may also increase bottom pressures due to lower velocity decay along the pool depth.
Lict edge semientire graph of a planar graph

Abstract In this paper, we introduce the concept of the Lict edge semientire graph of a planar graph. We present characterizations of graphs whose lict edge semientire graphs are planar, outerplanar and Maximal outerplanar, crossing number one. Further, we establish a characterization of graphs whose lict edge semi entire graphs are Eularian and Hamiltonian.
A review on microbial fuel cell technology for Brewery industry wastewater treatment – From fundamentals to pilot scale studies

Industries play an important role in the economic growth of any nation, whereas they release pollutants, which impact our environment seriously. Owing to the rapid climate change and global warming, our earth is searching for different sustainable energy technologies. Microbial fuel cell technology is emerging as one of the most versatile sustainable energy technology, with their ability to tap the energy stored in the wastewater and convert it directly into electrical energy. Though MFC research is still in its nascent stage, its theoretical superiority makes it a unique technology, which can be developed into a self‐sufficient system for wastewater treatment in the near future. Brewery industries consume large quantities of water for beer production and hence release large quantities of wastewater. The chemical energy stored in the brewery wastewater could be converted into useful bioelectricity by MFC technology compared to other traditional wastewater treatment technologies, which are all energy intensive. Brewery wastewater, rich in biodegradable organic matter with their non‐toxic nature, makes it a highly suitable substrate for MFC. It is one of the few substrates that have made it to pilot‐scale studies worldwide. This study aims to review the microbial fuel cells with brewery wastewater as their substrate. It will elaborate the different configurations of MFCs employed for brewery wastewater so far, their power producing ability and wastewater treatment efficiency. The critical factors that influence these MFC systems will also be discussed. Finally, this article also identifies and suggests different strategies to improve the performance of such MFC systems.
Particle Roundness and Sphericity from Images of Assemblies by Chart Estimates and Computer Methods

AbstractSoil particle roundness (R) and sphericity (S) are two important intrinsic properties that govern a soil’s mechanical behavior. Although R and S have well-established mathematical definitions dating back to the 1930s, the values are much more typically estimated using charts developed in the 1940s and 1950s. The charts, are based on the earlier mathematical definitions. Using these charts, a class of undergraduate civil engineering students at the University of Michigan were asked to estimate (Rc and Sc) from images of twenty geologically and geographically diverse sands spanning a range of actual R and S values. The images were of three-dimensional (3D) assemblies of the sands as they would be found in images taken remotely or in situ. The students’ estimates were statistically analyzed and compared with rigorously determined R and S using a recently developed computational geometry algorithm. Overall, the students’ estimates were scattered, particularly for natural sands exhibiting intermediate .