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Abstract Implantable devices interfacing with peripheral nerves exhibit limited longevity and resolution. Poor nerve-electrode interface quality, invasive surgical placement and development of foreign body reaction combine to limit research and clinical application of these devices. Here, we develop cuff implants with a conformable design that achieve high-quality and stable interfacing with nerves in chronic implantation scenarios. When implanted in sensorimotor nerves of the arm in awake rats for 21 days, the devices record nerve action potentials with fascicle-specific resolution and extract from these the conduction velocity and direction of propagation. The cuffs exhibit high biocompatibility, producing lower levels of fibrotic scarring than clinically equivalent PDMS silicone cuffs. In addition to recording nerve activity, the devices are able to modulate nerve activity at sub-nerve resolution to produce a wide range of paw movements. When used in a partial nerve ligation rodent model, the cuffs identify and characterise changes in nerve C fibre activity associated with the development of neuropathic pain in freely-moving animals. The developed implantable devices represent a platform enabling new forms of fine nerve signal sensing and modulation, with applications in physiology research and closed-loop therapeutics.

Abstract Electrocorticography is an established neural interfacing technique wherein an array of electrodes enables large-area recording from the cortical surface. Electrocorticography is commonly used for seizure mapping however the implantation of large-area electrocorticography arrays is a highly invasive procedure, requiring a craniotomy larger than the implant area to place the device. In this work, flexible thin-film electrode arrays are combined with concepts from soft robotics, to realize a large-area electrocorticography device that can change shape via integrated fluidic actuators. We show that the 32-electrode device can be packaged using origami-inspired folding into a compressed state and implanted through a small burr-hole craniotomy, then expanded on the surface of the brain for large-area cortical coverage. The implantation, expansion, and recording functionality of the device is confirmed in-vitro and in porcine in-vivo models. The integration of shape actuation into neural implants provides a clinically viable pathway to realize large-area neural interfaces via minimally invasive surgical techniques.

The lockdown imposed in Spain as a result of COVID-19 made it necessary to rethink educational processes. In this situation, digital technologies offered the most efficient solution by moving all teaching to an online format. The purpose of this study is to analyze the adaptations made in music schools and conservatories. To achieve this, an ad hoc questionnaire was designed and distributed, and resulted in a sample of 259 teachers. The results reveal a lack of training and structures that was reflected in the problems encountered by teachers with continuing instrumental classes, especially for ensembles. However, music theory classes were affected to a lesser extent. It was observed that musical performance was used to focus on the emotional aspects of students and their families.

La interdisciplinariedad entre cine, videojuegos, audiovisuales y música refleja la diversidad del mundo contemporáneo, generando discursos ricos y complejos. La multimodalidad se presenta como un abordaje y una metodología de análisis que permite transitar interdisciplinarmente entre las distintas artes que conforman el audiovisual. En este artículo nos centramos en la música y el sonido y su presencia en los audiovisuales como actividad plenamente interdisciplinar que engloba imagen y sonido. Para ello se establecen a nivel teórico los parámetros de la multimodalidad y su protagonismo en los diferentes productos audiovisuales. Posteriormente se realizan diversas propuestas pedagógicas centradas en la dimensión sonora y musical de los audiovisuales, que pueden ser implementadas tanto en educación primaria como en educación secundaria. Como conclusión, la integración de la multimodalidad en la educación formal proporciona a los estudiantes habilidades para comprender y analizar críticamente el lenguaje audiovisual, que es una parte fundamental de su vida diaria y contribuye al desarrollo de su identidad y conocimiento del mundo.

BackgroundExposure to antigens is crucial for child immune system development, aiding disease prevention and promoting infant health. Some common food antigen proteins are found in human breast milk. However, it is unclear whether gluten antigens linked to celiac disease (CD) are transmitted through breast milk, potentially impacting the development of the infant’s immune system.ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze the passage of gluten immunogenic peptides (GIP) into human breast milk. We evaluated the dynamics of GIP secretion after lactating mothers adopted a controlled gluten-rich diet.MethodsWe prospectively enrolled 96 non-CD and 23 CD lactating mothers, assessing total proteins and casein in breast milk, and GIP levels in breast milk and urine. Subsequently, a longitudinal study was conducted in a subgroup of 12 non-CD lactating mothers who adopted a controlled gluten-rich diet. GIP levels in breast milk and urine samples were assayed by multiple sample collections over 96 hours.ResultsAnalysis of a single sample revealed that 24% of non-CD lactating mothers on a regular unrestricted diet tested positive for GIP in breast milk, and 90% tested positive in urine, with significantly lower concentrations in breast milk. Nevertheless, on a controlled gluten-rich diet and the collection of multiple samples, GIP were detected in 75% and 100% of non-CD participants in breast milk and urine, respectively. The transfer dynamics in breast milk samples were long-enduring and GIP secretion persisted from 0 to 72 h. In contrast, GIP secretion in urine samples was limited to the first 24 h, with inter-individual variations. In the cohort of CD mothers, 82.6% and 87% tested negative for GIP in breast milk and urine, respectively.ConclusionsThis study definitively established the presence of GIP in breast milk, with substantial inter-individual variations in secretion dynamics. Our findings provide insights into distinct GIP kinetics observed in sequentially collected breast milk and urine samples, suggesting differential gluten metabolism patterns depending on the organ or system involved. Future research is essential to understand whether GIP functions as sensitizing or tolerogenic agents in the immune system of breastfed infants.

Abstract 3D imaging provides crucial details about the objects and scenes that may not be obtained via 2D imaging methods. However, there are several applications in which the object to be 3D-imaged requires to be immobilized. The integrated digital holographic microscopy (DHM) and optical trapping (OT) system is a useful solution for such a task, but both DHM and OT are mostly suitable for microscopic specimens. Here, for the first time to the best of our knowledge and as an analogy to the DHM-OT system, we introduce integral imaging (InIm) and acoustic trapping (AT) integrated system for 3D imaging of immobilized mesoscopic and macroscopic objects. Post-processing of InIm data enables reconstructing the scene at any arbitrary plane, therefore, it re-focuses any particular depth of the object, which is a curtail task, especially when the object is trapped by AT. We demonstrate the capability of our system by simultaneous trapping and 3D imaging of single and multiple irregularly shaped objects with mm sizes.

Knowledge and use of information and communication technology (ICT) are especially important for teachers since, in addition to ICT being a key element of the teaching and learning process, how teacher use it influences whether students use it inside and outside the classroom. This article identifies the knowledge of ICT that teachers from the area of music education at Spanish universities have and how they use it, as well as their training and their views on its advantages and disadvantages in teaching and learning processes. To do this, we used an ad hoc questionnaire with a valid sample of 112 teachers. The results indicate that teachers are aware of the benefits of ICT in their own teaching and in the professional future of the students. They kept the educational needs of the students very much in mind when choosing each resource. Despite knowing the benefits, the teachers did not train their students to learn how to use ICT. The biggest concern was the technological and gender gap identified.

Freshwater aquatic ecosystems are vulnerable to human activities within their surroundings, presenting a concerning scenario for aquatic organisms and human subsistence. Therefore, understanding the occurrence of pesticide contamination is a necessary condition to safeguard aquatic biodiversity and human health. We analysed the pesticide residues in water samples, using the solid-phase extraction (SPE) technique and determination by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‒MS/MS). We also we investigated whether land use influences water contamination by pesticides in the middle and upper Araguaia River basin, situated in the central region of Brazil in the Cerrado biome. We evaluated the effect of land use and land cover type on pesticide occurrence in nine subbasins using mixed linear models. We registered the occurrence of pesticides in all subbasins. After water analysis a total of eight pesticides were found: atrazine, carbendazim, cyanazine, imidacloprid, 2,4-D, clomazone, chlorpyrifos-ethyl, and imazalil. Atrazine and carbendazim were detected during both sampling years. The active ingredient atrazine and clomazone were registered in all studied subbasins, with concentrations ranged from 0.006–0.207 µg L−1 and 0.183–0.373 µg L−1, respectively. There were no significant relationships observed between the number of pesticides and the type of land use and land cover, a result possibly related to the short sampling period, as these pesticides are largely used for fungi and insect control in agricultural areas. The presence of pesticides in the water may have potentially detrimental effects on aquatic biodiversity because sampled pesticides have been associated with anomalies in ontogenetic development, diseases, and mortality in organisms. Based on European legislation, it was evident that most of the subbasins had pesticide concentrations in the water exceeding the safety levels for human consumption. Thus, it is crucial for Brazilian legislation to establish maximum limits for pesticide concentrations in water to ensure safe drinking water for the Brazilian population. Additionally, a permanent monitoring system should be established to understand contamination trends in this basin and to take appropriate actions to mitigate adverse impacts.

Academic performance among university students is a fundamental factor in the analysis of quality of higher education. Despite the large volume of research on academic performance, there are no conclusive results regarding the influence of some variables on it. While some studies find differences attributable to gender, age, or psychological factors, such as coping strategies, others conclude that they are inexistent or insignificant. This article seeks to deepen about how these variables influence the academic performance of trainee primary-school teachers. Educational improvements in a society are only possible if teacher training guarantees a high qualification of its teachers. In this article we analyze academic progress in a sample of 136 students and the effect of gender, age and coping strategies and psychological symptoms. From the data analysis it can be concluded that all the analyzed variables cause differences in academic performance in teacher students. Therefore, it will be necessary to establish improvement plans for this degree that meet these conditions.

In this article we set out to examine the personal and political ties established between President Juan Domingo Perón and Monsignor Nicolas De Carlo, Bishop of the Diocese of Resistencia (Chaco, Argentina). Between the years 1946 and 1951, this priest became one of the referents of the Argentine ecclesiastical hierarchy closest to the government with which he had many coincidences that earned him recognition, but, at the same time, the anger of some of his peers. Through this analysis we seek to investigate the participation of sectors of the Church in the process of building Peronism in peripheral areas of the country.

Introduction To assess the feasibility of developing World Health Organization (WHO) European Region countries’ goals and measures in line with tobacco endgame objectives, information on the current tobacco control context and capacity is needed. The aim of this study was to assess the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and MPOWER measures in the region. Methods In this cross-sectional study we used data from the WHO FCTC implementation reports and MPOWER from 2020 in 53 WHO European Region countries. Six domains (i.e. capacity, taxation and price policies, other national key regulations, public awareness raising and communication, tobacco use cessation, and monitoring) were formed. Subsequently, available indicators under these domains were scored and the level of implementation was computed for each country. Mann-Whitney tests were carried out to compare the scores between the group of countries with and without official endgame goals. Results Overall, implementation of the WHO FCTC with the selected indicators at the country level ranged from 28% to 86%, and of MPOWER from 31% to 96%. Full implementation was achieved by 28% of WHO FCTC Parties in the region in taxation and price policies, 12% in public awareness raising and communication, and 42% in monitoring. In capacity, tobacco use cessation and other national key regulations, none of the Parties in the region reached full implementation. Overall median WHO FCTC scores were significantly higher in countries with official endgame goals than in those without (p

Resumen: Objetivo: Valorar el efecto del tratamiento con infiltraciones de toxina botulínica tipo A (TXB-A) en la funcionalidad facial, las sincinesias y la calidad de vida en pacientes con secuelas de parálisis facial periférica (PFP). Material y métodos: Presentamos un estudio prospectivo con una muestra de 20 pacientes con secuelas de PFP (15 mujeres, 5 varones) a los que se infiltró TXB-A (Botox® o Xeomin®). Todos los pacientes realizaron previamente un tratamiento personalizado basado en la reeducación neuromuscular. Se realizó una evaluación clínica previa a las infiltraciones y otra al cabo de 4 semanas. El efecto de las infiltraciones sobre la funcionalidad facial fue valorado mediante la escala Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SFGS); el efecto sobre la calidad de vida se evaluó a través del cuestionario Facial Clinimetric Evaluation Scale (FaCE), y el efecto sobre la reducción de sincinesias se estudió utilizando el Synkinesis Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ). Resultados: La media de los valores del SFGS se incrementó tras el tratamiento con TXB-A, de 64,8 a 69,9 (p = 0,004). También se incrementó la media de los valores del FaCE Total, de 52,42 a 64,5 (p

Estimating the pose of a large set of fixed indoor cameras is a requirement for certain applications in augmented reality, autonomous navigation, video surveillance, and logistics. However, accurately mapping the positions of these cameras remains an unsolved problem. While providing partial solutions, existing alternatives are limited by their dependence on distinct environmental features, the requirement for large overlapping camera views, and specific conditions. This paper introduces a novel approach to estimating the pose of a large set of cameras using a small subset of fiducial markers printed on regular pieces of paper. By placing the markers in areas visible to multiple cameras, we can obtain an initial estimation of the pair-wise spatial relationship between them. The markers can be moved throughout the environment to obtain the relationship between all cameras, thus creating a graph connecting all cameras. In the final step, our method performs a full optimization, minimizing the reprojection errors of the observed markers and enforcing physical constraints, such as camera and marker coplanarity and control points. We validated our approach using novel artificial and real datasets with varying levels of complexity. Our experiments demonstrated superior performance over existing state-of-the-art techniques and increased effectiveness in real-world applications. Accompanying this paper, we provide the research community with access to our code, tutorials, and an application framework to support the deployment of our methodology.

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km2 resolution for 0-5 and 5-15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e. offset) between in situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1-km2 pixels (summarized from 8519 unique temperature sensors) across all the world's major terrestrial biomes, and coarse-grained air temperature estimates from ERA5-Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (-0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome-specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near-surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil-related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications.

Adolescent music preferences revolve around so-called popular music, specifically that which is highly manipulated by audio and music production technologies and aimed at the mass market. These processes can result in music genres that lean toward sound homogenization, a phenomenon that could gradually restrict adolescents' access to the acoustic richness of other music styles that have emerged throughout history. The objective of this work was to analyze the music genres favored by a sample of Spanish adolescents (n = 464), based on their acoustic qualities (timbre, rhythm, and dynamics). The results of the automatic analysis indicated a great deal of overlap in terms of sound, which corroborated the homogeneous character of the genres. This calls for an approach to secondary music education that helps preserve musical richness and stylistic variety in the classroom.

Based on a case study, this article discusses connections between educational inequality in Brazil, transnational migration and educational upward mobility. It analyses a young woman's migration from a "favela" in Brazil to Germany with a focus on the educational aspirations that motivated it, that is, as a case of "educational migration." It describes the social trajectories of this young woman and her family and interprets them in the context of recent socio-economic developments in Brazil, thus showing how educational inequality can drive migration. The significance of networks, as well as of migration and educational regimes that shape this trajectory, are taken into account. The analysis aims to show how migrants from disadvantaged social backgrounds actively take part in the transnationalization of education.

Open-ended tasks are common in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. However, as far as we know, no tools have been developed to assist in the assessment of the solution process of open-ended questions. In this paper, we propose the use of analysis of traces as a tool to address this need. To illustrate this approach, we developed a modified version of R Commander that collects traces of students' actions and described a way to analyze them by using regular expressions. We used this tool in an undergraduate introductory statistics course. The traces were analyzed by comparing them to predefined problem-solving steps, arranged by the instructor. The analyses provide information about the time students spent on the activity, their work intensity and the choices they made when solving open-ended questions. This automated assessment tool provides grades highly correlated to those obtained by a traditional test and traditional grading scheme.

The present research aims to know the professional burnout of the young musical ensemble conductors (bands and choirs) in Spain and if there is any relationship between the burnout and the motivation of their students. For this, a non-experimental exploratory descriptive study has been carried out consisting of the application of the Maslach Inventory on burnout and the MOT questionnaire on motivation to a sample of 20 directors and 660 members of several young bands and choirs, respectively. The results obtained show that conductors of young ensembles show low professional burnout and their students a high motivation, although some correlations and significant differences have been found in variables studied such as group type, conductor experience, etc.