Bitter taste perception in BaYaka hunter-gatherers

Aversion towards bitter tastes evolved across vertebrate species to enable the recognition of harmful plant toxins. Genetic background, mode of subsistence, and dietary factors may explain variation in bitter taste sensitivity between human ecologies. We are the first to examine bitter taste perception within a population at different levels of market-integration, conducting an experiment using phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) and thiourea (Thiourea) infused paper strips amongst the Mbendjele BaYaka hunter-gatherers from Congo. We investigated (i.) prevalence of bitter tasting phenotypes amongst the BaYaka; (ii.) differences between BaYaka who grew up in town and forest camps. We found that 45.1% of BaYaka experience PTC as bitter, and 42.5% experience Thiourea as bitter. There were no sex differences, however bitter tasting phenotypes were significantly more prevalent in town than in forest camps (PTC:64.1%vs35.1%; Thiourea:64.1%vs31.1%). Despite a shared genetic background, we found that BaYaka who grew up in town were more sensitive to bitter taste than those living in the forest, suggesting a developmental component in taste perception. We suggest that the dietary transition from wild to cultivated foods in BaYaka living in town and a decreased use of traditional plant medicine may underlie this variation in bitter taste perception.

“Smart watch” as a Factor for the Formation of Hybrid Doctor–Patient Communication

The relevance of the research derives from the necessity to analyze the influence of new non-human digital actants on the nature of doctor-patients communication. The authors prove that in modern society the digitalization of the healthcare system is proceeding at an accelerated pace and pushes individuals to monitor their health status regularly in background mode by using such digital actants as smartwatches with pre-installed medical applications. The active use of high-tech devices for self-diagnosis of health transforms the doctor-patient communication, making it hybrid and exerting ambivalent influence on the treatment process. On the one hand, individuals can collect health information continuously. However, on the other hand, the study reveals that smartwatches provide users with less accurate health information in comparison with the health information obtained via stationary medical equipment. The use of inaccurate information without the supervision of medical workers may lead to unforeseen consequences and health risks. The results of the content analysis of modern scientific research on the effectiveness of smart devices’ use in online health diagnostics indicate that formal and pragmatic trends take place in doctor-patient communication. In this regard, the authors prove that hybrid social communication in medicine needs a new vector of development in accordance with the principles of the proposed “humanistic turn”.

Delivery routes in pregnancy with COVID-19 and the risk of intrapartum vertical transmission: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Mode of delivery has become an important highlight in managing pregnancy with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to the possible risk of viral transmission from mother to baby, especially during the peripartum period. This study aimed to review the mode of delivery and the possible risk of vertical transmission related to delivery routes in pregnant women with COVID-19. METHODS Literature research was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and EBSCO database with the following keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, pregnancy, vertical transmission, and delivery. The extracted data were as follows: author, country, study design number of cases, maternal age, mode of delivery, and the SARS-CoV-2 status in neonates. RESULTS Of 11 studies found, vaginal birth was reported in 218 cases (34.53%) and cesarean delivery was reported in 385 women (65.47%). The indication for cesarean delivery was majority due to COVID-19 related condition (53.61%). In total, 8 neonates who confirmed positive for COVID-19 by real-time polymerase chain reaction assay were reported. The pooled odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for SARS-CoV-2-positive neonates in cesarean delivery compared with vaginal birth was 0.622 (0.237–1.633) with p = 0.335. CONCLUSIONS Cesarean delivery is more common than vaginal delivery in patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Any delivery route is not related to possible risk of intrapartum vertical transmission, and cesarean delivery should be carried out based on the obstetric indication.

Background mode selection during asymptotic-de Sitter inflation

For the first time, we choose non-flat vacuum mode for background spacetime based on the minimum number of created particles during early non-de Sitter inflation. In conventional methods for calculating the number of created particles, the flat background is selected automatically and causes a negative number problem for created particles during asymptotic-de Sitter inflation. In a covariant approach to curved spacetime, both real and background spacetimes should be selected, curved and consequently the relation for particle creation should be modify. As an interesting finding from this research, flat space does not include minimum number of particles and there are some asymptotic de Sitter spacetimes with fewer number. Therefore, in the generalized formula for particle creation, we choose a non-flat background containing the minimum number of created particles.

TI-ADC multi-channel mismatch estimation and calibration in ultra-high-speed optical signal acquisition system

<abstract> <p>This article presents a method to calibrate a 16-channel 40 GS/s time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter (TI-ADC) based on channel equalization and Monte Carlo method. First, the channel mismatch is estimated by the Monte Carlo method, and equalize each channel to meet the calibration requirement. This method does not require additional hardware circuits, every channel can be compensated. The calibration structure is simple and the convergence speed is fast, besides, the ADC is worked in background mode, which does not affect the conversion. The prototype, implemented in 28 nm CMOS, reaches a 41 dB SFDR with an input signal of 1.2 GHz and 5 dBm after the proposed background offset and gain mismatch calibration. Compared with previous works, the spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) and the effective number of bits (ENOB) are better, the estimation accuracy is higher, the error is smaller and the faster speed of convergence improves the efficiency of signal processing.</p> </abstract>

Media Noise: the problem of hygienic rationing and personal well-being

The article raises the problem of hygienic rationing of a special type of noise, the nature of which stems from the sources of public information – the mass media. The author develops a new concept of comprehending this type of noise – the concept of Media Noise. Such noise is associated with the special nature of its perception and consumption in the background mode that acts as a risk factor for human health and well-being. The author points out such specific characteristics of the media noise that relate it to certain risk factors, namely: hyperstimulation of the auditory analyzer and the inability to control its implementation (work), that is, the compulsion of perception. This second key feature of the media noise is similar to mental violence, if the audio signal is used by an external subject, for example, in public places or transport, and its broadcasting excludes the possibility for the perceiving subject to influence upon the source of noise (a screen or a player).

Interactive visualization and analysis of morphological skeletons of brain vasculature networks with VessMorphoVis

Motivation Accurate morphological models of brain vasculature are key to modeling and simulating cerebral blood flow in realistic vascular networks. This in silico approach is fundamental to revealing the principles of neurovascular coupling. Validating those vascular morphologies entails performing certain visual analysis tasks that cannot be accomplished with generic visualization frameworks. This limitation has a substantial impact on the accuracy of the vascular models employed in the simulation. Results We present VessMorphoVis, an integrated suite of toolboxes for interactive visualization and analysis of vast brain vascular networks represented by morphological graphs segmented originally from imaging or microscopy stacks. Our workflow leverages the outstanding potentials of Blender, aiming to establish an integrated, extensible and domain-specific framework capable of interactive visualization, analysis, repair, high-fidelity meshing and high-quality rendering of vascular morphologies. Based on the initial feedback of the users, we anticipate that our framework will be an essential component in vascular modeling and simulation in the future, filling a gap that is at present largely unfulfilled. Availability and implementation VessMorphoVis is freely available under the GNU public license on Github at https://github.com/BlueBrain/VessMorphoVis. The morphology analysis, visualization, meshing and rendering modules are implemented as an add-on for Blender 2.8 based on its Python API (application programming interface). The add-on functionality is made available to users through an intuitive graphical user interface, as well as through exhaustive configuration files calling the API via a feature-rich command line interface running Blender in background mode. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Remote detection of music influence with physical sensor

Goals and objectives of the study: The goal of this paper was to study the possibility of remote detection of electronic music influence with a physical sensor. Study design: Bio-Well technology with a special environmental sensor was used in the study. This sensor was developed for the analysis of the electromagnetic fields and was shown to respond to the changed in the environmental parameters. Signal of a sensor was detected for an hour in the background mode after this music was turned on for 20 minutes, and then after-effect was detected for about one hour. In experiment 5 different files of the modern electronic music “Yippi Wave 3.0” (https://yippiweb.com/what-is-wave) in *wav format and several files of Handel music have been used. Results: The statistically significant changes of sensor parameters to “Yippi Wave 3.0” music were detected in several time-series, while no response to Handel music. Conclusions: This study should be considered a pilot study and the results are preliminary. We need to conduct experiments with different sources of both acoustic and electromagnetic signals and the possibility of their registration by the Bio-Well device

Uniform application for protection of a tomato from root rots in an open ground of the middle Russia region

Relevance. Significant harm to the culture of tomato, speaking about the middle Russia open ground plantations, is caused by fungal diseases, among which the most common are Fusarium wilt, late blight, alternariosis. To reduce the harmfulness of diseases, it is important to create stable and precocious hybrids that can give most of the crop before the mass development of diseases occurs. The complex system of protection includes preventive measures, the use of growth regulators possessing protective and stimulating action, application of biological preparations and fungicidal treatment. In terms of epiphytotic diseases, the most effective are chemicals, among which the increasing use get multipurpose products, involving several antifungal ingredients.Methods. The article presents the test results of the Uniform fungicide (321,7 g/l Аsoxystrobin + 123,7 g/l to Мefenoxam) against root rot of open ground tomato culture, grown in Moscow region. The estimation of biological and economic efficiency of Uniform application depending on the rate of consumption and multiplicity of treatments was carried out. The tomato Donskoy F1 hybrid, grown on drip irrigation, was used in experiments. Threefold background mode treatment of plants against late blight was carried out by fungicide Revus Top: at the onset of the first symptoms of the disease and hereinafter with 14 days intervals. Flow rate was 0.5 l/ha with solution consumption reaching 200 l/ha. Treatment of tomato plants by Uniform fungicide was performed by watering at the root under the flow rates of 0.9 l/ha and 1.5 l/ha and solution consumption of 200 l/ha. First application of seedlings was performed when planting, the second – 20 days after the first. The area of experimental plots was 20 m2, area of account plots was 10 m2. The repetition of account monitoring was fourfold.Results. The best results were achieved when using Uniform at the rate of 1.5 l/ha by root watering during transplanting and repeatedly at 20 days intervals. An increase in survival rate of seedlings, reduction of incidence of root rot by 81.2-86.9% and tomato yield increase by 29.7% to control under the influence of Uniform treatments were observed.

ОПТИМІЗАЦІЯ ОБСЯГУ НЕРЕЛЯЦІЙНОЇ БАЗИ ДАНИХ ТА ЧАСУ ДОСТУПУ ДО ДАННИХ ПРИ МНОЖИННИХ ЧАСТОТАХ РЕЄСТРАЦІЇ ПАРАМЕТРІВ

A non-relational database was developed at JSC Element for the recording operating parameters of GTE and systems during the test flight. The database is modernized version of one which is a part of the GTE test bench. The purpose of the database is the recording and analysis of GTE and systems operating parameters. The parameters are measured (collected) with multiple frequencies in range from fractions of Hz to tens of kHz. Number of recorded operating parameters is 1000+. Correspondingly the database file is huge and may reach tens of Gbytes. Number of different parameters recording frequencies is 10…20 (e.g. 20 parameters – 10 Hz, 30 parameters – 50 Hz, 20 parameters – 10000 Hz). Data reading and chart displaying should be possible as right after the test flight as just in parallel with database recording. There should be no significant delays in getting the data displayed independently from the zoom level chosen. The user should see the result in time comparable with time of the displayed chart perception making the user feel the smooth application operating and not interrupting the process of test flight result comprehension – main purpose of our product.However, min-max chart displaying (minimal and maximal value are found to render one-pixel vertical lines) requires processing of all the data for the corresponding time interval. Correspondingly, time to process data depends on that. In order to provide data quickly on user’s actions the sample is read according to the chart horizontal resolution. Then whole the data is processed in background mode to build min-max chart. This dual approach allows to surf the database quickly losing no details when the surfing is stopped.Modern computers and SSD drivers provides high I/O performance. However huge files can be neither quickly read nor stored in RAM. Therefore, to read data in parallel with the recording only the choice is to store the data blocks which are either indexed by the time stamp or fixed size. Our solution is based on fixed size approach with the constant offset of each parameter storing. Size of the block is calculated as least common multiple of all the frequencies the parameters are recorded with. According to our statistic the disk usage rate is 95%. As result the time to display the sample for 2000 timestamps is less than 0.5 sec independently for the database size and the displayed duration of the test flight.