Sensory Changes Research Articles

Spoilage characteristics of sous-vide beef caused by Clostridium estertheticum.

The increasing popularity of sous-vide (SV) cooking necessitates research into the microbiological quality, sensory changes, and shelf life of SV products. Studies show that SV cooking significantly reduces the levels of meat microbiota and pathogens, positively affecting the shelf life and safety of SV products. However, the meat spoilage organism Clostridium estertheticum can survive SV cooking as it can produce heat-tolerant spores. Theses spores can germinate and multiply during storage at refrigerated temperatures, leading to spoilage of SV meat. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterise the spoilage of SV beef caused by C. estertheticum compared to non-SV beef. In addition to the determination of spoilage characteristics, all beef samples were subjected to culture and qPCR analysis to determine the numbers of total bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts, and C. estertheticum. Species identification of the colonies on the culture media was performed using MALDI-TOF MS. The tests were carried out at three different times (three repetitions). A total of 90 beef samples were analysed, of which 54 samples were artificially contaminated with three strains of C. estertheticum and vacuum-packed. Of these, 27 beef samples underwent SV cooking (55°C, 70min). After 28days of storage at 4°C, the SV beef samples exhibited significantly higher levels of gas and stronger spoilage odour compared to non-SV samples (p<0.05). While drip loss and pH levels were also higher in SV beef, these were not considered specific spoilage characteristics caused by C. estertheticum. Microbiological and qPCR analyses revealed that all SV beef samples had very low bacterial and yeast counts but very high numbers of C. estertheticum, which strongly correlated with the sensory changes observed. We concluded that SV beef containing C. estertheticum has a shorter shelf life than contaminated non-SV beef. This is the first study to examine the spoilage of SV beef by C. estertheticum. The results may help raise awareness among meat producers and restaurants about the risk of meat losses due to spoilage caused by these bacteria.

Photobiomodulation therapy in diabetes: Benefits for pain relief, quality of life, and wound healing.

Globally, 537 million people suffer from diabetes mellitus (DM), a condition often associated with sensory disturbances, wound development, and chronic pain, which significantly affects the quality of life and imposes a substantial economic burden. This study evaluated the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy on nociceptive and sensory changes in diabetic patients to understand pain manifestations and explore PBM's molecular mechanisms on wound healing. Twenty patients with type 2 DM underwent clinical assessments, completed pain and quality of life questionnaires, and had their pain sensitivity evaluated using the quantitative sensory test (QST). A 5 mm skin biopsy was taken for fibroblast culture. PBM therapy, using 660 nm red light, was administered twice weekly for 7 weeks on lower limb wounds. Results indicated that DM patients faced significant sensory impairments, impacting their quality of life. PBM therapy improved pain scores, alleviated neuropathic pain, and enhanced sensory function, leading to better quality of life and reduced anxiety and depression. It also accelerated wound healing, enhancing mobility and autonomy. Invitro studies showed PBM therapy increased cell proliferation through the ERK signaling pathway and modulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1/8 and 2) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP).

Progression from outpatient referral to spinal surgery in an Australian cohort with degenerative spinal disease.

Degenerative spine disease (DSD) encompasses a range of conditions with increasing prevalence and a significant burden of disease. Patients with DSD are often referred to a neurosurgery clinic with lengthy waiting times from referral to consultation. The reported proportion of referred patients who undergo spinal surgery varies from 20.05% to 54% in heterogenous study populations from predominantly North American and European study populations. These rates do not correlate with institutional data in the Australian public hospital system and there is limited Australian data in the literature. This retrospective study aimed to quantify the proportion of patients referred to a neurosurgery clinic who progressed to elective spinal surgery and explore predictors for surgery based on referral contents. All patients referred for DSD to a single tertiary centre between 1/1/16 and 31/12/22 were included. Referrals for spinal pathology due to trauma, infection or tumour were excluded. Patient demographics, clinical presentation and imaging findings contained in the outpatient referral were recorded. Outcomes, including progression to surgery, were also recorded. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to determine predictive factors for surgery. Of 5189 referrals, only 471 (9.1%) underwent surgery. Only 4.7% had surgery at our institution with the remaining 4.4% undergoing surgery elsewhere. Referrals from neurologists, rheumatologists and referrals specifying limb weakness or sensory change, were more likely to progress to surgery, although these predictors were only present in 0.7 - 3.9% of referrals. Axial pain negatively predicted surgery. To our knowledge, this is the only study in an Australian population to analyse the outcome of DSD referrals to neurosurgery clinic, based on referral contents alone. The vast majority of patients do not require surgery. Though there are a few predictive factors, progression to surgery cannot reliably be predicted from the referral, highlighting the opportunity to improve patient outcomes and healthcare utilisation for patients with DSD.

A 63 year-Old Male With a Painful Subacute Demyelinating Neuropathy.

Subacute, painful weakness is a common problem encountered by neurologists and can be associated with systemic symptoms. The patient presented with 6 weeks of progressive neuropathic pain followed by sensory changes and distal-predominant weakness. This case reviews the broad differential for such a presentation and a comprehensive, stepwise approach to diagnosis. Particular attention is paid to the potentially treatable polyradiculoneuropathies, including more recently recognized immune-mediated etiologies. Through this stepwise approach, we review how a definitive diagnosis was made.

Long-term effects of linear versus macrocyclic GBCAs on gene expression in the central nervous system of mice

BackgroundWe examined chronic gadolinium retention impact on gene expression in the mouse central nervous system (CNS) after injection of linear or macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs).MethodsFrom 05/2022 to 07/2023, 36 female mice underwent weekly intraperitoneal injections of gadodiamide (2.5 mmol/kg, linear), gadobutrol (2.5 mmol/kg, macrocyclic), or saline. Mice were sacrificed on day 29 or 391 after a 1-year washout. Assessments included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), mechanical hyperalgesia tests, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to measure gadolinium levels. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing and bioinformatic analyses identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with validation by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot (WB).ResultsPost-gadodiamide, MRI showed increased signal intensity in the deep cerebellar nuclei (pre, 0.997 ± 0.006 versus post, 1.086 ± 0.013, p < 0.001). Mechanical hyperalgesia tests indicated transient sensory changes. After 1-year, gadolinium retention was noted in the brain (5.92 ± 0.32 nmol/kg) and spinal cord (1.23 ± 0.66 nmol/kg) with gadodiamide, compared to saline controls (0.06 ± 0.02 nmol/kg in brains and 0.28 ± 0.06 nmol/kg in spinal cords). RNA sequencing identified 17 shared DEGs between brain and spinal cord in the gadodiamide group on day 391, with altered Hmgb2 and Sgk1 expression confirmed by qRT-PCR and WB. Reactome pathway analysis showed enrichment in neuroinflammation pathways. No DEGs were detected in brains on day 29.ConclusionChronic gadolinium deposition from repeated linear GBCA but not macrocyclic administration causes significant gene expression alterations in the mouse CNS, particularly affecting neuroinflammation pathways.Relevance statementThis study examined the long-term impact of chronic gadolinium retention on gene expression in the mouse CNS, uncovering significant changes associated with neuroinflammation pathways after repeated administration of linear GBCA, but not with macrocyclic GBCA. These findings highlight the importance of further research on the long-term safety of linear GBCA in medical imaging.Key PointsChronic gadolinium retention alters gene expression in the mouse central nervous system.Significant neuroinflammatory pathway changes were observed after linear gadodiamide exposure.MRI showed increased signal intensity in deep cerebellar nuclei after gadodiamide injection.Graphical

Investigating the inhibitory effect of nettle (Urtica dioica L.) essential oil and Pickering nanoemulsion on some pathogenic bacteria inoculated into pizza cheese.

The aim of the present research was to evaluate the effect of Urtica dioica L. (nettle) essential oil (in the forms of Pickering nanoemulsion (NEO) and free (EO)) on microbial, chemical and sensory changes of pizza cheese stored at 4°C for 12days. For this purpose, Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes were inoculated into pizza cheese. In all tests, the control group had the lowest score after 12days of storage. In the antimicrobial assay test in different treatments, NEO4% treatment decreased the growth of E.coli from 4 (0th day) to 3.3 log CFU/g (12th day) and the growth of L. monocytogenes from 3.8 (0th day) to 3.1 log CFU/g (12th day). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of NEO and EO for E.coli and L. monocytogenes was 0.62±0.01mg/mL. Additionally, the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of EO and NEO for E. coli was 25±0.1mg/mL, and for L. monocytogenes was 1.25±0.1mg/mL. At day 12, almost all treatments (free form and nano) had relatively similar pH. In our study, the minimum and maximum value of DPPH was detected in the treatment of NEO1% (31.25±1.50%) and BHT200 (96.40±2.5%), respectively. Also, on the 12th day of the test, the NEO treatment obtained the highest score in all sensory tests (appearance & color, body & texture, odor and overall acceptability). According to the findings of the present study, Pickering emulsion form of nettle EO increases the storage period of pizza cheese.

Characteristics of sensory processing changes in children with developmental coordination disorder: A systematic review.

Sensory processing difficulties are common in neurodevelopment conditions, such as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and can significantly impact daily living activities. To systematically review the literature to (1) synthesize the characteristics (sections and patterns) of sensory processing alterations in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), (2) compare these characteristics with those of children with typical development or associated comorbidities, and (3) identify which characteristics may be present from early childhood. This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and was submitted and registered in PROSPERO. The literature search was conducted in the MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopul, SciELO, LILACS, ERIC, and EMBASE databases. Original studies that evaluated the sensory processing of children with DCD aged 3-12 years using standardized instruments were included. A total of 2609 studies were retrieved from databases. Of these, five studies that identified sensory processing alterations in children with DCD were included. The most affected sensory characteristics were touch and balance and motion sections, and the avoider pattern, which may present behaviors observed in early childhood. The methodological quality of studies ranged from moderate to high, whereas effect sizes ranged from small to moderate. This systematic review identified that children with DCD or probable DCD presented sensory processing alterations. Further studies with high methodological quality are needed to recommend the sensory processing characteristics impacting the early identification of DCD.

Immediate effects of electronic stimulation to the plantar foot on foot function and postural stability during landing.

Sports injuries often occur during landing, necessitating postural stability for injury prevention. Electrical stimulation of the plantar foot induces activities of the intrinsic foot muscles and improves somatosensory and postural stability during landing. However, this effect remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of electrical stimulation on the activities of the intrinsic foot muscles, plantar somatosensory system, and postural stability during landing. Twenty-two college athletes were divided into an electrical stimulation group and a control group. Electrical stimulation was applied to the plantar foot using a commercial device. The toe function and plantar tactile sensations were evaluated. The activities of the intrinsic muscles and the parameters of the ground reaction force were measured and calculated. We compared pre- and postintervention outcomes. In the electrical stimulation group, two subjects showed improvement in toe function, and plantar tactile sensation improved significantly postintervention. The control group exhibited no significant change in plantar tactile sensation. A significant interaction was observed in anteroposterior postural stability during landing, notably improving in the electrical stimulation group. Electrical stimulation of the plantar foot immediately improved toe function, plantar tactile sensation, and postural stability during landing. Such stimulation would be beneficial in preventing sports injuries.

Colour Psychology in Interior Design for Geriatric Spaces

The psychological impact of colour significantly influences the design of therapeutic and functional spaces for the geriatric population. As aging brings sensory and cognitive changes, carefully curated interior design can enhance emotional comfort, cognitive function, and overall well-being. This concept note delves into the application of colour psychology to create aging-friendly environments that promote mental health and safety. Warm, soothing colours can reduce stress and create a sense of familiarity, while brighter hues aid in improving mood and cognitive alertness. Conversely, muted tones may mitigate overstimulation, particularly in individuals with dementia or sensory sensitivities. Proper contrast and colour differentiation can also improve spatial orientation, reducing fall risks and enhancing safety. The paper underscores the need for evidence-based design principles tailored to the unique needs of the elderly. It highlights actionable strategies for interior designers, including the mindful selection of colour palettes, the integration of natural lighting, and the use of texture and contrast to improve navigation and engagement. By prioritizing the psychological and functional aspects of colour, designers can create spaces that foster comfort, safety, and emotional well-being for older adults. This exploration emphasizes how thoughtful design can contribute to a supportive and enriching environment for the aging population.

Effects of a Footbathing Intervention on Physiological, Endocrine, and Psychological Status in Japanese University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The present pilot study examined effectiveness of a 2-week footbathing intervention on physiological, endocrine, and psychological status in healthy Japanese university students. A total of 51 participants were randomly assigned to a footbathing or normal bathing group. Participants in both groups provided daily free descriptions of their physical and mental states during the intervention period. Participants also underwent measurements of autonomic nervous system activities and salivary cortisol, and completed questionnaires in the pre- and post-intervention periods, as well as in the follow-up period. Neither the footbathing group nor the normal bathing group showed significant changes in deep body temperature, blood pressure, or salivary cortisol through the intervention period. Significant increases in dispositional mindfulness and interoceptive awareness, and significant decrease in trait anxiety were observed regardless of the groups. Nevertheless, an awareness of changes in bodily sensations and mood by footbathing mentioned in the participants' free descriptions was significantly associated with increased deep body temperature, dispositional mindfulness, interoceptive awareness, and subjective well-being from the pre- to post-intervention periods. These results suggest that the period of intervention and sample size might have been insufficient to induce significant changes in baseline psychophysiological status, but that awareness of changes in psychophysiological states may potentially be involved in the mechanism of footbathing.

EPILEPTIC SEIZURE DETECTION FROM EEG SIGNALS WITH RECURRENT NEURAL NETWORKS BASED CLASSIFICATION MODEL

Epileptic seizures are a neurological disorder that occurs as a result of sudden and uncontrolled electrical activities of the non-contagious brain. This condition may cause the person to lose normal activities temporarily. Epileptic seizures are a severe disease that affects approximately 60 million people in the world, usually manifested by symptoms such as loss of consciousness, muscle twitching, sudden sensory changes, or behavioural changes [1]. Genetics, brain injury, hormonal fluctuations, infections, or metabolic problems are some of the possible causes of epileptic seizures. Although the severity and duration of the seizure varies from person to person, it is usually very short and rarely reaches a point where it endangers human life. However, such seizures need to be recognized as soon as possible in order to improve the quality of life of individuals and reduce the frequency of seizures. Epileptic seizures are a manageable disease with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Recognizing epileptic seizures begins with understanding a person's symptoms and triggering factors. These symptoms may include loss of consciousness, muscle twitches, sudden sensory changes, and behavioural changes. The symptoms of seizures, past medical history, and neurological examinations are essential in the diagnosis process. From past to present, many methods have been developed for the early diagnosis and detection of epileptic seizures [2]. One of these is analyzing the brain's neural activities using electroencephalography (EEG), which helps experts make a diagnosis. Although EEG signals are used as a powerful tool in epileptic seizure recognition, distinguishing the signals within them is both costly and requires highly expert experience. Therefore, this study proposed an automatic classification model for pre-processed EEG signals using Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Transform (DT-CWT) based on deep learning-based Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) architecture to assist experts. Compared to classical machine learning methods, deep learning-based models require less manual feature engineering because they perform data automatically thanks to deep networks instead of manually selecting and transforming the data features. These advantages make the model more general and flexible. The proposed model aims to classify EEG signals and detect epileptic seizures effectively and quickly in the early stages.

Microbial and Sensory Quality Changes in Broiler Chicken Breast Meat During Refrigerated Storage.

The aim of the study was to assess the bacterial flora of broiler chicken breast meat using the MALDI method, as well as its sensory evaluation while stored refrigerated at a stable temperature (0.5 °C+/-0.5 °C). Bacterial identification based on peptidic spectra obtained by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF MS) mass spectrometry is a rapid, inexpensive, and accurate method for identifying isolates that belong to certain bacterial phyla. The microbiological and sensory quality was assessed on the 1st and 3rd, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th day of refrigerated storage. The study identified psychrophilic bacteria to be the dominant microflora during the entire period of refrigerated storage. The species profile of the bacteria, however, varied in the subsequent days of storage. From the 8th day of storage, the profile was dominated by bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas. The proportionate content of Pseudomonas bacteria ranged from 89% on day 8 to 95% on day 11th of storage. The majority of the unfavourable microflora (Aeromonas species, Alcaligenes spp., Klebsiella spp., and Yersinia spp.) were observed on the 11th day of storage, which indicates that meat spoilage processes had commenced. The quality of breast meat from broiler chickens stored at 0.5 °C+/-0.5 °C was sensorially acceptable up to the 8th day of storage.

Systematic Evaluation of Lower Urinary Tract Sensations to Improve Management of LUTS: ICI-RS 2024.

Lower urinary tract (LUT) sensations form an essential part of diagnostic criteria for many LUT symptoms, additionally LUT sensations are used to evaluate the effectivity of therapeutic interventions. The accurate measurement of LUT sensations, however, is severely hampered by the subjective nature of these sensations. This paper summarizes the discussions from the 2024 meeting of the International Consultation for Incontinence-Research Society (ICI-RS 2024) regarding systematic evaluations of LUT sensations and the design of more objective tools to measure these. Here, we discuss factors that influence sensations that are under the control of the caregiver/investigator, the signaling of sensations from the LUT toward the central nervous system, and currently used diagnostic tools to measure LUT sensations. Recent methodological advances to objectively measure factors that correspond with changes in LUT sensations are introduced along with recommendations for future research to optimally enable objective assessment of processes underlying LUT sensations. Advancing the objective measurement of LUT sensations will require interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating insights from neuroscience, engineering, and clinical practice. Such efforts hold the potential to transform patient care by enabling more precise diagnostics and personalized therapeutic strategies.

Life after stroke: changes in sensory health and the impact on participation

ABSTRACT Background Research has demonstrated that adults post-stroke may experience sensory impairments across different sensory systems. There is a gap in research describing how sensory changes after stroke affect participation in health promoting activities. Objectives The purpose of this study is to understand how changes in sensory health after stroke affect participation in meaningful activities. Methods We adopted a qualitative phenomenological design to conduct four focus groups with ten participants: two focus groups with a cohort of adults post-stroke (n=5) and two focus groups with a cohort of stroke rehabilitation therapists and stroke caregivers (n=5). Focus group transcripts were coded using open and focused coding with NVivo software to develop themes. Results Participants reported changes in their visual, vestibular, proprioceptive, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, and auditory systems that affected their participation in meaningful activities. Participants also reported that they experienced insufficient resources and therapies addressing their sensory health after their stroke. Analyses yielded the following themes:(1) it’s hidden and invisible;(2) sensory changes affect participation and can be overwhelming; and (3) it’s easy to stay inside: sensory changes negatively affect social participation. Conclusions Adults post-stroke experience sensory changes that restrict their participation in meaningful activities including social activities; however, these changes were often missed. More research is needed to further explore the impact of changes in sensory health and understand needs regarding the development of assessment tools and intervention protocols to address the sensory health of adults post-stroke in the clinic, home, and community.

Sensory Changes Following the Lateral Nasal Wall Surgery: A Systematic Review.

The objective of this study was to analyze the sensory changes reported by patients after lateral nasal wall surgery and to assess the prevalence and severity of sensory disturbances, the factors that influence their occurrence, and their impact on patients' quality of life. The methodology adopted in this study was PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis), as well as the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes) strategy, which assisted in the development of the study's objectives. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, among all the articles retrieved in the searched databases (PubMed and Google Scholar), we selected 15 articles, considered to be pertinent and relevant to the present investigation. The results demonstrated that there are several sensory disturbances in patients, highlighting the importance of tailoring the best surgical technique to tackle the problem and, consequently, improve patients' quality of life. Overall, all 15 articles demonstrated important outcomes for patients' health, contributing to their recovery and changing their initial status. No consensus emerges regarding the most suitable surgical technique, as has been established by previous literature. In conclusion, the revision showed that sensory changes reported by patients are congruent with the previously identified sensory disturbances. Surgical procedures must be tailored by surgeons precisely to treat the previously identified sensory disturbances, thus contributing to the increase in patients' quality of life.

The relationship between changes in inflammation and locomotor function in sensory phenotypes of central neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury.

Central neuropathic pain (CNP) commonly develops in patients after spinal cord injury (SCI), causing debilitating symptoms and sensory abnormalities to mechanical and thermal stimuli. The biological variability of pain phenotypes in individuals has limited the number of positive outcomes. Thus, it is necessary to investigate the physiological processes contributing to sensory changes that develop over time. To investigate the physiological processes contributing to neuropathic pain sensory changes and locomotor impairments with sensory phenotypes that develop over time. Using the tail flick and von Frey tests, we performed hierarchical clustering to determine the subpopulation of rats that developed thermal and mechanical sensory abnormalities. To measure inflammation as a potential mediator of CNP phenotypes, we used flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Finally, to assess the secondary effects on locomotor recovery, up to 8 weeks after injury, we used the CatWalk test to assess multiple parameters of gait. The von Frey test showed a subpopulation of SCI rats that were hyposensitive to mechanical stimuli from 6 to 8 weeks after injury. The tail flick test showed a subpopulation of SCI rats that were hypersensitive to thermal stimuli at 1 week and 3 to 8 weeks after injury. Although there were no differences in inflammatory cells between subpopulations, we did see significant changes in locomotor recovery between rats with and without sensory abnormalities. The myeloid cell population at large is not affected by mechanical or thermal phenotypes of pain in this model; however, locomotor recovery is impaired depending on the pain phenotype present. Further investigation into acute inflammatory cells may be insightful for predicting the development of pain phenotypes.

System sensory analysis of yogurt based on texture analyzer.

System sensory analysis of yogurt plays a crucial role in the research and development of new yogurt products. This study developed a sensory evaluation system for yogurt, encompassing hardness, ductility, viscosity, cohesiveness, silkiness, and stickiness. The system simulates human sensory evaluation based on the measurement principles of a texture analyzer, offering an intuitive, user-friendly, and data-efficient method. This provides a practical and systematic approach for the diverse development of the yogurt industry. In addition, using yogurt fortified with yam polysaccharide (YP) and auricularia auricula polysaccharide (AAP), which have nutritional and medicinal value, the study found that adding AAP alone improved the texture by reducing the hardness, ductivity, and cohesiveness while increasing the viscosity, silkiness, and stickiness compared with YP. Furthermore, the increased cohesiveness in yogurt at a WGS:AAP:YP ratio of 1:2:2 was linked to higher AAP content, while the reduced hardness and ductility at a ratio of 2:2:1 were associated with lower YP content. After 28 d of low-temperature storage, the decreased hardness, ductility, and cohesiveness, along with the increased viscosity, silkiness, stickiness in yogurt, were closely tied to the reduced YP content. This study enhances the convenience and safety of assessing sensory quality changes in yogurt due to added nutritional components during the development of new yogurt products.

Prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia: A hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Our study aimed to determine the prevalence of Peripheral Neuropathy (using nerve conduction studies (NCS)) in children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia aged between 5 to 18 years and to study its correlation with chronic anemia, ferritin levels, chelation status, annual transfusion requirement, deficiency of serum Vitamin B12, and Folate levels. In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, 100 eligible children were enrolled in a tertiary care teaching hospital in New Delhi, India. Neurological examinations focusing on peripheral neuropathy followed by NCS were performed on all the patients. Age-wise cutoff values outside of 2.5 SD of normal were taken as abnormal. None of the children had clinical features of peripheral neuropathy, although 77% had abnormalities in NCS. Of these, 33% had pure motor nerve changes, 7% had pure sensory nerve changes, 1% had abnormal F responses, and 26% had mixed nerve changes. These changes correlated significantly with chronic anemia and duration of iron chelation but not with other factors. In children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia who do not exhibit any neurological signs or symptoms, however, it is not uncommon to observe abnormal NCS at an average hemoglobin (Hb) level of less than 9.5 g/dl. Further comprehensive case-control studies are necessary to determine if a more specific Hb target range of 9.5 to 10.5 g/dl is appropriate and to investigate the potential impact of chelation therapy on these changes.

Chemical and sensorial profile of Coffea arabica cultivars fermented by different post-harvest processing methods

Climatic conditions, genotypes, and post-harvest processing methods influence coffee quality. Microbial fermentation during post-harvest processing has sparked researchers’ interest due to the modulation of the sensory characteristics of coffee. However, the influence of microbial fermentation on different coffee genotypes has been little investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical and sensory changes of Coffea arabica cultivars caused by different post-harvest processing and fermentations. Catucaí 785 and Catucaí Açú cultivars had better sensory evaluation than the Arara cultivar in the two years of sampling. However, dry fermentation proved to be a promising alternative to improve the sensory analysis of the Arara cultivar. Inoculation of Saccharomyces pastorianus yielded positive results in the chemical and sensory of the Catucaí Açú cultivar. Each coffee genotype is capable of expressing unique sensory and chemical attributes depending on the different post-harvest processing and fermentations applied.

A function-based mapping of sensory integration along the cortical hierarchy

Sensory information mainly travels along a hierarchy spanning unimodal to transmodal regions, forming multisensory integrative representations crucial for higher-order cognitive functions. Here, we develop an fMRI based two-dimensional framework to characterize sensory integration based on the anchoring role of the primary cortex in the organization of sensory processing. Sensory magnitude captures the percentage of variance explained by three primary sensory signals and decreases as the hierarchy ascends, exhibiting strong similarity to the known hierarchy and high stability across different conditions. Sensory angle converts associations with three primary sensory signals to an angle representing the proportional contributions of different sensory modalities. This dimension identifies differences between brain states and emphasizes how sensory integration changes flexibly in response to varying cognitive demands. Furthermore, meta-analytic functional decoding with our model highlights the close relationship between cognitive functions and sensory integration, showing its potential for future research of human cognition through sensory information processing.