Using soft computing tools for piezometric level prediction

The safety assessment of dams is a complex task that is made possible thanks to a constant monitoring of pertinent parameters. Once collected, the data is processed by statistical analysis models in order to describe the behaviour of the structure. The aim of those models is to detect early signs of abnormal behaviour so as to take corrective actions when required. Because of the uniqueness of each structure, the behavioural models need to adapt to each of these structures, thus flexibility is required. Simultaneously, generalisation capacities are sought, so a trade-off has to be found. This flexibility is even more important when the analysed phenomenon is characterised by non-linear features, as it is the case for the piezometric levels (PL) monitored at the rockconcrete interface of the arch dam that this study focuses on. In that case, the linear models that are classically used by engineers show insufficient performances. Consequently, interest naturally grows for the advanced learning algorithms known as machine learning techniques. In this work, the aim is to compare the predictive performances and generalization capacities of three different Data Mining algorithms that are likely to be used for monitoring purposes: Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Multiple Regression (MR). The achieved results show that SVM and ANN stand out as the most efficient algorithms, when it comes to analysing non-linear monitored phenomenon. Through a global sensitivity analysis, the influence of the models’ attributes was measured, evidencing a high impact of Z (relative trough) in PL prediction.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Tooth avulsion accidents due to urgent and emergency orotracheal intubation

Intubation is necessary during critical situations to reduce the risk of death. In Brazil, a need exists to determine the prevalence of tooth avulsions in emergency and urgent care. The objective of this study was to identify the causes of orotracheal intubation (OTI), the number of tooth avulsions, and the avulsed teeth that result from urgent and emergency intubation. The sample consisted of 116 patients (total group) in intensive care units (ICUs) distributed across Group 1 (G1), which was composed of 71 patients from an urgent-care hospital, and Group 2 (G2), which was composed of 45 patients from an emergency hospital. Clinical examinations showed dental alveolus with signs of recent exodontia in the upper and lower anterior regions. Sociodemographic data and the reason for intubation were evaluated. The Shapiro-Wilk normality test, chi-square test, Fisher?s exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, and univariate logistic regression were performed with a significance level of 5%. The avulsion prevalence was 4.3%, with more cases receiving emergency intubation (n=4). All avulsions occurred in adults, and a significant difference (p=0.011) was observed with regard to the elderly. A 1-year reduction in age increased the chance of tooth avulsion during intubation by 1.09 times; being female increased the chance by 2.88 times. Pulmonary problems were the major causes of intubation, with the highest tooth avulsion prevalence observed during emergency intubation. The avulsed teeth were 11, 12, 13, 22, 32, and 33 across all cases

Tlx3 exerts direct control in specifying excitatory over inhibitory neurons in the dorsal spinal cord

© 2021 Monteiro, Miranda, Samina, Dias, Raposo, Oliveira, Reguenga, Castro and Lima. 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.The spinal cord dorsal horn is a major station for integration and relay of somatosensory information and comprises both excitatory and inhibitory neuronal populations. The homeobox gene Tlx3 acts as a selector gene to control the development of late-born excitatory (dILB) neurons by specifying glutamatergic transmitter fate in dorsal spinal cord. However, since Tlx3 direct transcriptional targets remain largely unknown, it remains to be uncovered how Tlx3 functions to promote excitatory cell fate. Here we combined a genomics approach based on chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by next generation sequencing (ChIP-seq) and expression profiling, with validation experiments in Tlx3 null embryos, to characterize the transcriptional program of Tlx3 in mouse embryonic dorsal spinal cord. We found most dILB neuron specific genes previously identified to be directly activated by Tlx3. Surprisingly, we found Tlx3 also directly represses many genes associated with the alternative inhibitory dILA neuronal fate. In both cases, direct targets include transcription factors and terminal differentiation genes, showing that Tlx3 directly controls cell identity at distinct levels. Our findings provide a molecular frame for the master regulatory role of Tlx3 in developing glutamatergic dILB neurons. In addition, they suggest a novel function for Tlx3 as direct repressor of GABAergic dILA identity, pointing to how generation of the two alternative cell fates being tightly coupled.This work is a result of the project Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000008 – Porto Neurosciences and Neurologic Disease Research Initiative at I3S, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Program (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). This work was also supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Grants PTDC/SAU-OBD/099886/2008 to DL and PTDC/NEU-NMC/0315/2012 to DC) and Universidade do Porto/Banco Santander Totta (Projetos Pluridisciplinares to FM). We acknowledge the support of POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022122, granted to i3S Scientific Platform Advanced Light Microscopy, member of the national infrastructure PPBI-Portuguese Platform of BioImaging.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

\u3cem\u3eIn Situ\u3c/em\u3e Digestibility of \u3cem\u3eGliricidia sepium\u3c/em\u3e Combined with \u3cem\u3eBrachiaria decumbens\u3c/em\u3e in a Silvopastoral System

Silvopastoral system (SPS) are characterized by a combination of trees, pasture and herbivores animals, in the same physical area, in order to obtain diversified products. A promising legume tree that has been studied and used in SPS in tropical areas is gliricidia [Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud]. Advantages of gliricidia use in SPS include N inputs via biological fixation, improvement of soil properties, nutrient cycling and also a source of feed to grazing animals (Cubillos-Hinojosa et al., 2011). Gliricidia has high crude protein concentration in its leaves, which complements the usual N-poor diet of ruminants grazing warm-season grasses. The introduction of gliricidia in SPS faces a problem due to the low initial acceptability by cattle, being necessary an adaptation period in order to cattle reach satisfactory intake levels (Carvalho Filho et al., 1997). In general, the quality of the forages can be predicted by accessing their nutritive value, represented by the chemical composition and digestibility of the forage constituents (Van Soest, 1994). The digestibility of dry matter in forages consumed in a SPS can be influenced by the forage species used, by grass/legume combinations, and by the proportion that each forage species takes in the diet of the ruminants. This study evaluated in situ digestibility of gliricidia in increasing levels of inclusion in the diet composed by sabi grass (Brachiaria decumbens, Stapf) in a silvopastoral system

Animal Performance and Pasture Characteristics of \u3cem\u3eBrachiaria decumbens\u3c/em\u3e Stapf., \u3cem\u3eGliricidia sepium\u3c/em\u3e (Jacq.) Steud, and \u3cem\u3eMimosa caesalpiniifolia\u3c/em\u3e Benth. in Silvipastoral Systems

Grasslands are the major source of feed for ruminants (Zanine 2005). Seasonality of production, however, is a constraint in forage-based systems. Silvopastoril systems combine different components (animals, trees, and forages) into one integrated system and may improve forage distribution across seasons. Resource use is usually more efficient both spatially and temporally, increasing land use efficiency (Nair 1993). Tree legumes present potential for silvopastoril systems because they can fix N from the atmosphere, improve cattle diet, and lead to a faster N cycle. In addition, trees provide shade and may reduce heat stress for grazing animals in warm-climate grasslands. Legume trees are commonly found in warm-season climates and present potential for use in silvopastoril systems. This research studied the animal performance and pasture characteristics of signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) in pure stand or in silvopastoril systems with Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud or Mimosa caesalpinifolia Benth

Functional evaluation of sublingual microcirculation indicates successful weaning from VA-ECMO in cardiogenic shock

Background: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is increasingly adopted for the treatment of cardiogenic shock (CS). However, a marker of successful weaning remains largely unknown. Our hypothesis was that successful weaning is associated with sustained microcirculatory function during ECMO flow reduction. Therefore, we sought to test the usefulness of microcirculatory imaging in the same sublingual spot, using incident dark field (IDF) imaging in assessing successful weaning from VA-ECMO and compare IDF imaging with echocardiographic parameters. Methods: Weaning was performed by decreasing the VA-ECMO flow to 50% (F50) from the baseline

Description of training loads using whole body exercise during high-intensity-interval-training

OBJECTIVES: To describe external training load and internal training load through sets of a single session of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) body work. METHODS: Twenty male individuals (24±3 years) performed a HIIT body work protocol consisting of a single bout of exercise with 1:1 stimuli. The exercises used were 30 min in duration with “all-out” intensity. The exercises included jumping jacks, mountain climbers, burpees and squat jumps, totaling 20 min of exercise. During exercise, total movement capacity, blood lactate measurement, ratings of perceived exertion and recovery, training load and intensity were monitored. RESULTS: The single bout examined showed a total of 382±89 movements. Differences (p<0.01) in the total amount of movement for each exercise were noted, reflecting the difficulty of maintaining exercise over time. Increases in lactate concentrations (before: 0.98±0.16, after: 14.10±1.66; mmol/L) were found postexercise. Significant differences (p<0.01) were found after the fifth set, and the values for movement capacity remained higher than the values of the first set, demonstrating high load in a single session. No differences in ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) during the sets were found. However, the ratings of perceived recuperation from the second set were significantly (p<0.01) lower than those from the first set. CONCLUSIONS: The exercise protocol used in this study was of high intensity and produced large values for stress during performance, with increases recorded for the internal load indicators

The magnitude of syphilis: from prevalence to vertical transmission

ABSTRACT Introduction: In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 1.9 million pregnant women were infected with syphilis worldwide, of which 66.5% had adverse fetal effects in cases of untreated syphilis. Congenital syphilis contributes significantly to infant mortality, accounting for 305,000 perinatal deaths worldwide annually. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of syphilis in parturients, the incidence of congenital syphilis and the vertical transmission rate. Material and methods: a cross-sectional study with data collected from 2041 parturients who had undergone treatment between 2012 and 2014 in the maternity section of the Pedro Ernesto Hospital of the State University of Rio de Janeiro, in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro. The inclusion criterion was positive VDRL and treponemal test in a hospital environment. Results: the prevalence of syphilis in pregnant women was 4.1% in 2012, 3.1% in 2013 and 5% in 2014, with official reporting of 15.6%, 25.0% and 48.1%, respectively. The incidence of congenital syphilis (CS) was 22/1,000 in live births (LB) in 2012; 17/1,000 LB in 2013 and 44.8/1,000 LB in 2014. CS underreporting during the period was 6.7%. Vertical transmission occurred in 65.8% of infants from infected mothers. It was concluded that, in 34.6% of the CS cases, maternal VDRL titers were = 1/4. Conclusion: Results demonstrate the magnitude of the disease, fragility of the reporting system in the assessment of the actual prevalence, impact on perinatal outcomes, and they are a warning about the real situation of syphilis, which is still underestimated in the State