Preface of the “Symposium on numerical optimization and applications”

[Excerpt] Numerical Optimization and Applications Symposium emphasizes modeling, theory and study of numerical algorithms for optimization. Optimization is an important tool in decision science and in the analysis of physical systems. Furthermore the Optimization plays central role in a tremendous variety of application in the natural sciences, in the sectors of economy, finance, and industry operational research and in the engineering. Because of the wide and growing use of optimization, it is important to develop an understanding of optimization algorithms. Knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of these algorithms leads to a better understanding of their impact on various applications, and points the way to future research on improving and extending optimization algorithms and software. [...](undefined

Solving semi-infinite programming problems using filter method

Semi-infinite programming problems can be efficiently solved by reduction type methods. Here, we present a new global reduction method for Semi-infinite programming, where the multi-local optimization is carried out with a stretched simulated annealing algorithm, the reduced problem is approximately solved by a primal-dual interior point method combined with a three-dimensional filter line search strategy, and the global convergence is promoted through a two-dimensional filter line search. Numerical experiments with a set of well-known problems are shown

How to break access control in a controlled manner

The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) integrates heterogeneous information within a Healthcare Institution stressing the need for security and access control. The Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Department from Porto Faculty of Medicine has recently implemented a Virtual EMR (VEMR) in order to integrate patient information and clinical reports within a university hospital. With more than 500 medical doctors using the system on a daily basis, an access control policy and model were implemented. However, the healthcare environment has unanticipated situations (i.e. emergency situations) where access to information is essential. Most traditional policies do not allow for overriding. A policy that allows for Break-The-Glass (BTG) was implemented in order to override access control whilst providing for non-repudiation mechanisms for its usage. The policy was easily integrated within the model confirming its modularity and the fact that user intervention in defining security procedures is crucial to its successful implementation and use

Effect of mannan oligosaccharides extracts in uropathogenic escherichia coli adhesion in human bladder cells

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evidence from 3-a-side soccer games

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of mixing and separating students by sex in the game performance, as heart rate (HR) demands and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) during 3-a-side small-sided soccer games (SSGs) performed in the context of Physical Education (PE) classes. Twelve students (6 male of 15.33±0.8 years; 1.77±0.10 m; 67.0±4.2 Kg; 21.50±2.5 Kg.m², and; 6 female of 15.00±0.0 years; 1.61±0.01 m; 53.8±9.1 Kg; 19.9±2.3 Kg.m2) performed the SSGs in two conditions: i) separated by sex and ii) mixed-sex. From single-sex to coeducation conditions results showed significant increases in female RPE and HR (14 to 16.1 and 142 to 163, respectively), but a decrease in the number of wrong passes, goals and shooting accuracy (p < 0.05: 80.5 to 15.2; 3.8 to 1.9 and 1.0 to 0.4, respectively). In the male group, only a single significant increase occurred in the total number of passes between the corresponding two conditions (p = 0.023: 12.5 to 14.1). When comparing the two gender groups in the mixed condition, we registered significantly higher values of the total number of passes and number of wrong passes in males than in females (74%), while the RPE was higher in females (p < 0.05). On the contrary, no significant differences between groups were observed in the separated conditions. These findings suggest a trend toward an increase in the perceived exercise intensity, not completely corroborated by HR data, with less technical proficiency for female students, mainly when playing against their male counterparts. PE teachers should be aware that mixing gender during foot-ball related activities may have a negative impact on female performance, which may impact their motivation and skill acquisition.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Avaliação do efeito da associação do Rituximab ao protocolo de quimioterapia ciclofosfamida, doxorrubicina, vincristina e prednisolona (CHOP) no tratamento de linfomas Não-Hodgkin

O protocolo de quimioterapia ciclofosfamida, doxorrubicina, vincristina e prednisolona (CHOP) e, posteriormente, rituximab, ciclofosfamida, doxorrubicina, vincristina e prednisolona (RCHOP) têm sido utilizados como terapêutica em Linfomas não-Hodgkin (LNH) como o Linfoma Difuso de Grandes Células B (LDGCB) e o Linfoma Folicular (LF). O LDGCB constitui o tipo de LNH mais frequente, com uma incidência de 40% e o LF representa cerca de 25% de todos os LNH-B. O anticorpo monoclonal rituximab foi associado ao protocolo de quimioterapia CHOP, pois este apresenta actividade sobre a maioria das células CD20+, sendo este um marcador expresso pela maioria das células B de linfomas. Actualmente, em oncologia, além dos ganhos clínicos que possam advir de novas opções terapêuticas, têm também vindo a ser analisadas as suas consequências a nível económico, devido ao aumento significativo das despesas com a Saúde. Assim, nos últimos anos, têm vindo a realizar-se estudos que avaliam parâmetros clínicos e de custo efectividade decorrentes da associação do rituximab ao CHOP, relativamente a este protocolo de quimioterapia isolado. Este trabalho teve como objectivo comparar os ganhos terapêuticos da associação do rituximab ao CHOP face a este protocolo de quimioterapia isolado, através da avaliação de indicadores clínicos (probabilidade de sobrevivência, probabilidade de sobrevivência sem sintomas, taxa de resposta, toxicidade, risco de infecção) e de custo efectividade descritos na literatura publicada nos últimos 5 anos

Effect of mannan oligosaccharides extracts in uropathogenic escherichia coli adhesion in human bladder cells

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common public health problem, mainly caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Patients with chronic UTIs are usually treated with long-acting prophylactic antibiotics, which promotes the development of antibiotic-resistant UPEC strains and may complicate their long-term management. D-mannose and extracts rich in D-mannose such as mannan oligosaccharides (MOS; D-mannose oligomers) are promising alternatives to antibiotic prophylaxis due to their ability to inhibit bacterial adhesion to urothelial cells and, therefore, infection. This highlights the therapeutic potential and commercial value of using them as health supplements. Studies on the effect of MOS in UTIs are, however, scarce. Aiming to evaluate the potential benefits of using MOS extracts in UTIs prophylaxis, their ability to inhibit the adhesion of UPEC to urothelial cells and its mechanism of action were assessed. Additionally, the expression levels of the pro-inflammatory marker interleukin 6 (IL-6) were also evaluated. After characterizing their cytotoxic profiles, the preliminary results indicated that MOS extracts have potential to be used for the handling of UTIs and demonstrated that the mechanism through which they inhibit bacterial adhesion is through the competitive inhibition of FimH adhesins through the action of mannose, validated by a bacterial growth impact assessment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Iron-peptide complexes from spent yeast: evaluation of iron absorption using a Caco-2 monolayer

Anaemia is one of the most prevalent nutritional diseases worldwide with Fe deficiency being its major cause. In fact, the limited bioavailability of dietary iron and its interaction with food compounds contribute to its poor absorption in the human body and dietary Fe supplementation has been widely used to address this issue. By incorporating a circular economy framework, this study takes a novel approach of production of iron-peptide complexes from spent yeast peptide-rich extracts as a more effective substitute to conventional salt-based iron supplements, which are related with adverse consequences. Considering the regulation of iron absorption on duodenal enterocytes, iron-peptides complexes absorption was assessed using a Caco-2 monolayer, evaluating both iron uptake and the capacity to stimulate ferritin synthesis, after their in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion following INFOGEST protocol. An iron salt and a commercially available benchmark (iron bisglycinate) were also included in this study to compare the absorption performance. Results showed that iron-peptide complexes exhibited a similar behaviour (no statistically significant alterations (p > 0.05)) concerning the other tested samples, thus being a promising alternative for iron dietary supplementation. The remaining digested peptides from the complexes also showed potential antioxidant activity, suggesting protection of iron from oxidation within human body.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio