A Perturbation Framework for Convex Minimization and Monotone Inclusion Problems with Nonlinear Compositions

We introduce a framework based on Rockafellar's perturbation theory to analyze and solve general nonsmooth convex minimization and monotone inclusion problems involving nonlinearly composed functions as well as linear compositions. Such problems have been investigated only from a primal perspective and only for nonlinear compositions of smooth functions in finite-dimensional spaces in the absence of linear compositions. In the context of Banach spaces, the proposed perturbation analysis leads to the construction of a dual problem and of a maximally monotone Kuhn--Tucker operator which is decomposable as the sum of simpler monotone operators. In the Hilbertian setting, this decomposition leads to block-iterative primal-dual proximal algorithms that fully split all the components of the problem and capture state-of-the-art existing methods as special cases

Avaliação do bem-estar de cavalos montados no desfile nacional de cavalos da Costa Rica

The National Horse Parade of Costa Rica (NHPCR) is an equestrian event held annually to celebrate the national day of the horse rider. Public concern regarding the welfare of horses and riders during the event has increased due to the removal of horses in poor body condition, spine injuries, and hoof problems. An Assessment of horse behavior and stress response during these events has never been conducted. The objective of this study was to evaluate the horse behavior, fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and body weight as indicators of welfare during the NHPCR. In the Experiment 1, body weight and fecal glucocorticoid metabolites were measured in 13 Costarricense de Paso horses participating in the NHPCR. All measures were recorded at the horses' home stable 48 hours before and 24 hours after the event. In Experiment 2, three stations (equally spaced along the 3-kilometer parade route) were used to randomly conduct a scan sampling of the behavior of 513 horses. Eye-wrinkle and eye-white presence were recorded on 48 horses using photographs taken during the event. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites showed no significant differences (p>0.05) at the two time points in the horses evaluated, and there was a significant weight loss (-7.08 kg) 24 hours after the event (p=0.00034). The scan sampling provided evidence that traits such as sweating (60.74%), bit chewing (54.70%), and active gait (65%) were more common than head tossing (28.88%), neck above the withers (6.83%), hyperflexion (28.71%), and ears pinned backwards (31.19%). A strong eye wrinkle was detected on 70% of the horses, while only 16% had the presence of eye-white. Although our results for fecal glucocorticoid metabolites were not conclusive, other behavioral traits indicated that over fifty per cent of the horses attending the NHPCR experience some level of stress.El Tope Nacional de Costa Rica (NHPCR) es un evento ecuestre realizado anualmente para celebrar el día nacional del caballista. La preocupación pública sobre el bienestar de los caballos y jinetes ha aumentado debido a mala condición corporal, lesiones en columna, problemas de cascos y dificultades en carga y descarga. Aunque se han implementado acciones para salvaguardar el bienestar de los caballos en años recientes, no se ha evaluado su comportamiento y los niveles de estrés durante este evento. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el comportamiento, los metabolitos de glucocorticoides en heces y el peso corporal como indicadores de bienestar de caballos durante el NHPCR. En el Experimento 1 se determinó el peso corporal y los niveles de cortisol fecal en 13caballos Costarricense de Paso 48-horas antes y 24-horas después del evento. En el Experimento 2, tres estaciones (equidistantes a lo largo de la ruta de 3 kilómetros del recorrido) se usaron para evaluar el comportamiento de 513caballos. Se registró la presencia de arrugas y conjuntiva del ojo en 48caballos con fotografías tomadas en el evento. No hubo diferencias significativas (p>0,05) en el análisis de metabolitos de glucocorticoides fecales en los dos momentos de muestreo y hubo una pérdida significativa (p=0,00034) de peso 24-horas después del evento (-7,08kg). Se halló evidencia de que características como la sudoración (60,74%), mordisqueo del bocado (54,70%) y paso activo (65%) fueron más comunes que la sacudida de cabeza (28,88%), cuello levantado (6,83%), hiperflexión del cuello (28,71%) y orejas posicionadas hacia atrás (31,19%) durante el evento. Se detectó una arruga fuerte en los ojos (70%) y presencia de la conjuntiva (16%) en los caballos. Aunque los resultados de glucocorticoides fecales no fueron concluyentes, otras características de comportamiento indicaron que más de la mitad de los caballos asistentes al NHPCR experimentan algún nivel de estrés.O Tope Nacional de Costa Rica (NHPCR) é um evento equestre realizado anualmente para celebrar o Dia Nacional do Cavaleiro. A preocupação do público com o bem-estar dos cavalos e cavaleiros aumentou devido ao número de cavalos retirados do evento com inadequadas condições corporais, lesões na coluna vertebral, problemas nos cascos e dificuldades de carga e descarga. Embora ações tenham sido implementadas para salvaguardar o bem-estar dos cavalos nos últimos anos, seu comportamento e os níveis de estresse durante este evento não foram avaliados. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar ocomportamento, os metabolitos de glicocorticoides em fezes e o peso corporal como indicadores de bem-estar dos equinos durante o NHPCR. No Experimento 1, o peso corporal e os níveis de cortisol fecal foram medidos em 13 cavalos da Costa Rica Paso 48 horas antes e 24 horas após o evento. No Experimento 2, três estações (igualmente espaçadas ao longo do percurso de 3 quilômetros) foram usadas para avaliar o comportamento de 513 cavalos. A presença de rugas e conjuntiva ocular foi registrada em 48 cavalos com fotografias tiradas no evento. Não houve diferenças significativas (p>0,05) na análise dos metabólitos fecais de glicocorticoides nos dois momentos de amostragem e houve perda de peso significativa (p=0,00034) 24 horas após o evento (-7,08 kg). Evidenciou-se que características como sudorese (60,74%), mordeduras (54,70%) e marcha ativa (65%) foram mais comuns do que sacudir a cabeça (28,88%), pescoço levantado (6,83%), hiperflexão do pescoço (28,71). %) e orelhas posicionadas para trás (31,19%) durante o evento. Forte enrugamento dos olhos (70%) e presença da conjuntiva (16%) foram detectados nos cavalos. Embora os resultados de glicocorticoides fecais tenham sido inconclusivos, outras características comportamentais indicaram que mais da metade dos cavalos atendidos no NHPCR experimentam algum nível de estresse

DR_SEQAN: a PC/Windows-based software to evaluate drug resistance using human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genotypes

BACKGROUND: Genotypic assays based on DNA sequencing of part or the whole reverse transcriptase (RT)- and protease (PR)-coding regions of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genome have become part of the routine clinical management of HIV-infected individuals. However, the results are difficult to interpret due to complex interactions between mutations found in viral genes. RESULTS: DR_SEQAN is a tool to analyze RT and PR sequences. The program output includes a list containing all of the amino acid changes found in the query sequence in comparison with the sequence of a wild-type HIV-1 strain. Translation of codons containing nucleotide mixtures can result in potential ambiguities or heterogeneities in the amino acid sequence. The program identifies all possible combinations of 2 or 3 amino acids that derive from translation of triplets containing nucleotide mixtures. In addition, when ambiguities affect codons relevant for drug resistance, DR_SEQAN allows the user to select the appropriate mutation to be considered by the program's drug resistance interpretation algorithm. Resistance is predicted using a rule-based algorithm, whose efficiency and accuracy has been tested with a large set of drug susceptibility data. Drug resistance predictions given by DR_SEQAN were consistent with phenotypic data and coherent with predictions provided by other publicly available algorithms. In addition, the program output provides two tables showing published drug susceptibility data and references for mutations and combinations of mutations found in the analyzed sequence. These data are retrieved from an integrated relational database, implemented in Microsoft Access, which includes two sets of non-redundant core tables (one for combinations of mutations in the PR and the other for combinations in the RT). CONCLUSION: DR_SEQAN is an easy to use off-line application that provides expert advice on HIV genotypic resistance interpretation. It is coded in Visual Basic for use in PC/Windows-based platforms. The program is freely available under the General Public License. The program (including the integrated database), documentation and a sample sequence can be downloaded fro

Exercises and Dry Needling for Subacromial Pain Syndrome: a Randomized Parallel- Group Trial.

This randomized clinical trial investigated the effectiveness of exercise vs. exercise plus trigger point dry needling (TrP-DN) in subacromial pain syndrome. A randomized parallel-group trial, with 1-year follow-up was conducted. Fifty subjects with subacromial pain syndrome were randomly allocated to receive exercise alone or exercise +TrP-DN. Participants in both groups were asked to perform an exercise program of the rotator cuff muscles twice daily for 5 weeks. Further, patients allocated to the exercise +TrP-DN group also received dry needling to active TrPs in the muscles reproducing shoulder symptoms during the 2nd and 4th sessions. The primary outcome was pain-related disability assessed with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included mean current pain and the worst pain experienced in the shoulder during the previous week. They were assessed at baseline, one week, and 3, 6, and 12 months after the end of treatment. Analysis was by intention to treat with mixed ANCOVA adjusted for baseline outcomes. At 12 months, 47 (94%) patients completed follow-up. Statistically larger improvements (all, P<0.01) in shoulder disability was found for the exercise +TrP-DN group at all follow up periods [post: Δ -20.6 (-23.8 to -17.4); 3 months: Δ -23.2 (-28.3 to -18.1); 6 months: Δ -23.6 (-28.9 to -18.3); 12 months: Δ -13.9 (-17.5 to -10.3). Both groups exhibited similar improvements in shoulder pain outcomes at all follow-up periods. The inclusion of TrP-DN to an exercise program was effective for improving disability in subacromial pain syndrome. No greater improvements in shoulder pain were observed.pre-print2407 K

Tolerancia al alcohol en ratas sometidas a diferentes períodos de consumo agudo y crónico de etanol

The development of tolerance to the effects of ethanol is not uniform and may vary according to the actual and previous pattern of consumption. In this experiment we assessed body temperature and the recovery of two reflexes after a high dose of ethanol in rats submitted to chronic and acute ethanol consumption. Animals were previously submitted to chronic or acute alcohol consumption from postnatal day 21 until postnatal days 56 and 84. On the testing days, the animals received a single dose of 25% ethanol (5 g/kg, i.p.) or the same amount of saline solution. The results showed that animals were affected in the day 56 to a greater extent than in the day 84 by chronic heavy consumption of ethanol solution. With moderate and acute ethanol consumption, the 56-day-old animals developed greater tolerance. However, tolerance was not developed for the motor-impairing effects, since all groups required a long time to recover reflexesEl desarrollo de tolerancia a los efectos del alcohol no es uniforme, y suele variar según el patrón de consumo previo y actual. En este trabajo se evaluó la temperatura corporal y el tiempo de recuperación de dos reflejos tras el consumo crónico y agudo de elevadas dosis de etanol. Previamente, los animales bebieron alcohol de forma crónica o aguda desde los 21 hasta los 56 y 84 días de edad. Durante los días de evaluación, los animales recibieron una única dosis de etanol al 25% (5 g/kg, i.p.), o la misma cantidad de solución salina. Los resultados mostraron una mayor afectación a los 56 días de consumo crónico elevado de etanol respecto a los 84 días. Con un consumo moderado o agudo de etanol, los animales de 56 días desarrollaron una mayor tolerancia. Sin embargo, esta tolerancia no se observó en cuanto a los déficits motores, dado que todos los grupos necesitaron un largo período de tiempo para recuperar los reflejosThis work was supported by grants PR78/02-10972 (Complutense University), MCYT BSO 2001-2757 (Ministry of Science and Technology, Spain) and PR-01-GE-2 (Principado de Asturias, Spain