Predictive Modeling of Menstrual Cycle Length: A Time Series Forecasting Approach

A proper forecast of the menstrual cycle is meaningful for women's health, as it allows individuals to take preventive actions to minimize cycle-associated discomforts. In addition, precise prediction can be useful for planning important events in a woman's life, such as family planning. In this work, we explored the use of machine learning techniques to predict regular and irregular menstrual cycles. We implemented some time series forecasting algorithm approaches, such as AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average, Huber Regression, Lasso Regression, Orthogonal Matching Pursuit, and Long Short-Term Memory Network. Moreover, we generated synthetic data to achieve our purposes. The results showed that it is possible to accurately predict the onset and duration of menstrual cycles using machine learning techniques.Comment: 12 pages, 21 figure

Clinical and laboratorial diversity in the bantu haplotype of sickle cell anemia

Several factors have been identified as possibly being responsible for the diversity of sickle cell anemia patients symptoms, including gender, age, haplotypes and hemoglobin F levels. The aim of this paper is to verify the clinical and laboratorial diversity of the Bantu haplotype. A descriptive study was performed of eighteen children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia and homozygous for the Bantu haplotype. Gender and age were assessed in respect to clinical and laboratorial features. Statistical analysis of the results was achieved using the EPIINFO program version 6.04. Children from 1 to 11 years old had more infections than adolescents from 12 to 19 and higher levels of hemoglobin F. The hematocrit was higher in girls. Higher levels of hemoglobin A2 were related to more infections, and higher levels of hemoglobin F were related to hematocrit values and lower numbers of infections and periods in hospital. This study suggests that there is diversity within the Bantu haplotype, which is possibly related to gender, age and hemoglobin A2 and hemoglobin F levels of patients.Muitos fatores são responsáveis pela diversidade de sintomas nos pacientes de anemia falciforme, entre eles: sexo, idade, haplótipos e nível de hemoglobina fetal. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a diversidade clínica e laboratorial dentro do haplótipo bantu. Realizou-se um estudo descritivo onde foram avaliados 18 crianças e adolescentes portadores de anemia falciforme e homozigóticos para o haplótipo bantu, relacionando sexo e idade com as características clínicas e laboratoriais, além de relacioná-las diretamente entre si. As amostras foram do tipo casuais simples. O tamanho da amostra teve uma variação de freqüência para o evento de 30% a 65% e nível de confiança de 99,9%. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas através do programa EPIINFO, versão 6.04b, com erro a de 5%. A faixa etária de 01 a 11 anos teve um maior número de infecções que a faixa de 12 a 19, além de níveis mais altos de hemoglobina fetal. Os valores do hematócrito foram maiores no sexo feminino. Níveis mais elevados de hemoglobina A2 foram relacionados com maior número de infecções, enquanto níveis mais elevados de hemo­globina fetal foram relacionados com maiores valores de hematócrito e menor número de crises álgicas/ano de acompanhamento. O número de transfusões/ano teve correlação positiva com o número de crises álgicas, de infecções e de inter­namentos. Este estudo sugere que há uma diversidade clínica e laboratorial dentro do haplótipo bantu e possivelmente está relacionado com o sexo, a idade e os níveis de hemoglobina fetal e A2 dos pacientes.Fundação Universitária de Ciências da Saúde de Alagoas Departamento de PediatriaUniversidade Federal de Alagoas Departamento de Clínica MédicaUniversidade Federal de Sergipe Departamento de PediatriaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Clínica MédicaUNIFESP, Depto. de Clínica MédicaSciEL

On mechanical behavior of metal anchors in historical brick masonry: testing and analytical validation

The repair and strengthening of historical masonry buildings is a fundamental aspect in the conservation of the built cultural heritage. Temporary shoring or strengthening are often used and, usually, involve the introduction of new metallic elements. The connection between the original substrate and the new elements must be analyzed carefully to prevent further damage to the building. This paper presents a study on the mechanical behavior of metal anchors applied to brick masonry walls. An experimental campaign is developed, and a series of pull-out tests are carried out on masonry walls built in a laboratory with natural hydraulic lime mortar and low mechanical strength bricks. Two groups of tests are conducted, namely, with the actuator in the direction of the anchor axis and with the actuator inclined with respect to the fastener axis. Moreover, two types of anchoring systems are used, namely, adhesive (chemical and cementitious grout) and mechanical anchors. The experimental results are compared to predictive analytical formulas available in the literature for estimation of the ultimate load capacity, according to the type of failure. From the comparison between experimental and analytical values, it is proven that the analytical formulation originally developed for concrete substrates cannot be directly extrapolated to brick masonry cases, and specific predictive formulas should be developed. The presented research can be used to select the most efficient anchoring system for strengthening and retrofitting of historical brick masonry structures.APC funded by MDPI’s Invited Paper Progra

Differential Attraction Of Drosophilids To Banana Baits Inoculated With Saccharomyces Cerevisiae And Hanseniaspora Uvarum Within A Neotropical Forest Remnant

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Yeasts are a necessary requisite in the diet of most Drosophila species that, in turn, may vector their dispersal in natural environments. Differential attractiveness experiments and the isolation of yeasts consumed by Drosophila may be informative for characterizing this association. Hanseniaspora uvarum is among the most common yeast species isolated from Drosophila crops, with high attractiveness to drosophilids. Saccharorrtyces cerevisiae has been widely used to collect flies, and it allows broad sampling of almost. all local Drosophila species. Pronounced differences in the field concerning Drosophila attractivity to baits seeded with these yeast species have been previously reported. However, few explicit generalizations have. been. set. Since late fifties, no field experiments of. Drosophila attractivity were carried out. in.the Neotropical region, which is facing shifts in abiotic and biotic factors.. Our objective is to characterize preference behavior that mediates the interaction in the wild among Neotropical Drosophila species and yeasts associated with them. We want to set a broad generalization about drosophilids attracted to the se yeasts. Here we present the results of a differential attractiveness experiment we carried out in a natural Atlantic Rainforest fragment to assess the preferences of Drosophila species groups to baits inoculated with H. uvarum and S. cerevisiae. Methods. Both yeast species were cultured in GYMP broth and separately poured in autoclaved mashed banana that was left fermenting. In the field, we collected drosophilids over five arrays of three different baits: non-inoculated autoclaved banana and banana inoculated with each yeast. In the laboratory the drosophilids were sorted to five sets according to their external morphology and/or genitalia: tripunctata; guarani; exotic; and the remaining flies pooled in others. Results and Conclusions. Uninoculated banana baits attracted virtually no flies. We found significant departures from random distribution over the other two baits (1:1 proportion) for all sets, except the pooled others. Flies of the sets willistoni and exotic preferred H. uvarum over S. cerevisiae, while the remaining sets were more attracted to S. cerevisiae. Previously various authors reported similar patterns in attraction experiments with S. cerevisiae and H. uvarum. It is also noteworthy that both yeast species have been isolated from natural substrates and crops of Drosophila species. Taken together, these results suggest that the preferences among Drosophila species groups may be reflecting deep and stable relations with yeast species in natural environments. They can be summarized as: forest dwelling species from subgenus Drosophila (such as tripunctata and guarani groups) are attracted to banana baits seeded with S. cerevisiae; while exotic (as D. melanogaster) and subgenus Sophophora species are preferentially attracted to baits seeded with H. uvarum.5Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal do Ensino Superior (CAPES) [PRODOC 2709/2010]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico [308285/2014-0, 457499/2014-1, 312066/2014-7]Fundo de Apoio ao Ensino, a Pesquisa e Extensao da Unicamp (FAEPEX-PEC2012) [1578/12]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) [2012/03144-0, 2014/03791-1]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) [APQ-01525-14]Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Resposta fotoparoxística

Sixty-five outpatients with photoparoxysmal response (PPR) during routine EEG were studied. The PPR showed prevalence in women (75.4%). Seizures were found in 66.1% of cases. The rest recordings were abnormal in 41.8% with prevalence of generalized paroxysm. Eight patterns of PPR were observed, being polyspike mixed to slow wave the most frequent (53%). The epileptic group showed a bimodal distribution in the several bands of photic stimulation, near 8 and 20-24 Hz. A sustained paroxysmal abnormality persisting after the photic stimulation was present in 6 epileptic patients.Foram estudados 65 pacientes de ambulatório que apresentaram resposta fotoparoxística (RF) no EEG intercrítico. Houve predomínio da RF no sexo feminino (75,4%) e 61,1% dos casos tinham história de crises epilépticas. Dos 8 padrões de RF observados, o padrão poliponta-onda lenta foi o mais freqüente (53%). Em relação às faixas de fotostimulação, o grupo epiléptico apresentou distribuição bimodal (8 e 20-24 Hz). Os autores discutem seus achados em relação aos descritos na literatura.Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de Neurologia e Neurocirurgia Setor de Investigação e Tratamento das Epilepsias e Setor de EletrencefalografiaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de Neurologia e Neurocirurgia Setor de Investigação e Tratamento das Epilepsias e Setor de EletrencefalografiaSciEL

Quality of life in Amazonian women during cervical cancer treatment: the moderating role of spirituality

This study aimed to examine the contribution of psychological variables to quality of life (QoL) of Amazonian women and to analyze the moderating role of spirituality in the relationship between psychological morbidity and Qol and between illness perception and QoL. This cross-sectional study included 119 women undergoing treatment for cervical cancer (CC). The Pearson correlation test was used to evaluate the relationship between sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological variables. To test how psychological morbidity, illness perception, and spirituality contribute to QoL, a path analysis was performed and to test the moreating role of spirituality, a moderation analysis was conducted. The results revealed that the presence of symptoms, high psychological morbidity, negative body image, and threatening illness perception were predictors of lower QoL. Spirituality moderated the relationship between psychological morbidity and QoL, and between illness perception and QoL. The moderating role of spirituality emphasizes its role as a coping strategy and should be included in cancer treatment. Interventions should target psychological morbidity, threatening illness perception, and address women’s concerns with body image and sexual concerns. CC treatment should include interprofessional healthcare teams addressing the biological and psychosocial factors of Amazonian women. As a result of this study a mobile application to monitor women’s health, adapted to cultural and social characteristics, was created.This study was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (PSI/01662), School of Psychology, University of Minho, supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the Portuguese State Budget (Ref: UIDB/PSI/01662/2020)

Sleep in Infants with Congenital Heart Disease

OBJECTIVES: To investigate hypoxia and sleep disordered breathing in infants with congenital heart disease. METHODS: Prospective study. In-hospital full polysomnography was performed on 14 infants with congenital heart disease, age 7 ±1 months, and in 7 normal infants, age 10 ±2 months. Congenital heart disease infants were classified as acyanotic (n=7) or cyanotic (n=7). RESULTS: Nutritional status, assessed by the Gomez classification and expressed as % weight for age, was 70 ±7, 59 ±11 and 94 ±16 in the acyanotic, cyanotic congenital heart disease and control infants, respectively (p<0.001). The respiratory disturbance index (AHI, events per hour) was [median (25-75%)]: 2.5 (1.0-3.4), 2.4 (1.5-3.1) and 0.7 (0.7-0.9) in acyanotic, cyanotic CHD infants and controls, respectively (p=0.013). Almost all congenital heart disease infants (11 out of 14) and only one control infant had an AHI >1 event/hour. The minimum oxygen saturation was 79% (74-82), 73% (57-74) and 90% (90-91) in the acyanotic, cyanotic congenital heart disease infants and controls, respectively (p <0.001). The arousal index (events/hour) was similar among the three groups at 8.4 ±2.4, 10.3 ±8.7 and 6.5 ±3, respectively (p=0.451). CONCLUSIONS: Infants with congenital heart disease frequently present with sleep-disordered breathing associated with oxygen desaturations but not arousals. Therefore, sleep may represent a significant burden to infants with congenital heart disease