Characterization in bi-parameter space of a non-ideal oscillator

The authors thank scientific agencies CAPES, CNPq (112952/2015-1), and FAPESP (2011/ 19269-11). M. S. Baptista also thanks EPSRC (EP/I03 2606/1).Peer reviewedPostprin

Complementary action of chemical and electrical synapses to perception

Acknowledgements This study was possible by partial financial support from the following agencies: Fundação Araucária, EPSRC-EP/I032606/1, CNPq No. 441553/2014-1, CAPES No. 17656-12-5 and Science Without Borders Program— Process Nos. 17656125, 99999.010583/2013-00 and 245377/2012-3.Peer reviewedPostprin

Mathematical model of brain tumour with glia-neuron interactions and chemotherapy treatment

Acknowledgements This study was possible by partial financial support from the following Brazilian government agencies: Fundação Araucária, EPSRC-EP/I032606/1 and CNPq, CAPES and Science Without Borders Program Process nos. 17656125, 99999.010583/2013-00 and 245377/2012-3.Peer reviewedPreprin

The Multi-center Evaluation of the Accuracy of the Contrast MEdium INduced Pd/Pa RaTiO in Predicting FFR (MEMENTO-FFR) Study.

AIMS: Adenosine administration is needed for the achievement of maximal hyperaemia fractional flow reserve (FFR) assessment. The objective was to test the accuracy of Pd/Pa ratio registered during submaximal hyperaemia induced by non-ionic contrast medium (contrast FFR [cFFR]) in predicting FFR and comparing it to the performance of resting Pd/Pa in a collaborative registry of 926 patients enrolled in 10 hospitals from four European countries (Italy, Spain, France and Portugal). METHODS AND RESULTS: Resting Pd/Pa, cFFR and FFR were measured in 1,026 coronary stenoses functionally evaluated using commercially available pressure wires. cFFR was obtained after intracoronary injection of contrast medium, while FFR was measured after administration of adenosine. Resting Pd/Pa and cFFR were significantly higher than FFR (0.93±0.05 vs. 0.87±0.08 vs. 0.84±0.08, p<0.001). A strong correlation and a close agreement at Bland-Altman analysis between cFFR and FFR were observed (r=0.90, p<0.001 and 95% CI of disagreement: from -0.042 to 0.11). ROC curve analysis showed an excellent accuracy (89%) of the cFFR cut-off of ≤0.85 in predicting an FFR value ≤0.80 (AUC 0.95 [95% CI: 0.94-0.96]), significantly better than that observed using resting Pd/Pa (AUC: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.88-0.91; p<0.001). A cFFR/FFR hybrid approach showed a significantly lower number of lesions requiring adenosine than a resting Pd/Pa/FFR hybrid approach (22% vs. 44%, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: cFFR is accurate in predicting the functional significance of coronary stenosis. This could allow limiting the use of adenosine to obtain FFR to a minority of stenoses with considerable savings of time and costs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mutual information rate and bounds for it

The amount of information exchanged per unit of time between two nodes in a dynamical network or between two data sets is a powerful concept for analysing complex systems. This quantity, known as the mutual information rate (MIR), is calculated from the mutual information, which is rigorously defined only for random systems. Moreover, the definition of mutual information is based on probabilities of significant events. This work offers a simple alternative way to calculate the MIR in dynamical (deterministic) networks or between two data sets (not fully deterministic), and to calculate its upper and lower bounds without having to calculate probabilities, but rather in terms of well known and well defined quantities in dynamical systems. As possible applications of our bounds, we study the relationship between synchronisation and the exchange of information in a system of two coupled maps and in experimental networks of coupled oscillators

Healthy bread as an alternative to traditional bread

Today, bread is part of the culture and eating habits of most people and can be considered one of the most consumed foods in the world. The bread is made from a simple mixture of flour, water, salt and yeast, and it is an extremely versatile food and with a very good digestibility. Since it was first produced for thousands of years, it has undergone changes both in terms of production methods and in terms of its constitution, thus giving place nowadays to a wide variety of breads available on the market. The objectives of this study were to compare the sensory and nutritionally attributes of a special healthier bread, ―Pão São‖, which is a recent product in the Portuguese market. Nutritionally this type of bread turned out to be a food with high nutritional value, with a low salt content (0.4%, about half of traditional bread), and being a good source of omega-3 (0.67%), fibre and protein when compared with the traditional bread. These differences are mainly due to the wide variety of raw materials selected to the preparation of this bread, including the mixture of flour (wheat flour type 150 and 65 and rye flour type 70), oatmeal, sunflower and linseed seeds, soy, fish oil extracts rich in omega 3, malt and milk protein. From the results of the sensory analysis, conducted by a panel of 40 untrained tasters aged 7 to 63 years, it was found that the traditional breads from the region closest to the marketing of healthy bread were preferred by the tasters, especially for their wood and bread flavour, as well as elasticity. The healthy bread was evaluated as a denser bread, with a more intense fermented flavour. With this work it was concluded that the healthy bread is a nutritious and healthy bread, being currently recommended by the Portuguese Foundation of Cardiology. However from the sensory point of view, consumers still slighly prefer the traditional bread

Statistical distribution, host for encrypted information

The statistical distribution, when determined from an incomplete set of constraints, is shown to be suitable as host for encrypted information. We design an encoding/decoding scheme to embed such a distribution with hidden information. The encryption security is based on the extreme instability of the encoding procedure. The essential feature of the proposed system lies in the fact that the key for retrieving the code is generated by random perturbations of {\em {very small value}}. The security of the proposed encryption relies on the security to interchange the secret key. Hence, it appears as a good complement to the quantum key distribution protocol.Comment: Physica A, in press 200

protocol of a randomized trial

H4A Primary Healthcare Research Network scholars programme for support of research in the protocol design phase. This article will also be supported by National Funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia,I.P., within CINTESIS, R&D Unit (reference UIDB/4255/2020).BACKGROUND: Screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer is considered a preference sensitive decision; meaning it does not only depend on what is best from a medical point of view, but also from a patient value standpoint. Decision aids are evidence-based tools which are shown to help people feel clearer about their values; therefore it has been advocated that decision aids should contain a specific values clarification method (VCM). VCMs may be either implicit or explicit, but the evidence concerning the best method is scarce. We aim to compare the perceived clarity of personal values in men considering PSA screening using decision aids with no VCM versus an implicit VCM versus an explicit VCM. METHODS: Male factory employees from an industrial facility in the Northern region of Portugal aged 50 to 69 years old will be randomly assigned to one of three decision aid groups used to support prostate cancer screening decisions: (i) decision aid with information only (control), (ii) decision aid with information plus an implicit VCM, (iii) decision aid with information plus an explicit VCM. Men will be allowed release time from work to attend a session at their workplace. After a brief oral presentation, those willing to participate in the study will fill the baseline questionnaire, plus a 5 point-Likert scale question about intentions to undergo screening, and will then receive the intervention materials to complete. We estimated a total sample size of 276 participants; with 92 in each group. The primary outcome will be the perceived clarity of personal values assessed by the Portuguese validated translation of the three subscales of the Decisional Conflict Scale. Secondary outcomes will be intention to be screened (before and after the intervention), the total score from the Decisional Conflict Scale and the self-report of having or not undergone screening at 6 months. DISCUSSION: This study will add to the body of evidence on the role of decision aids to support health preference-sensitive choices and provide further insight on the impact of different methods for eliciting people's values embedded within a decision aid. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03988673 - clinicalTrials.gov (2019/06/17).publishersversionpublishe