A Brain–Computer Interface Speller with a Reduced Matrix: A Case Study in a Patient with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Visual P300-based Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) paradigms for spelling are aimed at offering a non-muscular communication channel for those people with severe motor impairment, such as locked-in patients. To be as effective as other assistive technologies, these systems have to achieve a greater communication rate. One way to do so is to develop better interfaces. In this regard, we thought of using a 4 x 3 symbol matrix based on the T9 interface developed for mobile phones. Due to presenting a reduced matrix and relying on an adaptation of the T9 predictive text system, we expected that this speller would provide a higher communication rate than usual 6 x 6 matrix spellers that are based on Farwell and Donchin’s classic proposal. As a proof of concept, a locked-in patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis tested our T9-like visual BCI speller along with two different 7 x 6 conventional matrix spellers. The comparison of her performance results with those of a sample of three healthy participants suggested that it was possible for this locked-in patient to control the T9-like speller as well as they did, and thus, write a target sentence considerably faster than when she used the alternative spellersUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Protease inhibitors targeting coronavirus and filovirus entry.

In order to gain entry into cells, diverse viruses, including Ebola virus, SARS-coronavirus and the emerging MERS-coronavirus, depend on activation of their envelope glycoproteins by host cell proteases. The respective enzymes are thus excellent targets for antiviral intervention. In cell culture, activation of Ebola virus, as well as SARS- and MERS-coronavirus can be accomplished by the endosomal cysteine proteases, cathepsin L (CTSL) and cathepsin B (CTSB). In addition, SARS- and MERS-coronavirus can use serine proteases localized at the cell surface, for their activation. However, it is currently unclear which protease(s) facilitate viral spread in the infected host. We report here that the cysteine protease inhibitor K11777, ((2S)-N-[(1E,3S)-1-(benzenesulfonyl)-5-phenylpent-1-en-3-yl]-2-{[(E)-4-methylpiperazine-1-carbonyl]amino}-3-phenylpropanamide) and closely-related vinylsulfones act as broad-spectrum antivirals by targeting cathepsin-mediated cell entry. K11777 is already in advanced stages of development for a number of parasitic diseases, such as Chagas disease, and has proven to be safe and effective in a range of animal models. K11777 inhibition of SARS-CoV and Ebola virus entry was observed in the sub-nanomolar range. In order to assess whether cysteine or serine proteases promote viral spread in the host, we compared the antiviral activity of an optimized K11777-derivative with that of camostat, an inhibitor of TMPRSS2 and related serine proteases. Employing a pathogenic animal model of SARS-CoV infection, we demonstrated that viral spread and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV is driven by serine rather than cysteine proteases and can be effectively prevented by camostat. Camostat has been clinically used to treat chronic pancreatitis, and thus represents an exciting potential therapeutic for respiratory coronavirus infections. Our results indicate that camostat, or similar serine protease inhibitors, might be an effective option for treatment of SARS and potentially MERS, while vinyl sulfone-based inhibitors are excellent lead candidates for Ebola virus therapeutics

Construction of collaborative skills for health work in curricular internships in Dentistry in SUS

Com a implementação do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), foram necessárias mudanças curriculares que preparassem os profissionais para atuar em equipe na rede de saúde. No início do século XXI passaram a ser implementadas as Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais (DCN) que trouxeram várias mudanças, dentre as quais destaca-se a inserção do estudante de graduação no SUS. O objetivo desse estudo é analisar as percepções dos egressos do curso de graduação em Odontologia diurno de uma universidade pública do Rio Grande do Sul, acerca da construção de competências colaborativas, durante a formação nos Estágios Curriculares Supervisionados (ECS) no SUS. Trata-se de um estudo de natureza descritiva com análise de dados qualitativos e quantitativos. Inicialmente, 133 egressos, que vivenciaram os ECS entre 2012/1 a 2016/1, responderam a um questionário online com questões abertas e fechadas. Com uma amostra intencional de 14 egressos, que responderam ao questionário, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas em profundidade. O material quantitativo foi submetido à análise descritiva e o material qualitativo à análise de conteúdo temática. Considerando que os dados quantitativos e qualitativos são complementares, eles foram submetidos a triangulação e os resultados são apresentados em duas unidades de análise: Caracterização, inserção e escolhas profissionais dos egressos e Construção de competências colaborativas. A maioria dos egressos participantes (67,7%) são do sexo feminino e estão atuando em Porto Alegre ou região metropolitana (78,6%), 29,1% deles estão vinculados a serviços públicos de saúde. A satisfação com os ECS é destacada pelos egressos, que os descrevem como indispensáveis para sua formação. Dentre as competências colaborativas construídas por meio dos estágios, o aprendizado de trabalhar em equipe interprofissional é destacado pela maioria dos egressos (85,3%), sendo lembrada como fundamental para a atenção integral do usuário. Conclui-se que o curso de Odontologia tem obtido sucesso na formação de profissionais voltados para atuação no SUS, tendo um percentual considerável de egressos vinculados aos serviços públicos de saúde.With the establishment of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), curricular changes were necessary to prepare the professionals for teamwork in the healthcare network. In the early 21st century, the National Curricular Guidelines (DCN) were implemented and brought several changes, mainly the insertion of undergraduate students in SUS. This study analyzed the perceptions of graduates of the daytime Dentistry course from a public university in Rio Grande do Sul about the construction of collaborative skills during training in the Supervised Curricular Internships (ECS) in SUS. This descriptive study analyzed qualitative and quantitative data. Initially, 133 graduates who experienced the ECS between 2012/1 to 2016/1 answered an online questionnaire with open and closed questions. Deeper semi-structured interviews were conducted on an intentional sample of 14 graduates who answered the questionnaire. The quantitative material was submitted to descriptive analysis and the qualitative material to thematic content analysis. Considering that quantitative and qualitative data are complementary, they were submitted to triangulation and the results are presented in two units of analysis: Characterization, insertion and professional choices of graduates; and Construction of collaborative skills. Most participating graduates (67.7%) are females and are working in Porto Alegre or metropolitan area (78.6%), being 29.1% inserted in public health services. The satisfaction with the ECS is highlighted by the graduates, who describe them as fundamental for their training. Among the collaborative skills built during internships, learning how to work in an interprofessional team was highlighted by most graduates (85.3%), being remembered as fundamental for the integral care to the user. It is concluded that the Dentistry course has been successful in the training of professionals to work in SUS, with a considerable percentage of graduates inserted in public health services

Mejora del proceso de despacho para optimizar el sistema de trazabilidad en área de transporte y distribución de operador logístico, 2022

Esta investigación se desarrolló debido a los problemas en el sistema de trazabilidad de la gestión de despachos del área de transporte y distribución de un operador logístico. Por lo tanto, tuvo como objetivo general determinar el proceso de despachos para optimizar el sistema de trazabilidad en dicha área. Llegando a emplear un estudio de tipo aplicado, enfoque cuantitativo, nivel explicativo, diseño preexperimental y de corte longitudinal, teniendo como población y muestra al registro de indicadores del área de transporte y distribución en un trayecto de 16 semanas, 8 semanas pre test y 8 semanas post test, seleccionadas en base a un muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia, empleando la técnica de análisis documental y la observación directa, teniendo como instrumentos a las fichas de registros y las guías de observación. Hallando como resultados principales una mejora en la amplitud de 57.59%, en la profundidad de 75.00%, en la precisión del 0.99%, y una disminución de tiempo de acceso de 1.53 minutos/reporte semanal. Concluyendo que, al rediseñar los procesos de la gestión de despachos fue posible lograr una mejora del 34.51% en el sistema de trazabilidad, pasando de un valor pre test de 52.02% a un valor post test de 86.52%

The Role of Cognition and Social Functioning as Predictors in the Transition to Psychosis for Youth With Attenuated Psychotic Symptoms

In the literature, there have been several attempts to develop prediction models for youth who are at clinical high risk (CHR) of developing psychosis. Although there are no specific clinical or demographic variables that seem to consistently predict the later transition to psychosis in those CHR youth, in addition to attenuated psychotic symptoms, the most commonly occuring predictors tend to be poor social functioning and certain cognitive tasks. Unfortunately, there has been little attempt to replicate alogorithms. A recently published article by Cornblatt et al suggested that, for individuals with attentuated psychotic symptoms (APS), disorganized communication, suspiciousness, verbal memory, and a decline in social functioning were the best predictors of later transition to psychosis (the RAP model). The purpose of this article was to first test the prediction model of Cornblatt et al with a new sample of individuals with APS from the PREDICT study. The RAP model was not the best fit for the PREDICT data. However, using other variables from PREDICT, it was demonstrated that unusual thought content, disorganized communication, baseline social functioning, verbal fluency, and memory, processing speed and age were predictors of later transition to psychosis in the PREDICT sample. Although the predictors were different in these 2 models, both supported that disorganized communication, poor social functioning, and verbal memory, were good candidates as predictors for later conversion to psychosis

SÍNTESE, CARACTERIZAÇÃO E AVALIAÇÃO DE BIOCARVÃO PRODUZIDO A PARTIR DE RESÍDUOS DE INDÚSTRIAS FRIGORÍFICAS COMO POTENCIAL ENERGÉTICO E POSSÍVEL SUBSTRATO PARA PLANTAS

The study of using refrigerator effluent as an energy source and fertilizer generation is justified due to the main problem with a refrigerator: the generation of waste. The purpose of the work was to seek an alternative for the use of the refrigerator effluent (Red line, Green line). The calorific value was quantified in order to determine the capacity to feed an energy generator and to evaluate whether the burning residue is viable for soil fertilization. For this, 3 pyrolysis processes were carried out at different temperatures, obtaining the biochar. In addition, thermal analyzes, X-ray diffraction analyzes, and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry analyzes were conducted. The results of the analyzes showed that the values ​​of calorific value obtained were close to those of other materials already proven in the literature. Thus, it is concluded that biocarbons from the refrigerator have favorable properties for the energy generation process. The samples showed a large amount of Carbon and other elements such as Silicon, Calcium, Phosphorus and Potassium in their composition, indicating that biochar deserves to be better studied as a possible fertilizer.O estudo da utilização do efluente de frigorífico como fonte de energia e geração de fertilizante justifica-se devido ao principal problema de um frigorífico: a geração de resíduos. O intuito do trabalho foi buscar uma alternativa para o uso do efluente de frigorífico (Linha vermelha, Linha verde). Foi quantificado o poder calorífico, a fim de determinar a capacidade de alimentar um gerador de energia e avaliar se o resíduo da queima é viável para fertilização do solo. Para isso, foram realizados 3 processos de pirólise em diferentes temperaturas, obtendo o biocarvão. Além disso, foram conduzidas analises térmicas, análises de difração de raios-x, e também, análises de espectrometria de fluorescência de raios-x. Os resultados das análises mostraram que os valores de poder calorífico obtidos foram próximos aos de outros materiais já comprovados na literatura. Conclui-se que os biocarvões provenientes do frigorífico apresentam propriedades favoráveis para o processo de geração de energia. As amostras apresentaram grande quantidade de Carbono e outros elementos como Silício, Cálcio, Fósforo e Potássio em sua composição, indica que o biocarvão merece ser melhor estudado como um possível fertilizante

The relationship of neurocognition and negative symptoms to social and role functioning over time in individuals at clinical high risk in the first phase of the North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVES: Impaired social, role, and neurocognitive functioning are preillness characteristics of people who later develop psychosis. In people with schizophrenia, neurocognition and negative symptoms are associated with functional impairment. We examined the relative contributions of neurocognition and symptoms to social and role functioning over time in clinically high-risk (CHR) individuals and determined if negative symptoms mediated the influence of cognition on functioning. METHODS: Social, role, and neurocognitive functioning and positive, negative, and disorganized symptoms were assessed in 167 individuals at CHR for psychosis in the North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study Phase 1 (NAPLS-1), of whom 96 were reassessed at 12 months. RESULTS: Regression analyses indicated that negative symptoms accounted for unique variance in social and role functioning at baseline and follow-up. Composite neurocognition accounted for unique, but modest, variance in social and role functioning at baseline and in role functioning at follow-up. Negative symptoms mediated the relationship between composite neurocognition and social and role functioning across time points. In exploratory analyses, individual tests (IQ estimate, Digit Symbol/Coding, verbal memory) selectively accounted for social and role functioning at baseline and follow-up after accounting for symptoms. When negative symptom items with content overlapping with social and role functioning measures were removed, the relationship between neurocognition and social and role functioning was strengthened. CONCLUSION: The modest overlap among neurocognition, negative symptoms, and social and role functioning indicates that these domains make substantially separate contributions to CHR individuals

A recombinant Yellow Fever 17D vaccine expressing Lassa virus glycoproteins

AbstractThe Yellow Fever Vaccine 17D (YFV17D) has been used as a vector for the Lassa virus glycoprotein precursor (LASV-GPC) resulting in construction of YFV17D/LASV-GPC recombinant virus. The virus was replication-competent and processed the LASV-GPC in cell cultures. The recombinant replicated poorly in guinea pigs but still elicited specific antibodies against LASV and YFV17D antigens. A single subcutaneous injection of the recombinant vaccine protected strain 13 guinea pigs against fatal Lassa Fever. This study demonstrates the potential to develop an YFV17D-based bivalent vaccine against two viruses that are endemic in the same area of Africa

IFC AMA FRAIBURGO: OFICINAS DE RACIOCÍNIO LÓGICO PARA PESSOAS ATENDIDAS PELA AMA FRAIBURGO: Projeto de Extensão em Andamento

Quando falamos em Tecnologia da Informação (TI), podemos perceber que o uso de tecnologias está cada vez mais presente na rotina das pessoas, inclusive pessoas dentro do Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA). Uma vez que o raciocínio lógico é parte importante da formação do Técnico em Informática, consideramos uma boa oportunidade promover oficinas de raciocínio lógico para crianças autistas, enquanto coletamos requisitos para um projeto de software. Com isto, aproximamos o IFC da comunidade por meio de uma ação social, mas sem descuidar de aspectos relacionados à formação. Podemos considerar que neste projeto a extensão caminha em paralelo com o ensino. Em resumo, o objetivo do projeto é proporcionar oficinas de raciocínio lógico para as crianças atendidas pela Associação de Pais e Amigos dos Autistas de Fraiburgo (AMA Fraiburgo) e em paralelo pensar o projeto de um software voltado às crianças autistas. Já realizamos 3 oficinas e parte deste trabalho já gerou um resumo a ser apresentano em um evento de Educação Profissional e Tencológica Inclusiva