full-FORCE: A Target-Based Method for Training Recurrent Networks

Trained recurrent networks are powerful tools for modeling dynamic neural computations. We present a target-based method for modifying the full connectivity matrix of a recurrent network to train it to perform tasks involving temporally complex input/output transformations. The method introduces a second network during training to provide suitable "target" dynamics useful for performing the task. Because it exploits the full recurrent connectivity, the method produces networks that perform tasks with fewer neurons and greater noise robustness than traditional least-squares (FORCE) approaches. In addition, we show how introducing additional input signals into the target-generating network, which act as task hints, greatly extends the range of tasks that can be learned and provides control over the complexity and nature of the dynamics of the trained, task-performing network.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figure

A survey of family planning in the Philippines

In a multi-centre survey in 1986, 400 married Filipino women aged 15-40 were interviewed about their use of contraceptive methods, and specifically about their perceptions of the effects on health of oral contraceptives and their attitudes to contraceptive methods. The sample was randomly selected in the urban and rural areas surveyed and cannot be considered representative for the country as a whole. The results showed that women hold definitive views on the health risks posed by oral contraceptives and point to the importance of family planning clinics as a source of contraceptive counselling. The overall rate of contraceptive use must be regarded as insufficient to meet contraceptive need

Más allá del individualismo: el tercer sector en el Perú

Analiza el surgimiento y creciente visibilidad de las organizaciones privadas sin fines de lucro (OPSFL) en el Perú durante las dos últimas décadas. Las OPSFL poseen una lógica de operación diferente a la del Estado, que busca proporcionar bienestar público; y al de la empresa, que está orientada hacia la búsqueda del lucro y el beneficio privado. Por el contrario, éstas son entidades que, a pesar de su carácter privado, se dirigen a satisfacer necesidades colectivas o de interés público. La emergencia de este tipo de organizaciones no sólo se da en nuestro país o a nivel de América Latina, por el contrario, se da a escala mundial impactando y redefiniendo significativamente las formas de relacionarse entre el Estado y la sociedad civil. Se asocian a labores de ayuda humanitaria, esparcimiento, capacitación y desarrollo ciudadano, realizadas por hospitales, centros deportivos y culturales, asilos, organizaciones no gubernamentales (ONG), centros educativos y universidades, comedores populares, clubes de madres, entre muchas otras organizaciones.Analiza el surgimiento y creciente visibilidad de las organizaciones privadas sin fines de lucro (OPSFL) en el Perú durante las dos últimas décadas. Las OPSFL poseen una lógica de operación diferente a la del Estado, que busca proporcionar bienestar público; y al de la empresa, que está orientada hacia la búsqueda del lucro y el beneficio privado. Por el contrario, éstas son entidades que, a pesar de su carácter privado, se dirigen a satisfacer necesidades colectivas o de interés público. La emergencia de este tipo de organizaciones no sólo se da en nuestro país o a nivel de América Latina, por el contrario, se da a escala mundial impactando y redefiniendo significativamente las formas de relacionarse entre el Estado y la sociedad civil. Se asocian a labores de ayuda humanitaria, esparcimiento, capacitación y desarrollo ciudadano, realizadas por hospitales, centros deportivos y culturales, asilos, organizaciones no gubernamentales (ONG), centros educativos y universidades, comedores populares, clubes de madres, entre muchas otras organizaciones

Report of the FELASA-EFAT Working Group

Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2023.Competent, confident and caring laboratory animal caretakers, technicians and technologists (LAS staff) are vital for good animal welfare, high-quality science and a secure Culture of Care. This requires high-quality education, training, supervision and continuing professional development (CPD) of LAS staff. However, there is a lack of harmonisation regarding how this education and training is conducted among European countries, and nor are there recommendations adapted to Directive 2010/63/EU. Therefore, FELASA and EFAT established a working group with the task of establishing recommendations for education, training and CPD for LAS staff. The working group established five different levels (LAS staff levels 0–4), defining the required level of competence and attitude, as well as suggesting educational requirements for reaching each level. Defining these levels should help to ensure that appropriate educational and CPD activities are in place, and to enable employers and LAS staff to determine the level and career stage attained. Furthermore, proper assessment of competencies and effective CPD schemes for all relevant staff should be established. Regulators should support this by setting standards for competence assessment and ensuring that they are consistently applied. In addition, establishments should involve the LAS staff in defining and developing the Culture of Care. The Animal Welfare Body should be involved and have oversight of education, training and CPD. These recommendations will contribute to harmonisation and increased quality of education, training and CPD, as well as provide clearer career pathways for LAS staff, helping to ensure high standards of animal welfare and science.publishersversionepub_ahead_of_prin

Lactational performance and plasma and muscle amino acid concentrations in dairy cows fed diets supplying 2 levels of digestible histidine and metabolizable protein

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 American Dairy Science AssociationThe objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary levels of digestible histidine (dHis) and MP on lactational performance and plasma and muscle concentrations of free AA in dairy cows. A randomized block design experiment was conducted with 48 Holstein cows, including 20 primiparous, averaging (±SD) 103 ± 22 d in milk and 45 ± 9 kg/d milk yield at the beginning of the experiment. A 2-wk covariate period preceded 12 experimental wk, of which 10 wk were for data and sample collection. Experimental treatments were (1) MP-adequate (MPA) diet with 2.1% dHis of MP (MPA2.1), (2) MPA with 3.0% dHis (MPA3.0), (3) MP-deficient (MPD) diet with 2.1% dHis (MPD2.1), and (4) MPD with 3.0% dHis (MPD3.0). Actual dHis supply was estimated at 64, 97, 57, and 88 g/d, respectively. Diets supplied MP at 110% (MPA) and 96% (MPD) of NRC 2001 dairy model requirements calculated based on DMI and production data during the experiment. Dry matter intake and milk yield data were collected daily, milk samples for composition and blood samples for AA analysis were collected every other week, and muscle biopsies at the end of covariate period, and during wk 12 of the experiment. The overall DMI was not affected by dHis or MP level. Milk yield tended to be increased by 3.0% dHis compared with 2.1% dHis. Milk true protein concentration and yield were not affected by treatments, whereas milk urea nitrogen concentration was lower for MPD versus the MPA diet. Milk fat concentration was lower for MPD versus MPA. There was a MP × dHis interaction for milk fat yield and energy-corrected milk; milk fat was lower for MPD3.0 versus MPD2.1, but similar for cows fed the MPA diet regardless of dHis level whereas energy-corrected milk was greater for MPA3.0 versus MPA2.1 but tended to be lower for MPD3.0 versus MPD2.1. Plasma His concentration was greater for cows fed dHis3.0, and concentration of sum of essential AA was greater, whereas carnosine, 1-Methyl-His and 3-Methyl-His concentrations were lower for cows fed MPA versus MPD diet. Muscle concentration of His was greater for cows fed dHis3.0 treatment. The apparent efficiency of His utilization was increased at lower MP and His levels. Overall, cows fed a corn silage-based diet supplying MP at 110% of NRC (2001) requirements tended to have increased ECM yield and similar milk protein yield to cows fed a diet supplying MP at 96% of requirements. Supplying dHis at 3.0% of MP (or 86 and 96 g/d, for MPD3.0 and MPA3.0, respectively) tended to increase milk yield and increased plasma and muscle concentrations of His but had minor or no effects on other production variables in dairy cows.Peer reviewe

Acute and long-term success of ventricular tachycardia ablation in patients with ischemic heart disease in a Mexican center

Objective. To report the results of ventricular tachycardia (VT) catheter ablation in ischemic heart disease (IHD), and to identify risk factors associated with recurrence in a Mexican center. Materials and methods. We made a retrospective review of the cases of VT ablation performed in our center from 2015 to 2022. We analyzed the characteristics of the patients and those of the procedures separately and we determined factors associated with recurrence. Results. Fifty procedures were performed in 38 patients (84% male; mean age 58.1 years). Acute success rate was 82%, with a 28% of recurrences. Female sex (OR 3.33, IC 95% 1.66–6.68, p=0.006), atrial fibrillation (OR 3.5, IC 95% 2.08–5.9, p=0.012), electrical storm (OR 2.4, IC 95% 1.06–5.41, p=0.045), functional class greater than II (OR 2.86, IC 95% 1.34–6.10, p=0.018) were risk factors for recurrence and the presence of clinical VT at the time of ablation (OR0.29, IC95% 0.12–0.70, p=0.004) and the use of more than 2 techniques for mapping (OR 0.64, IC 95% 0.48–0.86, p=0.013) were protective factors. Conclusions. Ablation of ventricular tachycardia in ischemic heart disease has had good results in our center. The recurrence is similar to that reported by other authors and there are some factors associated with it.Objective. To report the results of ventricular tachycardia (VT) catheter ablation in ischemic heart disease (IHD), and to identify risk factors associated with recurrence in a Mexican center. Materials and methods. We made a retrospective review of the cases of VT ablation performed in our center from 2015 to 2022. We analyzed the characteristics of the patients and those of the procedures separately and we determined factors associated with recurrence. Results. Fifty procedures were performed in 38 patients (84% male; mean age 58.1 years). Acute success rate was 82%, with a 28% of recurrences. Female sex (OR 3.33, IC 95% 1.66–6.68, p=0.006), atrial fibrillation (OR 3.5, IC 95% 2.08–5.9, p=0.012), electrical storm (OR 2.4, IC 95% 1.06–5.41, p=0.045), functional class greater than II (OR 2.86, IC 95% 1.34–6.10, p=0.018) were risk factors for recurrence and the presence of clinical VT at the time of ablation (OR0.29, IC95% 0.12–0.70, p=0.004) and the use of more than 2 techniques for mapping (OR 0.64, IC 95% 0.48–0.86, p=0.013) were protective factors. Conclusions. Ablation of ventricular tachycardia in ischemic heart disease has had good results in our center. The recurrence is similar to that reported by other authors and there are some factors associated with it

Relación del intervalo QT corregido con la escala GRACE en pacientes con infarto de miocardio sin elevación del segmento ST

Background. The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) prediction model stratifies patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Corrected QT interval (QTc) is not considered in this model. Objective. To evaluate the relationship between the QTc interval and the GRACE score in patients with NSTEMI. Materials and methods. An observational, retrospective study was carried between 2016 and 2019. We included patients with diagnosis of NSTEMI, QTc intervals were calculated with Bazett’s formula, and they were classified into 2 groups: a normal QTc interval (<440 ms) and prolonged (≥440 ms). According to the GRACE score they were classified in three ranges: low risk (≤109 points), intermedium (110 - 139 points) and high (≥140 points), we determined if there were a correlation between QTc interval and the GRACE score. Results. A total of 940 patients with a diagnosis of NSTEMI were admitted in our institution, 634 met the inclusion criteria, there were 390 patients with normal QTc interval and 244 with a prolonged QTc interval. Patients with prolonged QTc were older (65.5 vs 61, p=0.001) with a lower proportion of males (71.7% vs 82.8%, p=0.001). An association was found between the GRACE score and the QTC interval, subjects with a normal QTc had a greater proportion of low and intermediate risk than those with a prolonged QTc (p=0.001). Conclusions. In NSTEMI patients, a normal QTc interval (<440 ms) is associated with a GRACE risk score of low or intermediate risk.Antecedentes. El modelo de predicción del registro global de eventos coronarios agudos (GRACE por sus siglas en inglés) es usado para estratificar el riesgo en pacientes con infarto de miocardio sin elevación del segmento ST (IAMSEST). El intervalo QT corregido (QTc) no se considera en este modelo. Objetivo. Evaluar la relación entre el intervalo QTc con la escala GRACE en pacientes con IAMSEST. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio observacional retrospectivo entre 2016 y 2019. Se incluyeron pacientes con diagnóstico de IAMSEST, los intervalos QTc se calcularon con la fórmula de Bazett y se clasificaron en dos grupos: intervalo QTc normal (<440 ms) y prolongado (≥440 ms). Según el puntaje GRACE fueron clasificados en tres rangos: riesgo bajo (≤109 puntos), intermedio (110-139 puntos) y alto (≥140 puntos), se determinó si existía relación entre el intervalo QTc y la puntuación GRACE. Resultados. Durante el período mencionado ingresaron en nuestro centro 940 pacientes con diagnóstico de IAMSEST, 634 cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión; hubo 390 pacientes con intervalo QTc normal y 244 con intervalo QTc prolongado. Los pacientes con QTc prolongado eran mayores (65,5 vs. 61, p=0,001) con menor proporción de hombres (71,7% vs. 82,8%, p=0,001). Se encontró asociación entre la escala GRACE y el intervalo QTC, los sujetos con un QTc normal tenían una mayor proporción de riesgo bajo e intermedio que aquellos con un QTc prolongado (p=0,001). Conclusiones. En pacientes con IAMSEST un intervalo QTc normal (<440 ms) se relaciona con una escala de riesgo GRACE de riesgo bajo o intermedio