Accounting for covariate information in the scale component of spatio-temporal mixing models

Spatio-temporal processes in the environmental science are usually assumed to follow a Gaussian process, possibly after some transformation. Gaussian processes might not be appropriate to handle the presence of outlying observations. Our proposal is based on the idea of modelling the process as a scale mixture between a Gaussian and log-Gaussian process. And the novelty is to allow the scale process to vary as a function of covariates. The resultant model has a nonstationary covariance structure in space. Moreover, the resultant kurtosis varies with location, allowing the time series at each location to have different distributions with different tail behaviour. Inference procedure is performed under the Bayesian framework. The analysis of an artificial dataset illustrates how this proposal is able to capture heterogeneity in space caused by dependence on some spatial covariate or by a transformation of the process of interest. Furthermore, an application to maximum temperature data observed in the Spanish Basque country illustrates the effects of altitude in the variability of the process and how our proposed model identifies this dependence through parameters which can be interpreted as regression coefficients in the variance model

PUBERDADE PRECOCE CENTRAL SECUNDÁRIA À HAMARTOMA HIPOTALÂMICO: RELATO DE CASO

RESUMO: Puberdade é a maturação biológica através de modificações hormonais, que culmina no aparecimento de caracteres sexuais secundários, na aceleração da velocidade de crescimento e na aquisição de capacidade reprodutiva. Considera-se precoce o aparecimento desses caracteres antes dos 8 anos em meninas e antes dos 9 anos em meninos1. Relata-se caso de menina que iniciou telarca aos dois anos e nove meses cuja investigação levou ao diagnóstico de hamartoma hipotalâmico.  Palavras chaves: puberdade precoce; hamartoma; pediatria; tumor de hipófis

Perfil sociodemográfico, eventos de vida e características afetivas de pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica em tratamento por hemodiálise e diálise peritoneal: um estudo descritivo

The Chronic Renal Insufficiency (CRI) causes physical and psychological limitations to patients, leading to feelings of impotence and helplessness, and consequently to the emergency of several disorders and psychological difficulties. This study aimed to describe sociodemografic profile, events of life and affective characteristics of patients with chronic insufficience renal in treatment for hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Thirty patients in treatment for more than six months were included in the study, of which 15 were in treatment with HD and 15 with CAPD. The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), a semi-directed interview and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used as instruments for evaluation. It was verified that the patients in HD possess greater probability to develop other problems of health (74%) and greater anxiety indices (47%). On the other hand, the patients in treatment for CAPD had presented greater depression incidence (47%).  A Insuficiência Renal Crônica (IRC) acarreta aos pacientes limitações físicas e psicológicas, o que provoca sentimentos de impotência e abandono, suscitando a emergência de diversas desordens e dificuldades psicológicas. O presente estudo teve como objetivos apresentar o perfil sociodemográfico, eventos de vida e características afetivas de pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica em tratamento por hemodiálise (HD) e diálise peritoneal ambulatorial contínua (CAPD). Foram incluídos neste estudo 30 sujeitos em tratamento, há mais de seis meses, sendo 15 sujeitos em tratamento por HD e 15 por CAPD. Como instrumentos, utilizaram-se: entrevista semidirigida, Escala de Avaliação do Reajustamento Social (EARS) e Escala de Ansiedade e Depressão Hospitalar (HADS). Verificou-se que os pacientes em HD possuem maior probabilidade de desenvolver outros problemas de saúde (74%) e maiores índices de ansiedade (47%). Em contrapartida, os pacientes em tratamento por CAPD apresentaram maior incidência de depressão (47%).

Background choice and immobility as context dependent tadpole responses to perceived predation risk

The association of immobility and camouflage is widespread as a defensive mechanism in prey from varied taxa. However, many experiments assessing the reaction of prey to predator cues are conducted under artificial laboratory conditions. In a previous experiment we observed the tadpoles of Ololygon machadoi (Hylidae) to respond to predator visual and/or chemical cues by choosing backgrounds that improve their disruptive properties, but detected no associated reduction of movement. Here we experimentally demonstrate this response in the species’ natural habitat, on backgrounds where the tadpoles are likely to achieve their best camouflage. We also tested whether previous experiences could influence both background choice and immobility in O. machadoi tadpoles. These novel experimental results suggest that a defensive behavior—i.e., reduction of movement—in these tadpoles is more strongly expressed under the natural conditions where they evolved, compared to laboratory conditions where prey and predator were brought into closer contact. Besides, previous experiences are likely to play an important role in expressed defensive responses

O valor da superexpressão do p16 nas lesões precursoras do câncer de colo uterino em mulheres privadas de liberdade

A infecção genital por HPVs de alto risco (HR-HPV) oncogênicos é fator de risco importante ao desenvolvimento do câncer de colo de útero. A partir da detecção do vírus por exames de rastreio e investigação de biomarcadores imuno-histoquímicos de alteração do ciclo celular, como proteína p16INK4a, possibilita-se melhor reprodutibilidade diagnóstica e condução terapêutica. As mulheres privadas de liberdade apresentam significativa incidência de infecção por HPV, sendo a utilização dos biomarcadores possível ferramenta de triagem para melhor diagnóstico, ao ser observada a quantificação de alteração a nível celular e, a partir desses valores, ser realizada associação a demais apresentações clínicas. Objetivo: Visa-se associar os resultados da detecção de HPV de alto risco em mulheres privadas de liberdade com a superexpressão do marcador proteína p16INK4a observada através dos exames imunocitoquímicos. Métodos: Estudo observacional, transversal, descritivo, analítico e epidemiológico de prevalência do diagnóstico de infecção por HPV, do qual participaram 268 Mulheres Privadas de Liberdade (MPL) no estado do Amazonas (AM), que foram submetidas à autocoleta utilizando o dispositivo Coari® e Teste Cobas® 4800 HPV CTNG (Roche®). As pacientes com resultado HPV positivo foram submetidas à colpocitologia em meio líquido, colposcopia, avaliação da imunocitoquímica através da proteína p16INK4a e biópsia, quando indicado. Resultados: Das 268 mulheres avaliadas, a idade variou de 19 a 64 anos (média ± desvio padrão: 33,5 ± 9,1 anos). O HPV foi detectado em 66 (24,6%) das mulheres. Duas mulheres apresentaram lesão de alto grau e 13 de baixo grau, no histopatológico. Oito mulheres apresentaram alteração na colpocitologia e 32 (64%) na superexpressão da proteína p16INK4a. Conclusão: A prevalência de HPV na MPL foi elevada e que essa população carcerária apresenta características peculiares com maior prevalência de outros tipos de HPV de alto. A superexpressão p16INK4a foi positiva – demonstrando dados inéditos na população carcerária –, porém, apresenta limitações dos resultados e, consequentemente, do seu uso isoladamente

Sodium sulfate attack on Portland cement structures: experimental and analytical approach

Abstract The industrial development and the advance of the primary sector in Brazil generated an increase in the cases of structures damaged by sulfate attacks. A reduction in material lifetime is one of the most costly factors in the construction field. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the sulfate attack mechanism in order to provide repairs and prevent further attacks. This article aims to understand how the environmental condition and the material properties influence the attack’s severity. Hence, it combined an experimental program and analytical model to measure those parameter effects. Experiments show that cement with a higher amount of tricalcium aluminate (C3A), as the CP V ARI, presented a more pronounced deterioration. Visual changes such as cracking, crystallization of expansive products and a complete disintegration were also observed. In addition, loss of resistance occurred in the specimens with low slag content. Moreover, the model is useful to predict the delamination depth and to identify the most critical factors influencing the attack through sensitive analysis. Its results were compared with real cases based on literature and verifying the model reliability

The effect of chronic diseases on functional status of the elderly living in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil

The main focus of this study was the effect of chronic disease (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, lung disease, cancer, and arthropathy) on the functional status (activities of daily living-ADL, instrumental activities of daily living - IADL) among the elderly, controlling for age, gender, living arrangements, education, and comorbidity. The analysis was based on information provided by the SABE Project, from the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, including individuals 60 years of age and over (n = 1, 769), from January 2000 to March 2001. A multinomial logistic regression model was used. Compared to the absence of dependency category, heart disease (OR = 1.82), arthropathy (OR = 1.59), lung disease (OR = 1.50), and hypertension (OR = 1.39) were the main diseases that affected the IADL dependency category. Lung disease (OR = 2.58), arthropathy (OR = 2.27), hypertension (OR = 2.13), and heart disease (OR = 2.10) had important impact on the IADL and ADL dependency categories. The results were statistically significant (p < 0.05)

Comparison of diagnostic performance of RT-qPCR, RT-LAMP and IgM/IgG rapid tests for detection of SARS-CoV-2 among healthcare workers in Brazil

Background: COVID-19 has become a major public health problem after the outbreak caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. Great efforts to contain COVID-19 transmission have been applied worldwide. In this context, accurate and fast diagnosis is essential. Methods: In this prospective study, we evaluated the clinical performance of three different RNA-based molecular tests – RT-qPCR (Charité protocol), RT-qPCR (CDC (USA) protocol) and RT-LAMP – and one rapid test for detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies. Results: Our results demonstrate that RT-qPCR using the CDC (USA) protocol is the most accurate diagnostic test among those evaluated, while oro-nasopharyngeal swabs are the most appropriate biological sample. RT-LAMP was the RNA-based molecular test with lowest sensitivity while the serological test presented the lowest sensitivity among all evaluated tests, indicating that the latter test is not a good predictor of disease in the first days after symptoms onset. Additionally, we observed higher viral load in individuals who reported more than 3 symptoms at the baseline. Nevertheless, viral load had not impacted the probability of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion: Our data indicates that RT-qPCR using the CDC (USA) protocol in oro-nasopharyngeal swabs samples should be the method of choice to diagnosis COVID-19