Sprinter: A didactic linter for structured programming

Code linters are tools for detecting improper uses of programming constructs and violations of style issues. Despite that professional linters are available for numerous languages, they are not targeted to introductory programming, given their prescriptive nature that does not take into consideration a didactic viewpoint of learning programming fundamentals. We present Sprinter, a didactic code linter for structured programming supporting Java whose novelty aspects are twofold: (a) providing formative feedback on code with comprehensive explanatory messages (rather then prescriptive); (b) capability of detecting some control-flow issues to a deeper extent than professional linters. We review Sprinter features against popular tools, namely IntelliJ IDEA and Sonarlint.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Inter-limb symmetry at simultaneous and alternated arms flexion by the elbow during water fitness sessions

The aim was to compare the inter-limb symmetry between alternated and simultaneous arms flexion during water fitness sessions. Twenty-three elderly women were recruited to perform flexion by the elbow with di erent mechanical strategies: (a) simultaneous and (b) alternated. An incremental protocol was used, with four music cadences, starting at 105 beats per minute up to 150. The peak force of dominant and non-dominant upper-limbs was retrieved. A symmetry index (SI, %) was also used to quantify coordination. There were significant variations in force produced by the dominant and non-dominant limbs in most of the cadences in the alternated or simultaneous actions. Differences with a medium e ect between upper-limbs were shown when moving simultaneously indicating that an alternated movement can be a more proper strategy to work with. Despite that, both strategies seemed to be characterized by an asymmetric pattern (SI from 20 to 30%), requiring full attention from water fitness practitioners.This research was supported by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation under the project UID04045/2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

IRIS: A new tool for suicide risk assessment

Na introdução os autores procedem a uma revisão histórica e conceptual dos instrumentos psicométricos que têm como objectivo a avaliação do risco de suicídio em indivíduos que apenas verbalizam ideação suicida. Nas secções seguintes é apresentado todo o processo de desenvolvimento do IRIS (Índice de Risco de Suicídio) - um novo índice com o mesmo objectivo de avaliação mas construído utilizando metodologias que proporcionam avanços qualitativos em relação aos índices existentes, bem como uma melhor adequação a contingências e características da realidade portuguesa. The introduction contains a historical and conceptual review of psychometric tools that aim at assessing the risk of suicide in individuals presenting suicidal ideation. In the following sections the whole process of development of IRIS (“Índice de Risco de Suicídio” – Suicide Risk Index) is presented - a new tool with the same objective but built using methods that provide qualitative advances over existing indexes, while better accounting for the contingencies and characteristics of the Portuguese reality

Recombinant human erythropoietin therapy has beneffical cardio-renal effects on moderate stages of chronic renal failure in the rat

This study aimed to assess the cardio-renal effects of rhEPO therapy on an animal model of moderate chronic renal failure (CRF). Four groups (n =7) of male rat were evaluated during a 12-week follow up period: control; rhEPO: 50 IU/Kg/wk; CRF: two-stage 3/, nephrectomy; CRF+ rhEPO (start after the 3'd wk of surgery). Renal function, haematology and serum inflammation and redox status were assessed. rhEPO treatment was able to partially attenuate renal function markers, totally correct anaemia, also showing a proliferative and antioxidant action, due to increased serum TGF-13I and decreased 3-NT. In conclusion, rhEPO therapy might be recommended in moderate CRF stages in order to efficiently correct not only the underlying anaemia but also the deleterious cardio-renal effects, due to a proliferative and antioxidant renoprotective action

Heuristic derivation of continuum kinetic equations from microscopic dynamics

We present an approximate and heuristic scheme for the derivation of continuum kinetic equations from microscopic dynamics for stochastic, interacting systems. The method consists of a mean-field type, decoupled approximation of the master equation followed by the `naive' continuum limit. The Ising model and driven diffusive systems are used as illustrations. The equations derived are in agreement with other approaches, and consequences of the microscopic dependences of coarse-grained parameters compare favorably with exact or high-temperature expansions. The method is valuable when more systematic and rigorous approaches fail, and when microscopic inputs in the continuum theory are desirable.Comment: 7 pages, RevTeX, two-column, 4 PS figures include

Hemorheological, biochemical and cardiovascular characterization of a rat model of moderate chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem throughout the world. The major outcomes include a rapid progression, with development of anaemia and serious complications, namely thromboembol ic and cardiovascular events. The pathophysiological alterations depend on the CKD degree, which will also determine the moment to initiate hemodialysis and recombinant erythropoietin (rhEPO) therapies Thus, the cardio-renal complication might be better prevented or delayed if CKD patients are earlier identified and treated for the associated anaemia, which will depend on a better characterization of moderate stages of CKD. This study aimed to characterization an animal of model of moderate CKD induced by partial (%) nephrectomy, by evaluating hemorheological, biochemical and cardiovascular profiles. Blood samples from control and CKD rats were collected at 0, 3, 9 and 15 weeks in order to evaluate: renal function, hemorheological parameters, iron metabolism, blood lipids, peripheral sympathetic and serotonergic systems, redox state and inflammatory markers. BP, tissues uophism indexes and kidney histomorphology were also assessed. Our data is consistent with a sustained moderate degree of CKD with a quickly compensated modest anaemia, though presenting iron metabolism disturbances. Despite the reasonable degree of functionality of the remnant kidney, as suggested by the anaemia correction and by the kidney hypertrophy, several important cardiovascular modifications were developed. Our model presented hypertension, dyslipidaemia, erythropoietic disturbances, sympathetic activation and oxidative stress. This model might be a good tool to study the cellular/molecularmechanisms underlying moderate stages of CKD and to evaluate the therapeutics efficacy for prevention, treatment/correction of cardiorenal anaemia syndromes and complications in early stages.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efeitos hemorreológicos e cardiovasculares da eritropoietina num modelo de rato em exercício físico sob a acção de drogas

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has been therapeutically used for correction of anaemia. However, due to the increase in circulating red blood cells (RBCs) it promotes, thus increasing oxygen delivery to muscles and improving performance in sport, it has been also illegally used as sports doping. Besides the well known increase of hematocrit and blood viscosity; which might cause serious complications for the athletes, other disturbances could occur, whose mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the hemorheological and cardiovascular effects of administration of rhEPO to rats under chronic aerobic exercise. A ten week-protocol was performed in four male Wistar rat groups: control — sedentary; rhEPO — 50 IV/kg, 3 times/wk; exercised (EX) — swimming for 1 hr, 3 times/ wk; EX+rhEPO. rhEPO in trained rats promoted erythrocyte count increase, hypertension, heart hypertro-phy, sympathetic and serotonergic overactivation, as well as a trend to increased oxidative stress. In conclusion, rhEPO doping in rats under chronic exercise promotes not only the expected increased hematocrit, but also other serious deleterious cardiovascular and thromboembolic modifications, including live risk, which might be known and assumed by all sports authorities, including athletes and their physicians.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Erythropoietin doping as cause of sudden death in athletes: an experimental study

Aims: To evaluate the cardiovascular (CV) effects of rhEPO treatment in rats under chronic aerobic exercise and to assess the probable cause of sudden death in one rat. Protocol: Male Wistar rats: control - sedentary; rhEPO - 50 IU/Kg/3xwk; swimming (EX) -1 hr, 3x/wk; EX+EPO. Hematology, catecholamines and serotonin, redox status and inflammation, were assessed. One rat of EX+EPO group suffered a sudden death episode. Results: rhEPO treatment in trained rats promoted several markers of increased CV risk. The sudden death rat tissues presented: lungs without signs of drowning; brain with vascular congestion; LV hypertrpphy and deregulations of cardiac fibers, together with a "cardiac liver", suggesting the hypothesis of heart failure as cause of death. Conclusion: The sudden death of a EX+EPO rat, due to a cardiac episode, together with the increased CV risk profile, strongly suggest a high life risk associated to the continuous rhEPO doping. The anatomo-pathological studies were determinant to establish the cause of death

Clinical use of HIV integrase inhibitors : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Optimal regimen choice of antiretroviral therapy is essential to achieve long-term clinical success. Integrase inhibitors have swiftly been adopted as part of current antiretroviral regimens. The purpose of this study was to review the evidence for integrase inhibitor use in clinical settings. Methods: MEDLINE and Web-of-Science were screened from April 2006 until November 2012, as were hand-searched scientific meeting proceedings. Multiple reviewers independently screened 1323 citations in duplicate to identify randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized controlled trials and cohort studies on integrase inhibitor use in clinical practice. Independent, duplicate data extraction and quality assessment were conducted. Results: 48 unique studies were included on the use of integrase inhibitors in antiretroviral therapy-naive patients and treatment-experienced patients with either virological failure or switching to integrase inhibitors while virologically suppressed. On the selected studies with comparable outcome measures and indication (n = 16), a meta-analysis was performed based on modified intention-to-treat (mITT), on-treatment (OT) and as-treated (AT) virological outcome data. In therapy-naive patients, favorable odds ratios (OR) for integrase inhibitor-based regimens were observed, (mITT OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.59-0.86). However, integrase inhibitors combined with protease inhibitors only did not result in a significant better virological outcome. Evidence further supported integrase inhibitor use following virological failure (mITT OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.11-0.66), but switching to integrase inhibitors from a high genetic barrier drug during successful treatment was not supported (mITT OR 1.43; 95% CI 0.89-2.31). Integrase inhibitor-based regimens result in similar immunological responses compared to other regimens. A low genetic barrier to drug-resistance development was observed for raltegravir and elvitegravir, but not for dolutegravir. Conclusion: In first-line therapy, integrase inhibitors are superior to other regimens. Integrase inhibitor use after virological failure is supported as well by the meta-analysis. Careful use is however warranted when replacing a high genetic barrier drug in treatment-experienced patients switching successful treatment