The Usage of Data Augmentation Strategies on the Detection of Murmur Waves in a Pcg Signal

Cardiac auscultation is a key screening tool used for cardiovascular evaluation. When used properly, it speeds up treatment and thus improving the patient’s life quality. However, the analysis and interpretation of the heart sound signals is subjective and dependent of the physician’s experience and domain knowledge. A computer assistant decision (CAD) system that automatically analyse heart sound signals, can not only support physicians in their clinical decisions but also release human resources to other tasks. In this paper, and to the best of our knowledge, for the first time a SMOTE strategy is used to boost a Convolutional Neural Network performance on the detection of murmur waves. Using the SMOTE strategy, a CNN achieved an overall of 88.43%.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Classifying heart sounds using multiresolution time series motifs : an exploratory study

The aim of this work is to describe an exploratory study on the use of a SAX-based Multiresolution Motif Discovery method for Heart Sound Classification. The idea of our work is to discover relevant frequent motifs in the audio signals and use the discovered motifs and their frequency as characterizing attributes. We also describe different configurations of motif discovery for defining attributes and compare the use of a decision tree based algorithm with random forests on this kind of data. Experiments were performed with a dataset obtained from a clinic trial in hospitals using the digital stethoscope DigiScope. This exploratory study suggests that motifs contain valuable information that can be further exploited for Heart Sound Classification

Classifying heart sounds using SAX motifs, random forests and text mining techniques

In this paper we describe an approach to classifying heart sounds (classes Normal, Murmur and Extra-systole) that is based on the discretization of sound signals using the SAX (Symbolic Aggregate Approximation) representation. The ability of automatically classifying heart sounds or at least support human decision in this task is socially relevant to spread the reach of medical care using simple mobile devices or digital stethoscopes. In our approach, sounds are firrst pre-processed using signal processing techniques (decimate, low-pass filter, normalize, Shannon envelope). Then the pre-processed symbols are transformed into sequences of discrete SAX symbols. These sequences are subject to a process of motif discovery. Frequent sequences of symbols (motifs) are adopted as features. Each sound is then characterized by the frequent motifs that occur in it and their respective frequency. This is similar to the term frequency (TF) model used in text mining. In this paper we compare the TF model with the application of the TFIDF (Term frequency - Inverse Document Frequency) and the use of bi-grams (frequent size two sequences of motifs). Results show the ability of the motifs based TF approach to separate classes and the relative value of the TFIDF and the bi-grams variants. The separation of the Extra-systole class is overly dificult and much better results are obtained for separating the Murmur class. Empirical validation is conducted using real data collected in noisy environments. We have also assessed the cost-reduction potential of the proposed methods by considering a fixed cost model and using a cost sensitive meta algorithm.Portuguese Funds through the FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (proj. FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037281 and FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-PEst-OE/EEI/UI0760/2014)

Simulação de regimes permanentes e transitórios de misturadores-decantadores : contribuição para uma formulação físicamente significativa

Tese de doutoramento. Ciências de Engenharia. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 200

Effect of addition of fresh and composted coffee grounds on antioxidant activity of lettuce

O café é um dos produtos agrícolas de maior importância no comércio mundial, sendo maioritariamente produzido nas regiões tropicais e consumido, principalmente, na Europa e Estados Unidos da América. Ao consumo elevado de café encontra-se associado a produção de resíduos de baixo valor. A reutilização de resíduos do café tem sido uma das prioridades dos países produtores, tanto por razões ecológicas como económicas e sociais. As potencialidades do aproveitamento da borra de café têm sido pouco exploradas. Nesse sentido no presente trabalho avaliou-se os efeitos da aplicação da borra de café, compostada e não compostada, e da sua concentração nas propriedades biológicas de plantas de alface (Lactuca sativa L.). Estudaram-se dois substratos para o cultivo das plantas: borra de café fresca e borra de café compostada, ambos misturados com terra vegetal em diversas proporções. Após obtenção de extratos das alfaces determinou-se a capacidade redutora total (CRT), o efeito bloqueador do radical livre de DPPH e o poder redutor. Em relação à aplicação de borra de café no cultivo de alface, verificou-se que ao usar borra de café compostada, o efeito bloqueador do radical livre DPPH e o poder redutor para essas plantas, foram semelhantes aos determinados para o controlo, independentemente da concentração em borra de café utilizada. Pelo contrário, foi obtida maior atividade antioxidante em alfaces cultivadas em borra de café fresca, principalmente para as concentrações de 15 e 20% (v/v). Estes resultados indicam que o uso de elevadas concentrações de borra de café fresca pode funcionar como um indutor de stress, originando uma maior produção de compostos com atividade antioxidante.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT)através do projeto PTDC/AGR-AAM/102447/2008

Application of response surface methodology for obtaining lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by-products extracts with high antioxidative properties

The main objective of the present work was to optimize the extraction conditions for simultaneous maximization of total reducing (TRC) and antioxidant (AC) capacities for lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by-products extracts, using response surface methodology. For this, a design of experiments (DOE) with different combinations of solvents (water, methanol and acetone) extraction temperatures (30–60 ◦C) and time (10–60 min) on the TRC and AC was applied. Higher and consistent fittings using second order polynomial models of the experimental data with regard to TRC (R2 = 0.529, p lack of fit > 0.05) and AC (R2 = 0.900, p lack of fit > 0.05) were obtained with methanol. The optimum extraction conditions based on combination responses for TRC and AC were: 30% methanol (v/v), 60 ◦C and 60 min. A close agreement between experimental and predicted values was found when applying these conditions. Furthermore, when aqueous extracts were prepared (e.g. 45 ◦ C, 10 min), these presented similar TRC and AC properties to those obtained by the above optimum extraction conditions, having the advantage of applying mild extraction conditions and avoiding the use of organic solvents in their preparation.FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) e o FEDER através do programa COMPETE através dos projetos projects FCOMP- 01-0124-FEDER-008703 (FCT/PTDC/AGR-AAM/102447/2008), PEst-C/EQB/LA0006/2011, e PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/201

“trends in airborne grass pollen in Évora City (Portugal)”

Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.Aerobiology could be used as complementary data or proxy for studying phenology, especially in species which usually are not long-distance transported, such as grasses. This 21-year aerobiological study took place in Évora (South Portugal), using a seven-day recording volumetric pollen trap with the aim of analysing the temporal trends of grass pollen seasons. To this end, data were statistically tested for correlation and regression to determine the features and temporal trends of pollen seasons. Main results show that Poaceae pollen has a high representation in pollen spectrum, 20% (min: 7%; max: 44%), with a long season starting in March and lasting till August/September or October. There was an overall, but not statistically significant trend, towards an increase in the annual pollen integral and peak values, and also an overall non-statistically significant trend towards an earlier start and later end of the pollen season. Main and high pollen seasons have been lasting longer, and the days with allergenic potential have been rising in line with the local temperature rising trend. It seems that grass pollen production is being aided by warmer temperatures and increased grassland areas in Alentejo region. This could promote the increase in annual pollen levels and in the number of high pollen days over the years. In clinical terms, it means that grass allergic patients are exposed to longer periods of airborne pollen and to higher counts over a longer time. The climate conditions projected for Alentejo region, including rising temperature, and the changes in local grassland areas may help to clarify the trends of grass pollen seasons in the next decades.publishersversionpublishe

WGS-based dual strategy for the identification of key targets to enhance beta-lactam activity in mycobacterium tuberculosis

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Avaliação Qualitativa do Projeto de Difusão do Conhecimento Científico

A administração pública busca continuamente aprimorar a qualidade dos serviços visando alcançar sua missão precípua de melhor atender às reais necessidades da sociedade. A gestão de projetos apresenta-se como uma alternativa essencial para proporcionar esse ganho de qualidade e efetividade no setor público (PISA e OLIVEIRA, 2013). Relatam que no setor público brasileiro também se observam esforços para promover a melhoria da qualidade dos serviços prestados pelo Estado e o controle dos custos envolvidos nos programas e projetos públicos. Esse fato vem impondo inovações, tanto nos modelos de gestão como na adoção de EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL estratégias que resultem em facilitadores da governança e gerem maior eficiência na execução, controle e consecução dos resultados previstos nos planos governamentais. Avaliar é uma condição constante e imprescindível em projetos, pois gera maior conhecimento sobre os trabalhos realizados e fornece dados para verificar sua efetividade, permitindo com isso o seu aprimoramento e melhorias. Neste contexto, bem como para o sucesso e o fortalecimento de ações educacionais, como é o caso do projeto “Difusão do Conhecimento Científico”, entre maio e junho de 2019, durante a sua realização na Escola Técnica Estadual - ETEC Prof. José Sant'Ana de Castro, Cruzeiro/SP, com a apresentação de 72 palestras de cunho científico ambiental, a um público total de 464 participantes, breve pesquisa por meio eletrônico foi aplicada a Alunos e Professores. Portanto, este artigo objetiva apresentar os indicadores qualitativos do projeto “Difusão do Conhecimento Científico” do CCST/INPE.CNPq - Concelho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Brasi

HLA‐A23/HLA‐A24 serotypes and dementia interaction in the elderly: Association with increased soluble HLA class I molecules in plasma

MHC class I molecules regulate brain development and plasticity in mice and HLA class I molecules are associated with brain disorders in humans. We investigated the relationship between plasma-derived soluble human HLA class I molecules (sHLA class I), HLA class I serotypes and dementia. A cohort of HLA class I serotyped elderly subjects with no dementia/predementia (NpD, n = 28), or with dementia (D, n = 28) was studied. Multivariate analysis was used to examine the influence of dementia and HLA class I serotype on sHLA class I levels, and to compare sHLA class I within four groups according to the presence or absence of HLA-A23/A24 and dementia. HLA-A23/A24 and dementia, but not age, significantly influenced the level of sHLA class I. Importantly, the concurrent presence of HLA-A23/A24 and dementia was associated with higher levels of sHLA class I (p < 0.001). This study has shown that the simultaneous presence of HLA-A23/HLA-A24 and dementia is associated with high levels of serum sHLA class I molecules. Thus, sHLA class I could be considered a biomarker of neurodegeneration in certain HLA class I carriers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio