A multimodal multiple kernel learning approach to Alzheimer's disease detection

In neuroimaging-based diagnostic problems, the combination of different sources of information as MR images and clinical data is a challenging task. Their simple combination usually does not provides an improvement if compared with using the best source alone. In this paper, we deal with the well known Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset tackling the AD versus Control task. We use a recently proposed multiple kernel learning approach, called EasyMKL, to combine a huge amount of basic kernels in synergy with a feature selection methodology, pursuing an optimal and sparse solution to facilitate interpretability. Our new approach, called EasyMKLFS, outperforms baselines (e.g. SVM) and state-of-the-art methods as recursive feature elimination and SimpleMKL

Triatominae (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) in the Pantanal region: association with Trypanosoma cruzi, different habitats and vertebrate hosts.

The transmission cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi in the Brazilian Pantanal region has been studied during the last decade. Although considerable knowledge is available regarding the mammalian hosts infected by T. cruzi in this wetland, no studies have investigated its vectors in this region. This study aimed to investigate the presence of sylvatic triatomine species in different habitats of the Brazilian Pantanal region and to correlate their presence with the occurrences of vertebrate hosts and T. cruzi infection. Methods: The fieldwork involved passive search by using light traps and Noireau traps and active search by visual inspection. The light traps were placed at five selected points along forested areas for seven nights during each of the nine excursions. At each point where a light trap was set, eight Noireau traps were placed in palm trees and bromeliads. Results: In all, 88 triatomine bugs were collected: two and one individuals from light traps and Noireau traps, respectively; three from peridomestic areas; 23 in coati nests; and 59 in thornbird nests. In this study, active search in microhabitats showed higher efficiency than passive search, since 95% of the triatomine bugs were caught in nests. Further, triatomine bugs were only found to be infected by T. cruzi in coati nests. Conclusions: Coati nests might act as a point of convergence and dispersion for triatomine bugs and mammal hosts infected by T. cruzi, thereby playing an important role in the sylvatic cycle of T. cruzi in the Pantanal region

On the observability of the neutrino charge radius

It is shown that the probe-independent charge radius of the neutrino is a physical observable; as such, it may be extracted from experiment, at least in principle. This is accomplished by expressing a set of experimental neutrino-electron cross-sections in terms of the finite charge radius and two additional gauge- and renormalization-group-invariant quantities, corresponding to the electroweak effective charge and mixing angle.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure; a typo in Eq.1 corrected, some comments adde

Raw meat-based diet for pets: a neglected source of human exposure to Salmonella and pathogenic Escherichia coli clones carrying mcr, Portugal, September 2019 to January 2020

Background: The pet industry is expanding worldwide, particularly raw meat -based diets (RMBDs). There are concerns regarding the safety of RMBDs, especially their potential to spread clinically relevant antibioticresistant bacteria or zoonotic pathogens. Aim: We aimed to investigate whether dog food, including RMBD, commercially available in Portugal can be a source of Salmonella and/or other Enterobacteriaceae strains resistant to last -line antibiotics such as colistin. Methods: Fifty-five samples from 25 brands (21 international ones) of various dog food types from 12 suppliers were screened by standard cultural methods between September 2019 and January 2020. Isolates were characterised by phenotypic and genotypic methods, including whole genome sequencing and comparative genomics. Results: Only RMBD batches were contaminated, with 10 of 14 containing polyclonal multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli and one MDR Salmonella . One turkey -based sample contained MDR Salmonella serotype 1,4,[5],12:i:- ST34/ cgST142761 with similarity to human clinical isolates occurring worldwide. This Salmonella exhibited typical antibiotic resistance ( bla TEM + strA-strB + sul2 + tet(B) ) and metal tolerance profiles ( pco + sil + ars ) associated with the European epidemic clone. Two samples (turkey/veal) carried globally dispersed MDR E. coli (ST3997-complexST10/cgST95899 and ST297/ cgST138377) with colistin resistance (minimum inhibitory concentration: 4 mg/L) and mcr-1 gene on IncX4 plasmids, which were identical to other IncX4 circulating worldwide. Conclusion: Some RMBDs from European brands available in Portugal can be a vehicle for clinically relevant MDR Salmonella and pathogenic E. coli clones carrying genes encoding resistance to the last -line antibiotic colistin. Proactive actions within the One Health context, spanning regulatory, pet -food industry and consumer levels, are needed to mitigate these public health risks

Manejo das forrageiras dos gêneros Brachiaria e Panicum consorciadas com o milho em sistemas de Integração Lavoura-Pecuária.

bitstream/CNPMS-2010/22387/1/Circ-130.pd

Current status of ticks and tick-host relationship in domestic and wild animals from Pantanal wetlands in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

This is a commented list of tick?s species collected on various wild and domestic animals, including the reports on scientifi c literature for the studied region. Most of animals were small or medium mammals. Carnivores were the main taxa group examined. Although, the pampas deer (Ozotocerus bezoarticus) and giant anteater (Mymercophaga tridactyla) also has a good representation on study. Among domestic animals, dogs, horses and cattle were examined. Summing up, 18 tick species were listed for the region. Sixteen were hard ticks (Ixodidae) and two soft ticks (Argasidae). Amblyomma sculptum was the most common and abundant hard tick. Ornithodoros rostratus (Argasidae) was very abundant, being the more important Argasidae tick on the study region. The following species were colleted or reported on scientifi c literature: Argas miniatus Koch, 1844; Ornithodoros rostratus Aragão, 1911; Dermacentor nitens Newmann, 1897; Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Canestrini, 1887; Amblyomma tigrinum Koch, 1844; A.dissimile Koch, 1844; A. ovale Koch, 1844; A. pauvum Aragão, 1908; A. sculptum Berlese, 1888; A. calcaratum Neumann, 1899; A. coelebs Neumann, 1899; A. dubittatum Newmann, 1899; A. scalpturatum Newmann, 1906; A. naponense Packard, 1869; A. nodosum Newmann, 1899; A. pseudoconcolor Aragão, 1908; A. rotundatum Koch, 1844; A. triste Koch, 1844.Título em português: Estado atual dos carrapatos em relação a seus animais-hospedeiros domésticos e selvagens do Pantanal no Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil