Linear Modeling of the Glass Transition Temperature of the system SiO2-Na2O-CaO

This work aimed to mathematically model the glass transition temperature (Tg), one of the most important parameters regarding the behavior of slag, responsible for the sudden change in thermomechanical properties of non-crystalline materials, by the chemical composition of the SiO2-Na2O-CaO system, widely applicable in the production of glasses and constituent of iron, magnesium and aluminum metallurgy slags. The SciGlass database was used to provide data for mathematical modeling through the Python programming language, using the method of least squares. A new equation was established, called P Model, and it presented a lower mean absolute error and lower standard deviation of absolute errors in relation to 3 equations in the literature. The raised equation provides significant results in the mathematical modeling of Tg by the chemical system SiO2-Na2O-CaO, valid for the limits of the data used in the mathematical modeling.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 2 table

Development of Non-Linear Equations for Predicting Electrical Conductivity in Silicates

Electrical conductivity is of fundamental importance in electric arc furnaces (EAF) and the interaction of this phenomenon with the process slag results in energy losses and low optimization. As mathematical modeling helps in understanding the behavior of phenomena and it was used to predict the electrical conductivity of EAF slags through artificial neural networks. The best artificial neural network had 100 neurons in the hidden layer, with 6 predictor variables and the predicted variable, electrical conductivity. Mean absolute error and standard deviation of absolute error were calculated, and sensitivity analysis was performed to correlate the effect of each predictor variable with the predicted variable.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, 1 table (AISTech 2023 - Presented and Accepted

Liquidus temperature nonlinear modeling of silicates SiO2−R2O−ROSiO_2-R_2O-RO

The liquidus temperature is an important parameter in understanding the crystalline behavior of materials and in the operation of blast furnaces. Its modeling can be carried out by linear and nonlinear methods through data, considering the artificial neural network a modeling method with high efficiency because it presents the theorem of universal approximation and with that better performances and possibility of greater oscillations. The best linear model and the best nonlinear model were modeled by structural parameters and presented a good numerical approximation, thus demonstrating that mathematical modeling can be performed using structural arguments and also showing a dimensionality reduction method for modeling a thermophysical property of the materials.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, 3 table

Glutathione status and antioxidant enzymes in a crocodilian species from the swamps of the Brazilian Pantanal

AbstractIn a previous study oxidative damage markers – lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation – were determined in organs of wild Caiman yacare captured in winter-2001 and summer-2002 at various developmental stages. An increase in oxidative damage occurred in the hatchling-juvenile transition (but not in the juvenile-adult transition) and winter–summer transition (in juveniles), suggesting that oxidative stress is associated with development and season. Herein the effect of development and season on glutathione (GSH) metabolism and the effect of development on the activity of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase) and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were analyzed. The ratio GSSG:GSH-eq increased in lung, liver, kidney and brain by 1.8- to 4-fold in the embryo/hatchling to juvenile transition. No changes occurred in juvenile–adult transition. GSSG:GSH-eq across seasons was significantly elevated in summer. Total-glutathione content was mostly stable in various organs; in liver it increased in the embryo–juvenile transition. Enzyme activities were only determined in summer-animals (embryos, hatchlings and juveniles). For most antioxidant enzymes, activities increased from embryo/hatchling to juvenile in liver and Kidney. In lung, there was an inverse trend for enzyme activities and total glutathione content. Thus, increased metabolic rates during early caiman growth – in embryo–juvenile transition – appears to be related to redox imbalance as suggested by increased GSSG:GSH-eq and activation of antioxidant defenses. Differences in oxidative stress across seasons were related with summer–winter nocturnal temperatures. These results, as a whole, were interpreted in the context of ecological biochemistry

The influence of gait cadence on the ground reaction forces and plantar pressures during load carriage of young adults

Biomechanical gait parameters ground reaction forces (GRFs) and plantar pressures during load carriage of young adults were compared at a low gait cadence and a high gait cadence. Differences between load carriage and normal walking during both gait cadences were also assessed. A force plate and an in-shoe plantar pressure system were used to assess 60 adults while they were walking either normally (unloaded condition) or wearing a backpack (loaded condition) at low (70 steps per minute) and high gait cadences (120 steps per minute). GRF and plantar pressure peaks were scaled to body weight (or body weight plus backpack weight). With medium to high effect sizes we found greater anterior-posterior and vertical GRFs and greater plantar pressure peaks in the rearfoot, forefoot and hallux when the participants walked carrying a backpack at high gait cadences compared to walking at low gait cadences. Differences between loaded and unloaded conditions in both gait cadences were also observed.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Spontaneous Bacterial Pericarditis and Coronary Sinus Endocarditis Caused by Oxacillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus

This paper describes a case of a 44-year-old male patient previously healthy admitted with an unusual spontaneous acute bacterial pericarditis associated with coronary sinus mass. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed large loculated pericardial effusion with signs of diastolic restriction and an image suggesting vegetation in topography of the right atrium coronary sinus. Pericardial drainage, coronary sinus vegetation resection, and antibiotic therapy with Oxacillin were performed due to Oxacillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus identified on the pericardial effusion and blood culture. This is a rare condition and a unique combination of a spontaneous acute bacterial pericarditis with coronary sinus endocarditis without cardiac valve compromise

Live neighbor-joining

Background: In phylogenetic reconstruction the result is a tree where all taxa are leaves and internal nodes are hypothetical ancestors. In a live phylogeny, both ancestral and living taxa may coexist, leading to a tree where internal nodes may be living taxa. The well-known Neighbor-Joining heuristic is largely used for phylogenetic reconstruction. Results: We present Live Neighbor-Joining, a heuristic for building a live phylogeny. We have investigated Live Neighbor-Joining on datasets of viral genomes, a plausible scenario for its application, which allowed the construction of alternative hypothesis for the relationships among virus that embrace both ancestral and descending taxa. We also applied Live Neighbor-Joining on a set of bacterial genomes and to sets of images and texts. Non-biological data may be better explored visually when their relationship in terms of content similarity is represented by means of a phylogeny. Conclusion: Our experiments have shown interesting alternative phylogenetic hypothesis for RNA virus genomes, bacterial genomes and alternative relationships among images and texts, illustrating a wide range of scenarios where Live Neighbor-Joining may be used

Estudio comparativo entre levobupivacaína a 0,5% y bupivacaína racémica a 0,5% asociadas al sufentanil en la anestesia peridural para cesáre

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although the widespread use of local anesthetics in surgery and obstetrics, racemic bupivacaine is associated to potentially fatal cardiotoxicity. Data suggest that levobupivacaine has local anesthetic effects similar to racemic bupivacaine with the advantage of less central nervous system and cardiovascular toxicity. Studies have shown that epidural anesthesia with racemic bupivacaine and sufentanil for cesarean sections results in a better quality of anesthesia. This study aimed at comparing the efficacy of 0.5% racemic bupivacaine and 0.5% levobupivacaine, both associated to sufentanil, for epidural anesthesia in parturients undergoing cesarean delivery. METHODS: Participated in this double-blind study 52 obstetric patients submitted to elective cesarean delivery under epidural anesthesia. Patients were randomized to receive 27 ml of 0.5% levobupivacaine and 30 µg sufentanil (Group I n=26) or 27 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine and 30 µg sufentanil (Group II n=26). Characteristics of sensory and motor block, time for analgesics request in the postoperative period and the incidence of side effects were investigated. RESULTS: Sensory and motor block, time for analgesics request and adverse effects did not differ between groups. However, motor block was significantly longer with levobupivacaine as compared to racemic bupivacaine (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although a longer motor block duration with 0.5% epidural levobupivacaine associated to sufentanil, the efficacy of both local anesthetics associated to sufentanil for cesarean delivery was similar.JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: A pesar del uso frecuente de anestésicos locales en procedimientos quirúrgicos y obstétricos, la bupivacaína racémica es asociada a la cardiotoxicidad potencialmente fatal. Estudios sugieren que la levobupivacaína presenta acción anestésica local semejante a la bupivacaína racémica, con la ventaja de menor toxicidad tanto en el sistema nervioso central como cardiovascular. Los trabajos han demostrado mejor calidad anestésica con el uso de bupivacaína racémica asociada al sufentanil, vía peridural para cesárea. El presente estudio compara la eficacia de la bupivacaína racémica 0,5% con levobupivacaína 0,5%, ambas asociadas al sufentanil, vía peridural, en parturientas sometidas a cesárea. MÉTODO: Fueron investigadas 52 mujeres embarazadas, sometidas a anestesia peridural para cesárea electiva. En este estudio duplamente encubierto, las pacientes fueron distribuidas aleatoriamente en dos grupos: Grupo I (n = 26): recibieron 27 ml de levobupivacaína 0,5% y 30 µg de sufentanil, Grupo II (n = 26) recibieran 27 ml de bupivacaína 0,5% y 30 µg de sufentanil. Fueron evaluadas las características de los bloqueos motor y sensorial, el tiempo necesario para solicitación de analgésicos y la incidencia de efectos adversos en el período pós-operatorio. RESULTADOS: Los bloqueos motor y sensorial, el tiempo para solicitación de analgésicos y los efectos adversos no divergieron entre los grupos. Entretanto, cuando se comparó la duración del bloqueo motor de la levobupivacaína con el de la bupivacaína racémica, se observó duración significantemente prolongada para levobupivacaína (p < 0,05). CONCLUSIONES: A pesar de la duración del bloqueo motor ser más prolongado para la levobupivacaína asociada al sufentanil, la eficacia anestésica de ambos anestésicos locales investigados, asociados al sufentanil en cesárea por vía peridural, fueron iguales.JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Apesar do uso freqüente de anestésicos locais em procedimentos cirúrgicos e obstétricos, a bupivacaína racêmica é associada à cardiotoxicidade potencialmente fatal. Estudos sugerem que a levobupivacaína apresenta ação anestésica local semelhante à bupivacaína racêmica, com a vantagem de menor toxicidade tanto no sistema nervoso central como cardiovascular. Os trabalhos têm demonstrado melhor qualidade anestésica com uso de bupivacaína racêmica associada à sufentanil, via peridural para cesariana. O presente estudo compara a eficácia da bupivacaína racêmica 0,5% com levobupivacaína 0,5%, ambas associadas o sufentanil, via peridural, em parturientes submetidas a cesariana. MÉTODO: Foram investigadas 52 gestantes, submetidas à anestesia peridural para cesariana eletiva. Neste estudo duplamente encoberto, as pacientes foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em dois grupos: Grupo I (n = 26): receberam 27 ml de levobupivacaína 0,5% e 30 µg de sufentanil, Grupo II (n = 26) receberam 27 ml de bupivacaína 0,5% e 30 µg de sufentanil. Foram avaliados as características dos bloqueios motor e sensorial, o tempo necessário para solicitação de analgésicos e a incidência de efeitos adversos no período pós-operatório. RESULTADOS: Os bloqueios motor e sensorial, o tempo para solicitação de analgésicos e os efeitos adversos não diferiram entre os grupos. Entretanto, quando se comparou a duração do bloqueio motor da levobupivacaína com da bupivacaína racêmica, observou-se duração significantemente prolongada para levobupivacaína (p < 0,05). CONCLUSÕES: Apesar da duração do bloqueio motor ser mais prolongado para a levobupivacaína associada ao sufentanil, a eficácia anestésica de ambos os anestésicos locais investigados associados ao sufentanil em cesariana por via peridural, foram iguais.UFMAUFMA Hospital Universitário Materno InfantilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

A method to find groups of orthogous genes across multiple genomes

In this work we propose a simple method to obtain groups of homologous genes across multiple (k) organisms, called kGC. Our method takes as input all-against-all Blastp comparisons and produces groups of homologous sequences. First, homologies among groups of paralogs of all the k compared genomes are found, followed by homologies of groups among k - 1 genomes and so on, until groups belonging exclusively to only one genome, that is, groups of one genome not presenting strong similarities with any group of any other genome, are identified. We have used our method to determine homologous groups across six Actinobacterial complete genomes. To validate kGC, we first investigate the Pfam classification of the homologous groups, and after compare our results with those produced by OrthoMCL. Although kGC is much simpler than OrthoMCL it presented similar results with respect to Pfam classification