Geostatistical Mapping of Outfall Plume Dispersion Data gathered with an autonomous underwater vehicle

The main purpose of this study was to examine the applicability of geostatistical modeling to obtain valuable information for assessing the environmental impact of sewage outfall discharges. The data set used was obtained in a monitoring campaign to S. Jacinto outfall, located off the Portuguese west coast near Aveiro region, using an AUV. The Matheron’s classical estimator was used the compute the experimental semivariogram which was fitted to three theoretical models: spherical, exponential and gaussian. The cross-validation procedure suggested the best semivariogram model and ordinary kriging was used to obtain the predictions of salinity at unknown locations. The generated map shows clearly the plume dispersion in the studied area, indicating that the effluent does not reach the near by beaches. Our study suggests that an optimal design for the AUV sampling trajectory from a geostatistical prediction point of view, can help to compute more precise predictions and hence to quantify more accurately dilution. Moreover, since accurate measurements of plume’s dilution are rare, these studies might be very helpful in the future for validation of dispersion models

Colonização oral fúngica em indivíduos diabéticos

Poster apresentado nas XXI Jornadas de Ciências Farmacêuticas do ISCSEM - Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz. 5-6 de Maio de 2015, Caparica

Oral Candida colonization in diabetic individuals non-carriers of dental prosthesis

Poster presented at the First International Congress of CiiEM - From Basic Sciences to Clinical Research. 27-28 November 2015, Egas Moniz, Caparica, Portuga

Interferon Side Effects: When Somatization Betrays You - A Case Report

Neuropsychiatric symptoms are widely reported in association with both hepatitis C and IFNα treatment [1]its sequelae, and its treatment. In particular, interferon, a primary component of treatment for chronic hepatitis C, has been strongly associated with depressive symptoms. This review summarizes current knowledge about the etiology, course, and treatment of europsychiatric problems associated with hepatitis C and interferon alpha (IFN-alpha and lead to discontinuation of interferon in up to 13% of cases [2]. When on interferon treatment, cognitive, affective and behavioral symptoms are not easily distinguished from each other or from depression [2,3] mechanism, course, and treatment of neuropsychiatric problems associated with interferon alfa (IFN-alpha. The challenge is even higher if in somatoform cases. We describe a case of somatoform disorder while on classic therapy for hepatitis C and discuss the management of the patient main complaints and evolution

Management of an Elevated PSA and Biopsy Strategies in the Large Prostate

An abnormally high serum PSA is still the most frequent trigger for men to enter a suspected prostate cancer diagnostic pathway. Large prostates, especially the ones with a volume over 100cc, are commonly associated with elevated PSA levels. In men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), PSA tends to increase over time, something that also occurs in men with untreated progressive prostate cancer. These two factors lead to frequent and unnecessary referrals of men with large prostates to suspected prostate cancer pathways. Many PSA derivatives and risk stratification tools have been developed in an attempt to overcome the limitations of total serum PSA and more accurately predict which men should have prostate biopsies, but translation into routine clinical practice has been hindered. Biopsy strategies may need to be adapted in the setting of a 100cc prostate. Higher sampling density schemes have been advocated for these men to ensure the diagnosis of clinically significant cancer but this can be accompanied by increased side effects. mpMRI is increasingly done prior to biopsy and can aid in the selection of men who can safely avoid biopsies. Likewise, they can help target biopsies to suspicious areas, which may represent a method of balancing adequate sampling of large prostates with adverse events

Past and future blurring at fundamental length scale

We obtain the $\kappa$-deformed versions of the retarded and advanced Green functions and show that their causality properties are blurred in a time interval of the order of a length parameter $q=1/(2\kappa)$. The functions also indicate a smearing of the light cone. These results favor the interpretation of $q$ as a fundamental length scale below which the concept of a point in spacetime should be substituted by the concept of a fuzzy region of radius $q$, as proposed long ago by Heisenberg.Comment: Essentially, this is the version published in the Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 211601 (2010). It has 4 pages and contains 2 figure