Facial Point Graphs for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Identification

Identifying Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in its early stages is essential for establishing the beginning of treatment, enriching the outlook, and enhancing the overall well-being of those affected individuals. However, early diagnosis and detecting the disease's signs is not straightforward. A simpler and cheaper way arises by analyzing the patient's facial expressions through computational methods. When a patient with ALS engages in specific actions, e.g., opening their mouth, the movement of specific facial muscles differs from that observed in a healthy individual. This paper proposes Facial Point Graphs to learn information from the geometry of facial images to identify ALS automatically. The experimental outcomes in the Toronto Neuroface dataset show the proposed approach outperformed state-of-the-art results, fostering promising developments in the area.Comment: 7 pages and 7 figure

Sexuality and Violence: Analysis of a LGBT Citizenship Parade in Campo Grande- MS

This article is the result of a 20191 survey done in the capital of Mato Grosso do Sul with the participants of the 18th LGBT Citizenship Parade of Campo Grande The aim of the text is to discuss the issues of violence against the LGBTQIA population As a result of the reserach we have the centrality of sexuality as the main marker used to consider the situation of vulnerability of the LGBTQIA population that participated in the Parade In analytical terms at first we present statistical data that show how sexuality and violence go hand in hand with regard to the vulnerability experiences of Campo Grande s LGBTQIA population In a second moment from an intersectional and post-structuralist perspective we examine the social conditions that place LGBTQIA people in situations of inequality when compared to the heterosexual populatio

Efeito de diferentes doses de Fe em solução nutritiva no desenvolvimento da raiz primária de trigo

Seven wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars were studied regarding Fe toxicity using five different levels of this element (0.56; 5.0; 10.0; 20.0 and 40.0 mg/l) in nutrient solution with aeration, under constant temperature (250 ± 1°C) and pH 4.0. The source of Fe was Fe2(SO4)3, 4H2O. Tolerance was measured by the mean of the primary root length of 20 seedlings grown during 10 days in nutrient solutions with different Fe concentrations. The cultivars BH-1146 and IAC- 17 showed the largest root growth when the concentration of 0.56 mg of Fe3+/l was used in the solution. The cultivar BH-1146 different from the cultivars CNT-8, IAC-5, Alondra-S-46, IAC-24 and Siete Cerros, but did not show significant difference from the cultivar IAC-17. The cultivar IAC-24 presented the shortest roots in this Fe concentration, being significantly different from the other cultivars. As the Fe concentration in the solutions was increased from 0.56 to 40.0 mg/l, reductions in root length were observed according to the degree of tolerance of each cultivar. Cultivars CNT-8 and Siete Cerros were considered tolerant to the increasing levels of Fe in the nutrient solutions, and cultivars IAC-5, IAC-17, Alondra-S-46 and IAC-24 were considered sensitive. The P, K and Ca concentrations decreased in the shoot as the levels of Fe increased in the nutrient solutions. Fe and Mg concentrations in the leaves increased in all cultivars as the levels of Fe increased in the nutrient solution.Foi estudado o comportamento diferencial de sete cultivares de trigo, (Triticum aestivum L.) em soluções nutritivas com arejamento, contendo cinco concentrações de Fe3+ (0,56; 5,0; 10,0; 20,0 e 40,0 mg/litro), mantendo-se constante a temperatura de 250 ± 1°C e o pH das soluções 4,0. A fonte de Fe3+ foi Fe2(SO4)3. 4H2O. A tolerância foi avaliada pelo comprimento médio da raiz primária central de 20 plântulas cultivadas durante dez dias, em soluções nutritivas contendo diferentes concentrações de Fe. As cultivares BH-1146 e IAC-17 foram as que apresentaram maior crescimento das raízes quando se utilizou a concentração de 0,56 mg de Fe3+/litro. A cultivar BH-1146 diferiu das cultivares CNT-8, IAC-5, Alondra-S-46, IAC-24 e Siete Cerros, porém não apresentou diferença significativa da cultivar IAC-17. A cultivar IAC-24 foi a que apresentou raízes mais curtas nessa concentração de Fe, diferindo significativamente das demais. À medida que foram aumentadas as concentrações de Fe de 0,56 para 40,0 mg/litro nas soluções, ocorreram reduções nos comprimentos das raízes segundo o grau de tolerância de cada cultivar. As cultivares CNT-8 e Siete Cerros foram consideradas tolerantes aos níveis mais elevados de Fe nas soluções, e IAC-5, IAC-17, Alondra-S-46, BH-1146 e IAC-24, sensíveis. Os teores de P, Ca e K na matéria seca da parte aérea tenderam a diminuir como aumento das concentrações de Fe nas soluções. Os teores de Fe e Mn na matéria seca da parte aérea elevaram-se com o aumento das concentrações de Fe nas soluções

Tandem X-ray absorption spectroscopy and scattering forin situtime-resolved monitoring of gold nanoparticle mechanosynthesis

Current time-resolvedin situapproaches limit the scope of mechanochemical investigations possible. Here we develop a new, general approach to simultaneously follow the evolution of bulk atomic and electronic structure during a mechanochemical synthesis. This is achieved by coupling two complementary synchrotron-based X-ray methods: X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray diffraction. We apply this method to investigate the bottom-up mechanosynthesis of technologically important Au micro and nanoparticles in the presence of three different reducing agents, hydroquinone, sodium citrate, and NaBH4. Moreover, we show how XAS offers new insight into the early stage generation of growth species (e.g.monomers and clusters), which lead to the subsequent formation of nanoparticles. These processes are beyond the detection capabilities of diffraction methods. This combined X-ray approach paves the way to new directions in mechanochemical research of advanced electronic materials.Peer reviewe

what is the evidence?

Background: This study's aims are to assess the current evidence presented in the literature regarding the potential risks of COVID-19 infection among pregnant women and consequent fetal transmission. Methods: a systematic literature review assessing papers published in the most comprehensive databases in the field of health intended to answer the question, "What are the effects of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy, and what is the neonatal prognosis?" Results: 49 papers published in 2020 were eligible, presenting low levels of evidence. A total of 755 pregnant women and 598 infants were assessed; more than half of pregnant women had C-sections (379/65%). Only 493 (82%) infants were tested for SARS-CoV-2, nine (2%) of whom tested positive. There is, however, no evidence of vertical transmission based on what has been assessed so far, considering there are knowledge gaps concerning the care provided during and after delivery, as well as a lack of suitable biological samples for testing SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions: We cannot rule out potential worsening of the clinical conditions of pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2, whether the infection is associated with comorbidities or not, due to the occurrence of respiratory disorders, cardiac rhythm disturbances, and acid-base imbalance, among others. We recommend relentless monitoring of all pregnant women in addition to testing them before delivery or the first contact with newborns.publishersversionpublishe

Ação do PIBID Biologia na Educação Básica através da abordagem temática Feireana: ações formativas na educação ambiental

This paper shares the experience of reflective thinking about a training process for teachers and students that was made viable by a program of the Brazilian federal government, the Institutional Program for Scholarships for Initiation in Teaching (pibid, for its initials in Portuguese) through a partnership between universities and basic education schools. In this case, the pibid team diagnosed the need to know the reality of students of the Profesor Benedicto Leme Vieira Neto State School (Salto de Pirapora, São Paulo, Brazil) and their views about their surroundings. The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze, from a critical standpoint, the education process that took place between 2014 and 2015 through the action-research approach known as Freire’s thematic approach and a qualitative questionnaire answered by two students from each classroom, for a total of 33 answered questionnaires. Each response was evaluated, and the following situations that limit better living conditions were obtained: environmental problems, consequent risks to the health of the community, dissatisfaction with the environments intended for leisure, lack of identification with the school environment and its surroundings. By identifying these situations, we were able to plan and develop training activities at school, with the aim of articulating teachers in higher education, basic education and initial training. We problematized the notion that the problems observed are not individual and that they affect everyone. As a result, we observed the positive impact of the training activities promoted by the pibid team and the school community, and on the development of pedagogical workshops to continue the work.El presente artículo consiste en un relato de experiencia de cuño reflexivo en tornoa un proceso de formación de profesores y alumnos viabilizado por un programa delgobierno federal brasileño - PIBID (Programa Institucional de Beca de Iniciación a laDocencia) - a través del establecimiento de la asociación entre universidades y escuelasde educación básica. En este caso, el equipo del PIBID diagnosticó la necesidad deconocer la realidad vivida por los alumnos de la Escuela Estadual Profesor BenedictoLeme Vieira Neto (Salto de Pirapora – São Paulo – Brasil) y sus concepciones sobre el ambiente que les rodea. Este estudio tiene como objetivo describir y analizar críticamente el proceso de formación que se desarrolló entre 2014 y 2015 a través de la metodología de investigación-acción denominada abordaje temático Freireano y de un cuestionario cualitativo aplicado a dos alumnos de cada aula, en un total de 33 cuestionarios respondidos. Se evaluó cada respuesta y se obtuvieram las siguientes situaciones limitantes de mejores condiciones de vida: problemas ambientales, consecuentes riesgos a la salud de la comunidad, descontento con los ambientes destinados al ocio, falta de identificación con el medio ambiente escolar y sus alrededores. La identificación de estas situaciones permitió la planificación y desarrollo de actividades de formación en la escuela, con el fin de articular los profesores en la educación superior, la educación básica y la formación inicial. Se problematizó la noción de que los problemas observados no son individuales, y afecta a todos. Como resultado fue observado el impacto positivo de las actividades formativas propiciadas por el equipo PIBID, junto a comunidad de la escuela, y en el desarrollo de talleres pedagógicos para la continuidad del trabajo.O presente artigo consiste em um relato de experiência de cunho reflexivo sobre o processo de formação de professores e alunos viabilizado por um programa do governo federal brasileiro — pibid (programa institucional de bolsa de iniciação à docência)- Através do estabelecimento da associação entre universidades e escolas de Educação Básica. Neste caso, a equipe do pibid diagnosticou a necessidade de conhecer a realidade vivenciada pelos alunos da Escola Estadual Professor Benedicto Leme Vieira Neto (Salto de Pirapora, São Paulo, Brasil) e suas concepções sobre o ambiente que os rodeia. Este estudo tem como objetivo descrever e analisar criticamente o processo de formação desenvolvido entre 2014 e 2015, através da metodologia de pesquisa-ação denominada abordagem temática Feireana e um questionário qualitativo aplicado a dois alunos de cada sala de aula, em total 33 questionários respondidos. Avaliou-se cada resposta e obtiveram-se as seguintes situações limitantes de melhores condições de vida: problemas ambientais, consequentes riscos à saúde da comunidade, desconformidade com os ambientes destinados ao lazer, falta de identificação como o ambiente escolar e suas proximidades. A identificação dessas situações possibilitou a planificação e o desenvolvimento de atividades de formação na escola, visando articular os professores na educação superior, o ensino básico e a formação inicial. Problematizou-se a noção de que os problemas observados não são individuais e a afetam à comunidade. Como resultado, evidenciou-se o impacto positivo das atividades formativas propiciadas pela equipe pibid, em parceria com a comunidade da escola, no desenvolvimento de oficinas pedagógicas para a continuidade do trabalho