384 research outputs found
Optimal solution of a diffusion equation with a discrete source term
In this paper we study the numerical behavior of a diffusion equation
with a discrete control source term. The equation is discretized in space by finite
differences and in time by an implicit scheme. The control variables are calculated
in order to minimize an objective function, taking into account some restrictions.
We define two strategies to obtain the optimal solution and present some numerical
results in a context of a model that describes the oxygen concentration in a single
chamber microbial fuel cell
Coherent Concept-based Explanations in Medical Image and Its Application to Skin Lesion Diagnosis
Early detection of melanoma is crucial for preventing severe complications
and increasing the chances of successful treatment. Existing deep learning
approaches for melanoma skin lesion diagnosis are deemed black-box models, as
they omit the rationale behind the model prediction, compromising the
trustworthiness and acceptability of these diagnostic methods. Attempts to
provide concept-based explanations are based on post-hoc approaches, which
depend on an additional model to derive interpretations. In this paper, we
propose an inherently interpretable framework to improve the interpretability
of concept-based models by incorporating a hard attention mechanism and a
coherence loss term to assure the visual coherence of concept activations by
the concept encoder, without requiring the supervision of additional
annotations. The proposed framework explains its decision in terms of
human-interpretable concepts and their respective contribution to the final
prediction, as well as a visual interpretation of the locations where the
concept is present in the image. Experiments on skin image datasets demonstrate
that our method outperforms existing black-box and concept-based models for
skin lesion classification.Comment: Under IEEE Copyright. Accepted for publication at CVPR 2023 Workshop
Safe Artificial Intelligence for Automated Driving (SAIAD
Effects of adjunctive eslicarbazepine acetate on neurocognitive functioning in children with refractory focal-onset seizures.
Abstract Purpose This was a phase-II, randomized, double-blind (DB), placebo-controlled study aimed to evaluate neurocognitive effects of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) as adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients with refractory focal-onset seizures (FOS). Methods Children (6–16 years old) with FOS were randomized (2:1) to ESL or placebo. Treatment started at 10 mg/kg/day, was up-titrated up to 30 mg/kg/day (target dose), and maintained for 8 weeks, followed by one-year open-label follow-up. The primary endpoint was change from baseline to the end of maintenance period in the composite Power of Attention assessed with the Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) system. Behavioral and emotional functioning and quality of life (QOL), secondary endpoints, were assessed with Child Health Questionnaire-Parent Form 50 (CHQ-PF50), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM). Efficacy was evaluated through changes in standardized seizure frequency (SF), responder rate, and proportion of seizure-free patients. Safety was evaluated by the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Results One hundred and twenty-three patients were randomized. A noninferiority analysis failed to reject the null hypothesis that the change from baseline in the Power of Attention score in the ESL group was at least 121 ms inferior to the placebo group for all age groups. The CDR scores showed no differences between placebo and ESL in Power of Attention (1868.0 vs 1759.5), Continuity of Attention (1.136 vs − 1.786), Quality of Working Memory (− 0.023 vs − 0.024), and Speed of Memory (− 263.4 vs − 249.6). Nonsignificant differences between placebo and ESL were seen for CHQ-PF50, CBCL scores, and Raven's SPM. Episodic Memory Index showed significant negative effect on ESL. Efficacy results favored the ESL group (SF least square [LS] means 1.98 vs 4.29). The TEAEs had a similar incidence between treatment groups (41.0% vs 47.5%). Conclusions Overall ESL did not produce statistically significant effects on neurocognitive and behavioral functioning in patients with epilepsy aged 6 to 16 years. Additionally, ESL was effective in reducing seizure frequency and was well-tolerated
HOW DO WE IDENTIFY MICRONYCTERIS (SCHIZONYCETRIS) SANBORNI SIMMONS, 1996 (CHIROPTERA, PHYLLOSTOMIDAE) RELIABLY AND WHERE WE CAN FIND THIS SPECIES IN BRAZIL?
Micronycteris is divided into four subgenera, Micronycteris, Leuconycteris, Xenoctenes, and Schizonycteris. The latter includes Micronycteris (Schizonycteris) minuta, Micronycteris (S.) schmidtorum, Micronycteris (S.) sanborni and Micronycteris (S.) yatesi. Little is known of the biology of M. (S.) sanborni, which is widely distributed in the dry forests of South America, but is known from only few sites. The scarcity of records of M. sanborni appears to be at least partly related to the difficulty of differentiating this species from the other members of the subgenus Schizonycteris. The present study identifies the key traits that distinguish this species from other Schizonycteris, reviews the geographic distribution of the species, and presents some notes on breeding patterns. Six new localities are presented for M. sanborni, and are analyzed together with those available in the literature, providing new insights into ecological and zoogeographic patterns. A number of the diagnostic features established by Simmons (1996) in the description of M. sanborni proved to have little taxonomic value, especially for the differentiation of M. minuta and M. yatesi, which it closely resembles. The primary external difference is the pure white color of the ventral pelage and the proportion of the white base (2/3-4/5) of the dorsal hair in M. sanborni, in contrast with dirty white or pale gray and a much shorter white base of the dorsal hair in the other species. A number of cranial traits are also important. The distributional data now indicate that M. sanborni occurs mainly in mesic and open areas, including disturbed habitats, in the Caatinga scrublands and the Cerrado savannas of northeastern Brazil, especially in areas with rocky outcrops. Micronycteris sanborni appears to be monoestrous, with births coinciding with the rainy season.Micronycteris está dividido em quatro subgêneros, Micronycteris, Leuconycteris, Xenoctenes e Schizonycteris. Este último inclui Micronycteris (Schizonycteris) minuta, Micronycteris (S.) schmidtorum, Micronycteris (S.) sanborni e Micronycteris (S.) yatesi. Atualmente pouco se sabe sobre a biologia de M. (S.) sanborni, a qual é amplamente distribuída pelas florestas secas da América do Sul, apesar de ser conhecida de apenas poucas localidades. A escassez de registros de M. sanborni parece está parcialmente relacionado a dificuldade de diferenciar esta espécie de outros membros do subgênero Schizonycteris. Dessa forma, o presente estudo visa identificar as características diagnósticas que distingue esta espécie dos outros Schizonycteris, revisar a distribuição geográfica dessa espécie e apresentar comentários sobre o seu padrão reprodutivo. Seis novas localidades são apresentadas aqui para M. sanborni e, juntas com as outras disponíveis na literatura, foram analisadas fornecendo novas abordagens sobre o padrão ecológico e zoogeográfico dessa espécie. Várias características diagnósticas estabelecidas por Simmones (1996) na descrição de M. sanborni mostraram-se de pouco valor taxonômico, especialmente para a diferenciação entre M. minuta e M. yatesi, das quais mais se assemelha. As principais diferenças externas são a coloração branco pura do ventre e a proporção da base branca (2/3-4/5) do pelo dorsal em M. sanborni, em contraste com a coloração branco sujo ou acinzentado e a base dorsal branca muito mais curta das outras espécies. Outras características cranianas mostraram-se também importantes para a diferenciação. Os dados de distribuição levantados indicam que M. sanborni ocorre principalmente em áreas mésicas e abertas, incluindo ambientes alterados, na Caatinga arbustiva e nas savanas do Cerrado do nordeste do Brasil, especialmente em áreas com afloramentos rochosos. Micronycteris sanborni parece ser monoéstrico, com os nascimentos coincidindo com a estação chuvosa
Control of Ralstonia solanacearum in tomato potting medium by the use of a solar collector.
A solar collector was used to disinfest potting medium inoculated with Ralstonia solanacearum. Tomato plantlets grown in the potting medium treated in the solar collector for one full day had no symptoms of bacterial wilt
Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Puerperium
Os autores descrevem um caso clínico de
paciente de 42 anos, com enfarte agudo do
miocárdio (EAM) ao 3º dia de puerpério, tendo
efectuado angioplastia directa.
A propósito deste caso fez-se uma revisão das
principais alterações fisiológicas
cardiovasculares e da hemostase na gravidez,
habitualmente bem toleradas pelas gestantes,
mas que em mulheres com factores de risco ou
com doença cardíaca prévia aumentam a
probabilidade de eventos cardiovasculares.
O volume sanguíneo e o débito cardíaco
aumentam em média 50% durante a gestação,
a concentração de hemoglobina diminui e a
menor resistência vascular periférica
condiciona uma queda da pressão arterial na
primeira metade da gravidez. No pós parto
imediato verifica-se um incremento na pressão
de enchimento ventricular, volume sistólico e
débito cardíaco e é no período peri-parto que o risco cardiovascular se encontra mais elevado.
A incidência de EAM na gravidez e puerpério
é baixa, no entanto a tendência é de aumento,
tendo em conta o número crescente de
gestações nos extremos da idade reprodutiva
Electrodeposition of Zn-Mn alloys from recycling battery leach solutions in the presence of amines
The recovery of metal ions by electrodeposition from solutions resulting from
the lixiviation of spent Zn-MnO2 batteries was studied. It was attempted to
optimise the electrodeposition process, the selectivity of ion-separation, the
morphologic characteristics, and the anticorrosive and galvanic properties of
metallic deposits. The simultaneous deposition of zinc and manganese on
different ferrous substrates under various experimental conditions was tested.
This allowed us to access the efficiency of the electrodeposition, the morphology
and composition of the metallic deposits, as well as their performance as
galvanic coating layers. The effect of amine additives, namely, of methylamine
and ethylenediamine, on the properties of the coatings was also studied. It was
shown that the amines with buffering or passivating effects improve the
simultaneous deposition of Mn
Metals from human activities in a coastal Lagoon Saltmarsh - Sediment toxicity and phytoremediation by Sarcocornia fruticosa
Anthropogenic pressure on coastal areas has been increasing in the last decades,
threating the saltmarshes and the ecosystem services they provide. Sarcocornia fruticosa can
have an important role in sequestration of metals from human activities. This study evaluated
the effect of metal toxicity in saltmarsh sediment (measured by Ecological Risk Index-ERI)
on S. fruticosa ability to metal (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn) remediation (Enrichment Factor and
metal translocation). The impact of urbanization was studied through the metal loads on
stormwaters during two main rainfall events, and the industrial impact was assessed through
data analyses in a saltmarsh area influenced by a stream that receives industrial runoffs. The
S. fruticosa response on metal remediation was affected by ERI. In more polluted locations,
retained metals on roots and prevented the most toxic (Cd and Pb) from reaching the aerial
organs, avoiding tissues death and metal remobilisation to the saltmarsh. Meanwhile, in
rhizosediments with conditions to high metal bioavailability, S. fruticosa transported Cd and
Pb to aerial organs, but used the Zn translocation to decrease their toxicity. This halophyte
resilience is important to saltmarsh metal sequestration in high toxicity conditions, and allows
the maintenance of other ecosystem services, contributing to the environmental protection and
public health.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Fratura Proximal do Fémur Bilateral. Incidência e Fatores de Risco de Fratura Contralateral
Nos doentes com fratura osteoporótica da extremidade proximal do fémur, pouco é conhecido sobre a incidência e fatores de risco de fratura contralateral da extremidade proximal do fémur. O objetivo
deste trabalho foi, através de um estudo retrospetivo determinar a incidência e os fatores de risco para fratura bilateral da extremidade proximal do fémur não contemporânea. Foram analisados os processos
de 1911 doentes com fratura da extremidade proximal do fémur entre 2003 e 2009. Os dados recolhidos sobre as fraturas, tratamentos e comorbilidades foram trabalhados estatisticamente. Um total de 64
doentes (3,24%) teve fratura bilateral da extremidade proximal do fémur, com uma média de idades acima dos 80 anos. Determinou-se
que existe uma relação direta entre o tipo da primeira e segunda fratura (intracapsular vs extraapsular), e que 70% das segundas fraturas ocorrem nos primeiros três anos após fratura. Das comorbilidades verificou-se que a doença de Parkinson, Hipertensão Arterial, doença Cardíaca, Anemia e alterações da Visão representam um risco acrescido para fratura contralateral da extremidade proximal do fémur. Propomos
um follow-up mais rigoroso nos primeiros três anos após a primeira fratura e estabelecidas melhores formas de prevenção de fraturas e otimização das comorbilidades nos doentes com fatores de risco
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