A note on a class of problems for a higher-order fully nonlinear equation under one-sided Nagumo-type condition

The purpose of this work is to establish existence and location results for the higher order fully nonlinear differential equation u⁽ⁿ⁾(t)=f(t,u(t),u′(t),…,u⁽ⁿ⁻¹⁾(t)), n≥2, with the boundary conditions u^{(i)}(a) = A, for i=0,⋯,n-3, u⁽ⁿ⁻¹⁾(a) = B, u⁽ⁿ⁻¹⁾(b)=C or u^{(i)}(a)=A, for i=0,⋯,n-3, c₁u⁽ⁿ⁻²⁾(a)-c₂u⁽ⁿ⁻¹⁾(a)=B, c₃u⁽ⁿ⁻²⁾(b)+c₄u⁽ⁿ⁻¹⁾(b)=C, with A_{i},B,C∈R, for i=0,⋯,n-3, and c₁, c₂, c₃, c₄ real positive constants. It is assumed that f:[a,b]×Rⁿ⁻¹→R is a continuous function satisfying one-sided Nagumo-type conditions which allows an asymmetric unbounded behavior on the nonlinearity. The arguments are based on Leray-Schauder topological degree and lower and upper solutions method

Person localization using sensor information fusion

Nowadays the incredible grow of mobile devices market led to the need for location-aware applications. However, sometimes person location is di cult to obtain, since most of these devices only have a GPS (Global Positioning System) chip to retrieve location. In order to sup- press this limitation and to provide location everywhere (even where a structured environment doesn't exist) a wearable inertial navigation sys- tem is proposed, which is a convenient way to track people in situations where other localization systems fail. The system combines pedestrian dead reckoning with GPS, using widely available, low-cost and low-power hardware components. The system innovation is the information fusion and the use of probabilistic methods to learn persons gait behavior to correct, in real-time, the drift errors given by the sensors.This work is part-funded by ERDF - European Regional Development Fund through the COMPETE Programme (operational programme for competitiveness) and by National Funds through the FCT Fundao para a Cincia e a Tecnologia (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) within project FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER- 028980 (PTDC/EEI-SII/1386/2012). Ricardo also acknowledge FCT for the support of his work through the PhD grant (SFRH/DB/70248/2010)

Oxytocin exerts harmful cardiac repolarization prolonging effects in drug-induced LQTS

Background: Oxytocin is used therapeutically in psychiatric patients. Many of these also receive anti-depressant or anti-psychotic drugs causing acquired long-QT-syndrome (LQTS) by blocking HERG/IKr. We previously identified an oxytocin-induced QT-prolongation in LQT2 rabbits, indicating potential harmful effects of combined therapy. We thus aimed to analyze the effects of dual therapy with oxytocin and fluoxetine/risperidone on cardiac repolarization. Methods: Effects of risperidone, fluoxetine and oxytocin on QT/QTc, short-term variability (STV) of QT, and APD were assessed in rabbits using in vivo ECG and ex vivo monophasic AP recordings in Langendorff-perfused hearts. Underlying mechanisms were assessed using patch clamp in isolated cardiomyocytes. Results: Oxytocin, fluoxetine and risperidone prolonged QTc and APD in whole hearts. The combination of fluoxetine + oxytocin resulted in further QTc- and APD-prolongation, risperidone + oxytocin tended to increase QTc and APD compared to monotherapy. Temporal QT instability, STVQTc was increased by oxytocin, fluoxetine / fluoxetine + oxytocin and risperidone / risperidone + oxytocin. Similar APD-prolonging effects were confirmed in isolated cardiomyocytes due to differential effects of the compounds on repolarizing ion currents: Oxytocin reduced IKs, fluoxetine and risperidone reduced IKr, resulting in additive effects on IKtotal-tail. In addition, oxytocin reduced IK1, further reducing the repolarization reserve. Conclusion: Oxytocin, risperidone and fluoxetine prolong QTc / APD. Combined treatment further prolongs QTc/APD due to differential effects on IKs and IK1 (block by oxytocin) and IKr (block by risperidone and fluoxetine), leading to pronounced impairment of repolarization reserve. Oxytocin should be used with caution in patients in the context of acquired LQTS. © 2022 The Author

Oxytocin exerts harmful cardiac repolarization prolonging effects in drug-induced LQTS.

Background Oxytocin is used therapeutically in psychiatric patients. Many of these also receive anti-depressant or anti-psychotic drugs causing acquired long-QT-syndrome (LQTS) by blocking HERG/IKr. We previously identified an oxytocin-induced QT-prolongation in LQT2 rabbits, indicating potential harmful effects of combined therapy. We thus aimed to analyze the effects of dual therapy with oxytocin and fluoxetine/risperidone on cardiac repolarization. Methods Effects of risperidone, fluoxetine and oxytocin on QT/QTc, short-term variability (STV) of QT, and APD were assessed in rabbits using in vivo ECG and ex vivo monophasic AP recordings in Langendorff-perfused hearts. Underlying mechanisms were assessed using patch clamp in isolated cardiomyocytes. Results Oxytocin, fluoxetine and risperidone prolonged QTc and APD in whole hearts. The combination of fluoxetine + oxytocin resulted in further QTc- and APD-prolongation, risperidone + oxytocin tended to increase QTc and APD compared to monotherapy. Temporal QT instability, STVQTc was increased by oxytocin, fluoxetine / fluoxetine + oxytocin and risperidone / risperidone + oxytocin. Similar APD-prolonging effects were confirmed in isolated cardiomyocytes due to differential effects of the compounds on repolarizing ion currents: Oxytocin reduced IKs, fluoxetine and risperidone reduced IKr, resulting in additive effects on IKtotal-tail. In addition, oxytocin reduced IK1, further reducing the repolarization reserve. Conclusion Oxytocin, risperidone and fluoxetine prolong QTc / APD. Combined treatment further prolongs QTc/APD due to differential effects on IKs and IK1 (block by oxytocin) and IKr (block by risperidone and fluoxetine), leading to pronounced impairment of repolarization reserve. Oxytocin should be used with caution in patients in the context of acquired LQTS

Ocorrência de parasitos gastrointestinais em cães (Canis familiaris) em três municípios da Baixada Santista

O artigo não apresenta resumo

Trocas gasosas e análises bioquímicas em variedades de melancia sob cultivo orgânico no Semiárido nordestino.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar numa escala temporal, os efeitos de doses de biofertilizante sobre as variáveis relacionadas às trocas gasosas e bioquímicas em três variedades de melancia cultivadas em sistema orgânico no semiárido nordestino. O experimento foi conduzido no campo experimental de Bebedouro (CEB) da EMBRAPA Semiárido em Petrolina-PE, com delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, num esquema fatorial em parcela subsubdividida (3x6x3), contendo nas parcelas três variedades de melancia (Explorer; Red Heaven, e Majestic); nas subparcelas seis doses de biofertilizante (0; 80; 160; 240; 320 e 400 mL planta-1) e nas subsubparcelas três coletas ao longo do ciclo da cultura (30, 45 e 60 DAS), com quatro repetições. As doses intermediárias, entre 120 e 250 mL planta-1, dobiofertilizante proporcionaram os melhores valores de fotossíntese, condutância estomática, transpiração, açúcares solúveis totais e atividade da enzima redutase do nitrato nas variedades de melancia, com destaque para a variedade Explorer. As trocas gasosas e os parâmetros bioquímicos foram superiores na fase inicial e intermediaria do ciclo de cultivo, de 30 e 45 dias após semeadura. Palavras-chave: Citrillus lanatus, fisiologia vegetal, fotossíntese

The KELT Follow-Up Network And Transit False-Positive Catalog: Pre-Vetted False Positives For TESS

The Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope (KELT) project has been conducting a photometric survey of transiting planets orbiting bright stars for over 10 years. The KELT images have a pixel scale of ~23\u27\u27 pixel⁻¹—very similar to that of NASA\u27s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)—as well as a large point-spread function, and the KELT reduction pipeline uses a weighted photometric aperture with radius 3\u27. At this angular scale, multiple stars are typically blended in the photometric apertures. In order to identify false positives and confirm transiting exoplanets, we have assembled a follow-up network (KELT-FUN) to conduct imaging with spatial resolution, cadence, and photometric precision higher than the KELT telescopes, as well as spectroscopic observations of the candidate host stars. The KELT-FUN team has followed-up over 1600 planet candidates since 2011, resulting in more than 20 planet discoveries. Excluding ~450 false alarms of non-astrophysical origin (i.e., instrumental noise or systematics), we present an all-sky catalog of the 1128 bright stars (6 \u3c V \u3c 13) that show transit-like features in the KELT light curves, but which were subsequently determined to be astrophysical false positives (FPs) after photometric and/or spectroscopic follow-up observations. The KELT-FUN team continues to pursue KELT and other planet candidates and will eventually follow up certain classes of TESS candidates. The KELT FP catalog will help minimize the duplication of follow-up observations by current and future transit surveys such as TESS

Producción de ovino de carne en medio semiárido

Unpublishe

IMPACT OF ROUX-EN-Y GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY (RYGB) ON METABOLIC SYNDROME COMPONENTS AND ON THE USE OF ASSOCIATED DRUGS IN OBESE PATIENTS

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND The prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome is increasing worldwide and both behavior modification and drug therapy have low adherence. Gastric bypass has shown effective results in both reducing weight and improving comorbidities. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery (RYGB) on both metabolic syndrome components and the use of associated drugs in obese patients. METHODS Historical cohort of patients subjected to Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery (RYGB) between January 2007 and March 2014 in a private clinic. The sample consisted of 273 obese class II and III individuals, 86.4% of whom were female, with age ≥20 years, followed up for 2 months after surgery. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and drug-use data were collected from patients’ medical records. RESULTS Significant differences were found in weight, body mass index and waist circumference, after 60 postoperative days. Components for metabolic syndrome diagnosis (hypertension P=0.001; hyperglycemia P<0.001; hypertriglyceridemia P=0.006) were reduced after 60 days of postoperative, with the exception HDL-c (P=0.083). There was a significant reduction in the use of antihypertensive (P<0.001), hypoglycemic (P=0.013), lipid lowering (P<0.001), and antiobesity (P=0.010) drugs and increased use of gastroprotective drugs, vitamins, and minerals (P<0.001) after 60 postoperative days. CONCLUSION Patients subjected to Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery exhibited both weight loss and significant improvement not only in metabolic syndrome components (except for HDL-c) but in the use of drugs associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome