A practical implication of the Astolfo Effect: bias in AI generated images

Source at https://jgeekstudies.org/.The year of 2022 saw a huge advance in AI technology, especially Large Language Models, or LLMs. This culminated in the release of Chat GPT, an AI Chatbot assistant that, as of the time of this writing, is wowing the public with its uncanny performance. However, chatbots are not the only application of LLMs. One such application is the artificial generation of images. Although such idea is not a novel one (it dates back to the 1970s; Elgammal, 2022), the advancements on large language models allowed a new breakthrough in what these methods are able to achieve. A non-obvious application of such models is as a “probe” for bias in its learning set. Since these models are trained on public datasets collected from the Internet, they tend to reflect the inherent biases present in human generated content. As such, we see the advent of AI generated image as an opportunity to further test the ‘Astolfo Effect’ hypothesis, as first outlined by Tomotani & Salvador (2021)

Diversity of porcine rotavirus genotypes in São Paulo State, Brazil

Rotavírus é uma das causas mais comuns de diarréia tanto em humanos quanto em diferentes espécies animais. Foi conduzido um estudo transversal a partir de 144 amostras fecais diarréicas colhidas de leitões, provenientes de 16 criações comerciais distribuídas por 10 municípios do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, com o objetivo de se detectar a ocorrência de rotavírus e realizar sua caracterização molecular quanto seus genotipos G e P. Um total de 43 amostras (29,86%) foram positivas para rotavírus por Eletroforese em Gel de Poliacrilamida (PAGE) e ELISA, num esquema de triagem em paralelo. A caracterização mediante reações do tipo nested-multiplex RT-PCR demonstrou que, isoladamente, o genotipo P[6] foi o mais frequente, detectado em 25,58% das amostras, seguido pelo P[1] (11,63%) e P[7] (9,3%). Infecções concomitantes de genotipos P[6]+P[7] (9,3%), P[1]+P[6] (4,65%), P[1]+P[6]+P[7] (2,33%) foram também observadas. Analogamente, o genotipo G[5] foi detectado em 30,23% das amostras, seguido pelo G[10] (20,93%) e G[6] (4,65%) e G[5]+G[10] (18,6%). O genotipo G[5]P[6] foi o mais frequente (11,63%), porém outras combinações e amostras não tipificáveis também foram observadas. Considerando-se a diversidade de rotavírus suínos encontrada na população estudada, medidas profiláticas específicas devem levar em conta, para sua efetividade, o grau de proteção cruzada entre os genotipos presentes nas formulações vacinais e aqueles que realmente são circulantes numa região.Rotavirus is one the most common causes of diarrhea both in humans and different animal species. It was carried out a transversal study with 144 diarrheic fecal samples of piglets, from 16 commercial swine-producing units distributed among 10 municipalities of São Paulo State, Brazil, aiming at the detection of rotavirus occurrence and its molecular characterization according to G and P genotypes. A total of 43 samples (29.86%) were positive for rotavirus by Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE) and ELISA, in a parallel screening scheme. The nested-multiplex RT-PCR characterization revealed that, separately, the P[6] genotype was the most frequent, detected in 25.58% of the samples, followed by P[1] (11.63%) and P[7] (9.3%). Concomitant infection of the genotypes P[6]+P[7] (9.3%), P[1]+P[6] (4.65%), P[1]+P[6]+P[7] (2.33%) were also found. Similarly, the G[5] genotype was detected on 30.23% of the samples, followed by G[10] (20.93%), G[6] (4.65%) and G[5]+G[10] (18.6%). The genotype G[5]P[6] was the most frequent (11.63%), but other combinations and untypeable samples were also observed. Considering the diversity porcine rotavirus found in the surveyed population, specific prophylactic measures should take in charge, for its effectiveness, the cross-protection degree between the genotypes present on vaccine formulations and those that really circulates on a region.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Clinical profile and treatment discontinuation in a tuberculosis control state programme in Brazil: preliminary results from SINAN database

Poster presented at the 45th ESCP Symposium on Clinical Pharmacy. 4-6 October 2016, Oslo, NorwayN/

DEVELOPMENT OF A BURGER FORMULATION WITH PIZZA AROMA IN A PACKAGING SYSTEM TYPE IN COOK

The market of meat processed products, including hamburgers, grows up every year and consumers demand quality and convenience.  The objective of this study was to prepare a hamburger with chicken meat, making use of the chicken meat cuts that are considered more noble such as chicken breast and thigh, source of unsaturated fatty acids, in packaging cook in. The formulation was defined based on market survey and testing in a pilot plant through various modifications of the formulation, seeking the care of sensory patterns, a chicken burger formula with 50.0 % breast and 23.0 % thigh, added aroma identical to pizza, provolone cheese and ground dried tomato was used in the tests and its physicochemical, microbiological and sensorial analysis. Physicochemical, microbiological and sensorial analysis was carried out of this burgues. The samples were tested by 53 tasters without training, through affective hedonic scale of 5 points. The physicochemical analyses indicated the following contents: moisture 62.42 %, proteins 16.00 %, lipids 15.25 %, fiber 1.83 % and sodium chloride 1.90 %, all of which meet the requirements of Brazilian legislation. The sensorial analysis indicated excellent acceptance of the product, with an average score of 4.44, classifying it as “like it moderately” and “like it very much.” Thus, the product developed has great potential for dissemination in the consumer market as well as being innovative by using a packaging type bakes easy that allows for adding value and differentiation for consumers seeking sensuousness and practicality in your meals

Identificação de parvovírus suíno em javalis a partir do sequenciamento parcial do gene VP-2

Este estudo descreve a detecção e a identificação de DNA de parvovírus suíno (PVS) em amostras de órgãos de dois javalis, por PCR e sequenciamento direcionado ao gene VP-2. Pools de órgãos (baço, rins, fígado, linfonodos e tonsila) de três javalis adultos e assintomáticos de Paraguaçu Paulista, SP, criados com propósitos comerciais, foram submetidos à detecção de PVS, resultando em duas amostras positivas após reações de nested-PCR direcionadas aos genes NS-1 e VP-2. Os fragmentos parciais de VP-2 foram sequenciados e comparados a sequências homólogas de cepas NADL-2 e Kresse, demonstrando identidade nucleotídica de 100%. Com relação a 29 cepas de PVS previamente isoladas no Brasil, o grau de identidade nucleotídica variou de 99 a 100% (uma a três substituições de nucleotídeos). Estes resultados demonstram, pela primeira vez, a detecção direta por PCR de parvovírus suíno em javalis, confirmada por análise de sequenciamento genétic