Application of fuzzy logic and geostatistic in the analysis of the fertility of a soil under pasture

The objective of this research was to generate a representation of the chemical attributes of the soil, using fuzzy logic and geostatistic analysis as procedures of appropriate mapping to the representation of continuous phenomena. The area in study is located in the south of Espirito Santo state, county district of Alegre. The experiment was done in an Ultisol Yellow-Red loamy texture under cultivation of pasture Brachiaria decumbens The soil was sampled in the depth of 0-0,2 m, in the 64 points of a regular grid, with dimension of 90 x 90 m. The studied chemical attributes were K, Ca, Mg, Al. SB, T and V It took place a continuous classification (if the attributes, using the fuzzy logic The data were submitted to the descriptive analysis and, soon afterwards. the geostatistic analysis. through the semivariograms adjustment. The attributes presented moderate and high variability measured by CV. All of the attributes presented spatial dependence, demonstrated by the adjustment of the spherical and the exponential semivariogram The maps in study presented a mild representation of the limits of variation of the degrees of pertinence of the chemical attributes of the soil, turning them more representative The fuzzy logic associated to the geostatistic analysis is it suitable technique to be applied to generate a representation of soils attributes, which naturally present a gradual variation in the land.40332333

Fractal analysis of Xylella fastidiosa biofilm formation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)We have investigated the growth process of Xylella fastidiosa biofilms inoculated on a glass. The size and the distance between biofilms were analyzed by optical images; a fractal analysis was carried out using scaling concepts and atomic force microscopy images. We observed that different biofilms show similar fractal characteristics, although morphological variations can be identified for different biofilm stages. Two types of structural patterns are suggested from the observed fractal dimensions D(f). In the initial and final stages of biofilm formation, D(f) is 2.73 + 0.06 and 2.68 + 0.06, respectively, while in the maturation stage, D(f) = 2.57 + 0.08. These values suggest that the biofilm growth can be understood as an Eden model in the former case, while diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) seems to dominate the maturation stage. Changes in the correlation length parallel to the surface were also observed; these results were correlated with the biofilm matrix formation, which can hinder nutrient diffusion and thus create conditions to drive DLA growth. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3173172]1062Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)FAPESP [04/14576-2, 04/09132-8

Long-time Low-latency Quantum Memory by Dynamical Decoupling

Quantum memory is a central component for quantum information processing devices, and will be required to provide high-fidelity storage of arbitrary states, long storage times and small access latencies. Despite growing interest in applying physical-layer error-suppression strategies to boost fidelities, it has not previously been possible to meet such competing demands with a single approach. Here we use an experimentally validated theoretical framework to identify periodic repetition of a high-order dynamical decoupling sequence as a systematic strategy to meet these challenges. We provide analytic bounds-validated by numerical calculations-on the characteristics of the relevant control sequences and show that a "stroboscopic saturation" of coherence, or coherence plateau, can be engineered, even in the presence of experimental imperfection. This permits high-fidelity storage for times that can be exceptionally long, meaning that our device-independent results should prove instrumental in producing practically useful quantum technologies.Comment: abstract and authors list fixe

Antitumor effect and toxicity of free rhodium (II) citrate and rhodium (II) citrate-loaded maghemite nanoparticles in mice bearing breast cancer

Background: Magnetic fluids containing superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles represent an attractive platform as nanocarriers in chemotherapy. Recently, we developed a formulation of maghemite nanoparticles coated with rhodium (II) citrate, which resulted in in vitro cytotoxicity enhanced up to 4.6 times when compared to free rhodium (II) citrate formulation on breast carcinoma cells. In this work, we evaluate the antitumor activity and toxicity induced by these formulations in Balb/c mice bearing orthotopic 4T1 breast carcinoma. Methods: Mice were evaluated with regard to the treatments’ toxicity through analyses of hemogram, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, iron, and creatinine; DNA fragmentation and cell cycle of bone marrow cells; and liver, kidney and lung histology. In addition, the antitumor activity of rhodium (II) citrate and maghemite nanoparticles coated with rhodium (II) citrate was verified by tumor volume reduction, histology and immunohistochemistry. Results: Regarding the treatments’ toxicity, no experimental groups had alterations in levels of serum ALT or creatinine, and this suggestion was corroborated by the histopathologic examination of liver and kidney of mice. Moreover, DNA fragmentation frequency of bone marrow cells was lower than 15% in all experimental groups. On the other hand, the complexes rhodium (II) citrate-functionalized maghemite and free rhodium (II) citrate led to a marked growth inhibition of tumor and decrease in CD31 and Ki-67 staining. Conclusions: In summary, we demonstrated that both rhodium (II) citrate and maghemite nanoparticles coated with rhodium (II) citrate formulations exhibited antitumor effects against 4T1 metastatic breast cancer cell line following intratumoral administration. This antitumor effect was followed by inhibition of both cell proliferation and microvascularization and by tumor tissue injury characterized as necrosis and fibrosis. Remarkably, this is the first published report demonstrating the therapeutic efficacy of maghemite nanoparticles coated with rhodium (II) citrate. This treatment prolonged the survival period of treated mice without inducing apparent systemic toxicity, which strengthens its use for future breast cancer therapeutic applications

A FORMAÇÃO DO ENFERMEIRO PARA A ASSISTÊNCIA DE PORTADORES DE NECESSIDADES ESPECIAIS, COM PARALISIA CEREBRAL, SUBMETIDOS À INTERNAÇÃO DOMICILIAR

This is an end of course work that has as its subject nurse training in the home care of special needs patients, particularly, of patients with cerebral paralysis. Its aim is to sensitize the nurse to the peculiarities of Attention Services at home and for patients with cerebral palsy. To direct the course of this work, we present as a study the problem of the identification of the main necessities of the patients with cerebral palsy in Attention Services at home. The general objective of this research will be to describe the training process of specialist nurses in home care and the specific objectives will be: To identify the main requirements of patients with special needs and cerebral palsy, and to describe how nurses are prepared for this type of care of patients and their family. It was opted to carry out a bibliographical research, contemplating a qualitative focus, of explorative nature, descriptive and explanatory, resulting in the following thematic categories: The perception of the importance of "being a nurse in home care" and the relevance of the knowledge of the needs of patients with cerebral palsy and their family, in regards to home internment. From its development, it was possible to perceive that the academic focus given to this type of service and to this type of patient is limited, and that a specific specialization for the peculiarities of the service of home care and the peculiarities of a patient with cerebral palsy is still restricted. We conclude that greater assessment and study of the service of home care, as well as the patient with cerebral palsy, is necessary. As much during study as after graduation because this is a service in expansion and the patient needs complete care. We hope that this study contributes to a greater interest in the subject, facilitating the assistance of patients in home care, particularly those with special needs.Este es un trabajo de finalización de curso, que tiene como tema la formación de enfermeras en la atención domiciliaria con una necesidad especial, más concretamente, para el cliente con parálisis cerebral; quiere aumentar la sensibilización, especialmente a la enfermera acerca de las peculiaridades del Servicio de Atención a domicilio y al paciente con parálisis cerebral. Para dirigir el progreso de este trabajo, se presenta como problema el estudio de la identificación de las principales necesidades presentadas por el cliente con parálisis cerebral en el servicio de cuidados en el hogar. El objetivo general de esta investigación es describir el proceso de formación de la enfermera especialista en cuidados en el hogar y los objetivos específicos: identificar las principales necesidades de la atención al cliente con necesidades especiales, con parálisis cerebral; describir cómo las enfermeras están preparadas para este tipo de asistencia a estos clientes y de su familia. Nuestra opción es realizar una búsqueda bibliográfica, se contempla un enfoque cualitativo, el carácter exploratorio, descriptivo y explicativo, por lo que en las siguientes categorías temáticas: La percepción de la importancia de "ser calificadas enfermeras en la atención a domicilio" y la importancia del conocimiento de las necesidades del cliente y de la familia del neuropata, frente al episodio de hospitalización en domicilio. A partir de su desarrollo, es posible percibir que el enfoque académico dispensado a este tipo de servicio y a ese tipo de cliente es limitada, y que está todavía limitada una especialización especifica tanto para las peculiaridades del servicio de atención domiciliaria, como las peculiaridades de un paciente neuropata. Llegamos a la conclusión de que necesitamos una mayor valoración y estudio del servicio de atención domiciliaria, así como a los clientes con parálisis cerebral, tanto durante como en la postgraduación, por el hecho de que este es un servicio en expansión y el cliente es un usuario que necesita toda la atención. Esperamos que este estudio contribuya a un mayor interés en el tema, facilitar la asistencia de los clientes sometidos a atención domiciliaria, especialmente los que tienen necesidades especiales.Trata-se de um trabalho de conclusão de curso, que tem como tema a formação do enfermeiro no atendimento domiciliar ao portador de necessidade especial, mais especificamente, ao cliente com paralisia cerebral, pretende sensibilizar, em especial ao enfermeiro quanto às peculiaridades do serviço de atendimento domiciliar e do paciente com paralisia cerebral. Para direcionar o andamento deste trabalho, apresentamos como problema de estudo a identificação das principais necessidades apresentadas pelo cliente com paralisia cerebral no serviço de atendimento domiciliar. O objetivo geral desta pesquisa foi descrever o processo de formação do enfermeiro especialista em atendimento domiciliar e os objetivos específicos: identificar as principais necessidades assistenciais do cliente portador de necessidades especiais com paralisia cerebral; descrever como o enfermeiro é preparado para essa assistência a esses clientes e sua família. Optou-se por realizar uma pesquisa bibliográfica, contemplando-se uma abordagem qualitativa, de natureza exploratória, descritiva e explicativa, resultando nas seguintes categorias temáticas: A percepção da importância do “ser enfermeiro capacitado em home care” e A relevância do conhecimento das necessidades do cliente e da família do neuropata, frente ao episodio de internação domiciliar. A partir do seu desenvolvimento, foi possível perceber que a abordagem acadêmica dispensada a esse tipo de serviço e a esse tipo de cliente é restrita, e que ainda é restrita também uma especialização especifica, tanto para as peculiaridades do serviço de atendimento domiciliar, como às peculiaridades de um paciente neuropata. Concluímos que é necessário maior valorização e estudo quanto ao serviço de atendimento domiciliar, assim como também ao cliente com paralisia cerebral, tanto no intra como na pós-graduação, pelo fato de que este é um serviço em expansão e esse cliente é um usuário em potencial, por ser um cliente que necessita de atenção integral. Desejamos que este estudo contribua de forma a impulsionar um maior interesse sobre o tema, facilitando a assistência de clientes submetidos à internação domiciliar, em especial àqueles que possuem necessidades especiais

Free Rhodium (II) citrate and rhodium (II) citrate magnetic carriers as potential strategies for breast cancer therapy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rhodium (II) citrate (Rh₂(H₂cit)₄) has significant antitumor, cytotoxic, and cytostatic activity on Ehrlich ascite tumor. Although toxic to normal cells, its lower toxicity when compared to carboxylate analogues of rhodium (II) indicates Rh₂(H₂cit)₄as a promising agent for chemotherapy. Nevertheless, few studies have been performed to explore this potential. Superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (SPIOs) represent an attractive platform as carriers in drug delivery systems (DDS) because they can present greater specificity to tumor cells than normal cells. Thus, the association between Rh₂(H₂cit)₄and SPIOs can represent a strategy to enhance the former's therapeutic action. In this work, we report the cytotoxicity of free rhodium (II) citrate (Rh₂(H₂cit)₄) and rhodium (II) citrate-loaded maghemite nanoparticles or magnetoliposomes, used as drug delivery systems, on both normal and carcinoma breast cell cultures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Treatment with free Rh₂(H₂cit)₄induced cytotoxicity that was dependent on dose, time, and cell line. The IC₅₀values showed that this effect was more intense on breast normal cells (MCF-10A) than on breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7 and 4T1). However, the treatment with 50 μM Rh₂(H₂cit)₄-loaded maghemite nanoparticles (Magh-Rh₂(H₂cit)₄) and Rh₂(H₂cit)₄-loaded magnetoliposomes (Lip-Magh-Rh₂(H₂cit)₄) induced a higher cytotoxicity on MCF-7 and 4T1 than on MCF-10A (p < 0.05). These treatments enhanced cytotoxicity up to 4.6 times. These cytotoxic effects, induced by free Rh₂(H₂cit)₄, were evidenced by morphological alterations such as nuclear fragmentation, membrane blebbing and phosphatidylserine exposure, reduction of actin filaments, mitochondrial condensation and an increase in number of vacuoles, suggesting that Rh₂(H₂cit)₄induces cell death by apoptosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The treatment with rhodium (II) citrate-loaded maghemite nanoparticles and magnetoliposomes induced more specific cytotoxicity on breast carcinoma cells than on breast normal cells, which is the opposite of the results observed with free Rh₂(H₂cit)₄treatment. Thus, magnetic nanoparticles represent an attractive platform as carriers in Rh₂(H₂cit)₄delivery systems, since they can act preferentially in tumor cells. Therefore, these nanopaticulate systems may be explored as a potential tool for chemotherapy drug development.</p

A high confidence, manually validated human blood plasma protein reference set

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The immense diagnostic potential of human plasma has prompted great interest and effort in cataloging its contents, exemplified by the Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) Plasma Proteome Project (PPP) pilot project. Due to challenges in obtaining a reliable blood plasma protein list, HUPO later re-analysed their own original dataset with a more stringent statistical treatment that resulted in a much reduced list of high confidence (at least 95%) proteins compared with their original findings. In order to facilitate the discovery of novel biomarkers in the future and to realize the full diagnostic potential of blood plasma, we feel that there is still a need for an ultra-high confidence reference list (at least 99% confidence) of blood plasma proteins.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To address the complexity and dynamic protein concentration range of the plasma proteome, we employed a linear ion-trap-Fourier transform (LTQ-FT) and a linear ion trap-Orbitrap (LTQ-Orbitrap) for mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. Both instruments allow the measurement of peptide masses in the low ppm range. Furthermore, we employed a statistical score that allows database peptide identification searching using the products of two consecutive stages of tandem mass spectrometry (MS3). The combination of MS3 with very high mass accuracy in the parent peptide allows peptide identification with orders of magnitude more confidence than that typically achieved.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Herein we established a high confidence set of 697 blood plasma proteins and achieved a high 'average sequence coverage' of more than 14 peptides per protein and a median of 6 peptides per protein. All proteins annotated as belonging to the immunoglobulin family as well as all hypothetical proteins whose peptides completely matched immunoglobulin sequences were excluded from this protein list. We also compared the results of using two high-end MS instruments as well as the use of various peptide and protein separation approaches. Furthermore, we characterized the plasma proteins using cellular localization information, as well as comparing our list of proteins to data from other sources, including the HUPO PPP dataset.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Superior instrumentation combined with rigorous validation criteria gave rise to a set of 697 plasma proteins in which we have very high confidence, demonstrated by an exceptionally low false peptide identification rate of 0.29%.</p

Covid-19 Dynamic Monitoring and Real-Time Spatio-Temporal Forecasting

Background: Periodically, humanity is often faced with new and emerging viruses that can be a significant global threat. It has already been over a century post—the Spanish Flu pandemic, and we are witnessing a new type of coronavirus, the SARS-CoV-2, which is responsible for Covid-19. It emerged from the city of Wuhan (China) in December 2019, and within a few months, the virus propagated itself globally now resulting more than 50 million cases with over 1 million deaths. The high infection rates coupled with dynamic population movement demands for tools, especially within a Brazilian context, that will support health managers to develop policies for controlling and combating the new virus. / Methods: In this work, we propose a tool for real-time spatio-temporal analysis using a machine learning approach. The COVID-SGIS system brings together routinely collected health data on Covid-19 distributed across public health systems in Brazil, as well as taking to under consideration the geographic and time-dependent features of Covid-19 so as to make spatio-temporal predictions. The data are sub-divided by federative unit and municipality. In our case study, we made spatio-temporal predictions of the distribution of cases and deaths in Brazil and in each federative unit. Four regression methods were investigated: linear regression, support vector machines (polynomial kernels and RBF), multilayer perceptrons, and random forests. We use the percentage RMSE and the correlation coefficient as quality metrics. / Results: For qualitative evaluation, we made spatio-temporal predictions for the period from 25 to 27 May 2020. Considering qualitatively and quantitatively the case of the State of Pernambuco and Brazil as a whole, linear regression presented the best prediction results (thematic maps with good data distribution, correlation coefficient >0.99 and RMSE (%) <4% for Pernambuco and around 5% for Brazil) with low training time: [0.00; 0.04 ms], CI 95%. / Conclusion: Spatio-temporal analysis provided a broader assessment of those in the regions where the accumulated confirmed cases of Covid-19 were concentrated. It was possible to differentiate in the thematic maps the regions with the highest concentration of cases from the regions with low concentration and regions in the transition range. This approach is fundamental to support health managers and epidemiologists to elaborate policies and plans to control the Covid-19 pandemics