Machine Learning Algorithms for Peripheral Blood Cell Classification - A Hemovision Project Experience

This research explores the use of machine learning algorithms to classify nucleated peripheral blood cells. The ResNet18 convolutional neural network was used to pre-process the images and replace the dense layers; and for the output, the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier was chosen. Images from different datasets were used for training and testing the model. Thus, the developed model achieved an accuracy and F1-Score of 99.96%. In face of the obtained results, it was found that machine learning algorithms can be satisfactorily integrated into educational and diagnostic support processes

Microsatellite markers for urochloa Humidicola (poaceae) and their transferability to other urochloa species

Urochloa humidicola is a warm-season grass commonly used as forage in the tropics and is recognized for its tolerance to seasonal flooding. This grass is an important forage species for the Cerrado and Amazon regions of Brazil. U. humidicola is a polyploid species with variable ploidy (6X-9X) and facultative apomixis with high phenotypic plasticity. However, this apomixis and ploidy, as well as the limited knowledge of the genetic basis of the germplasm collection, have constrained genetic breeding activities, yet microsatellite markers may enable a better understanding of the species' genetic composition. This study aimed to develop and characterize new polymorphic microsatellite molecular markers in U. humidicola and to evaluate their transferability to other Urochloa species. Findings: A set of microsatellite markers for U. humidicola was identified from two new enriched genomic DNA libraries: the first library was constructed from a single sexual genotype and the second from a pool of eight apomictic genotypes selected on the basis of previous results. Of the 114 loci developed, 72 primer pairs presented a good amplification product, and 64 were polymorphic among the 34 genotypes tested. The number of bands per simple sequence repeat (SSR) locus ranged from 1 to 29, with a mean of 9.6 bands per locus. The mean polymorphism information content (PIC) of all loci was 0.77, and the mean discrimination power (DP) was 0.87. STRUCTURE analysis revealed differences among U. humidicola accessions, hybrids, and other Urochloa accessions. The transferability of these microsatellites was evaluated in four species of the genus, U. brizantha, U. decumbens, U. ruziziensis, and U. dictyoneura, and the percentage of transferability ranged from 58.33% to 69.44% depending on the species. Conclusions: This work reports new polymorphic microsatellite markers for U. humidicola that can be used for breeding programs of this and other Urochloa species, including genetic linkage mapping, quantitative trait loci identification, and marker-assisted selection8

Genotypic and phenotypic diversity of Bacillus spp. isolated from steel plant waste

Background: Molecular studies of Bacillus diversity in various environments have been reported. However, there have been few investigations concerning Bacillus in steel plant environments. In this study, genotypic and phenotypic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among 40 bacterial isolates recovered from steel plant waste were investigated using classical and molecular methods. Results: 16S rDNA partial sequencing assigned all the isolates to the Bacillus genus, with close genetic relatedness to the Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus groups, and to the species Bacillus sphaericus. tDNA-intergenic spacer length polymorphisms and the 16S–23S intergenic transcribed spacer region failed to identify the isolates at the species level. Genomic diversity was investigatedby molecular typing with rep (repetitive sequence) based PCR using the primer sets ERIC2 (enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus), (GTG)5, and BOXAIR. Genotypic fingerprinting of the isolates reflected high intraspecies and interspecies diversity. Clustering of the isolates using ERIC-PCR fingerprinting was similar to that obtained from the 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic tree, indicating the potential of the former technique as a simple and useful tool for examining relationships among unknown Bacillus spp. Physiological, biochemical and heavy metal susceptibility profiles also indicated considerable phenotypic diversity. Among the heavy metal compounds tested Zn, Pb and Cu were least toxic to the bacterial isolates, whereas Ag inhibited all isolates at 0.001 mM. Conclusion: Isolates with identical 16S rRNA gene sequences had different genomic fingerprints and differed considerably in their physiological capabilities, so the high levels of phenotypic diversity found in this study are likely to have ecological relevance

Short stature caused by SHOX gene haploinsufficiency: from diagnosis to treatment

Estudos realizados em pacientes portadores de deleções parciais dos cromossomos sexuais permitiram a caracterização do SHOX, gene localizado na região pseudoautossômica no braço curto dos cromossomos sexuais, fundamental na determinação da altura normal. A perda de uma cópia deste gene na síndrome de Turner (ST) explica dois terços da baixa estatura observada nesta síndrome. A haploinsuficiência do SHOX é detectada em 77% dos pacientes com discondrosteose de Leri-Weill, uma forma comum de displasia esquelética de herança autossômica dominante e em 3% das crianças com baixa estatura idiopática (BEI), tornando os defeitos neste gene a principal causa monogênica de baixa estatura. A medida da altura sentada em relação à altura total (Z da AS/AT para idade e sexo) é uma forma simples de identificar a desproporção corpórea e, associada ao exame cuidadoso do paciente e de outros membros da família, auxilia na seleção de pacientes para o estudo molecular do SHOX. O uso de hormônio de crescimento (GH) está bem estabelecido na ST e em razão da causa comum da baixa estatura com o de crianças com defeitos isolados do SHOX o tratamento destes pacientes com GH é também proposto. Neste artigo será revisado os aspectos clínicos, moleculares e terapêuticos da haploinsuficiência do SHOX.Studies involving patients with short stature and partial deletion of sex chromosomes identified SHOX gene in the pseudoautosomal region of the X and Y chromosomes. SHOX haploinsufficiency is an important cause of short stature in a diversity of clinical conditions. It explains 2/3 of short stature observed in Turner syndrome (TS) patients. Heterozygous mutations in SHOX are observed in 77% of patients with Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis, a common dominant inherited skeletal dysplasia and in 3% of children with idiopathic short stature, indicating that SHOX defects are the most frequent monogenetic cause of short stature. The sitting height/height ratio (SH/H) standard deviation score is a simple way to assess body proportions and together with a careful exam of other family members, effectively selected a group of patients that presented a high frequency of SHOX mutations. Growth hormone treatment of short stature due to TS is well established and considering the common etiology of short stature in patients with isolated defects of SHOX gene, this treatment is also proposed for these patients. Here, we review clinical, molecular and therapeutic aspects of SHOX haploinsufficiency.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Procedimento de comparação entre métodos de extração de fibra bruta: ankom x béquer.

Fibra Bruta é a porção dos carboidratos totais resistente ao tratamento sucessivo com ácido e base diluídos, sendo em maior parte constituída por celulose, que apresenta baixa digestibilidade para a maioria dos animais, com exceção dos ruminantes, se tornando fonte de energia para esses animais, promovendo o bom funcionamento intestinal e estimulando os movimentos peristálticos

Methods and applicability of activity energy expenditure in the assessment of children: Review of the literature

Study Design: Literature review. Children with chronic morbidities, progressive and / or functional disabilities are less active than healthy children. The metabolic changes that affect them favour increased energy expenditure (EE). The assessment of energy expenditure activity (EEA) provides specific details of the movement efficiency, and provides resources for establishing a therapeutic protocol.The gold standard for assessment of EEA by maximum oxygen uptake (VO2) is limited in a clinical routine by the complexity of data acquisition and its high charge value. Thus, predictive equations based on the linear relationship between heart rate (HR) and VO2 have been appointed as simple alternatives and easy to perform. However, there is no consensus about the best method to obtain the variables that compose these equations. Then, the aim of this study was to review the methods used to assess the EEA based on HR, pointing out the advantages and disadvantages in order to guide the clinical practice. In this review, 15 studies were analyzed considering (a) different types of route: tests performed on soil and mats; (b) speed: comfortable, self-selected and selected by the researchers; (c) predictive equations and variables analyzed: HR, time, distance traveled; (d) sample group: children with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis and / or healthy. In general, the EEA, estimated by the energy expenditure index (EEI), was prevalent among these studies and its use has been reported as practical and reliable. Nevertheless, some methodological parameters could be improved in future studiesModelo de estudo: Revisão da literatura. Crianças com morbidades crônicas, progressivas e/ou inabilidades funcionais são menos ativas que crianças saudáveis. As alterações metabólicas que as acometem, favorecem o aumento do gasto energético (GE). A avaliação do gasto energético de atividade (GEA) fornece dados específicos sobre a eficiência da marcha, e serve como ferramenta de auxilio na eleição das intervenções terapêuticas. O método padrão ouro de avaliação do GEA pelo consumo máximo de oxigênio (VO2) tem sua prática limitada na rotina clínica pela complexidade de aquisição de dados e seu valor financeiro elevado. Assim, equações preditivas, baseadas na relação linear entre a frequência cardíaca (FC) e o VO2 têm sido apontadas como alternativas simples e de fácil execução. Entretanto, os estudos científicos são heterogêneos quanto ao melhor método de obtenção das variáveis que compõem estas equações. Diante disto, este estudo objetivou realizar uma revisão da literatura apresentando os métodos mais utilizados para avaliar o GEA baseado na FC, apontando as vantagens e desvantagens, a fim de orientar sua aplicabilidade na prática clínica. Nesta revisão foram inseridos 15 estudos que analisaram diferentes tipos de (a) percurso: testes em esteiras e realizados em solo; (b) velocidade: confortável, auto selecionada e selecionada pelos autores; (c) equações preditivas e variáveis analisadas: FC, tempo, distância percorrida; (d) grupo amostral: crianças com paralisia cerebral, distrofia muscular, fibrose cística e/ou saudáveis. Da análise, conclui-se que o GEA, estimado pelo índice do gasto energético (IGE), foi prevalente entre os estudos e o seu uso foi classificado como prático e confiável. Ainda assim, alguns parâmetros metodológicos podem ser melhor aperfeiçoados em estudos futuro

Learning and teaching histology: traditional and computational methods

The traditional methodology used in histology laboratory instruction of histology is based primarily on the use of photonic microscopes and histological slides, which did not allow the simultaneous observation by several people, prevents an interactive discussion, making the laboratory teaching-learning process less motivating and advantageous. The use of various computer-based technologies (including virtual microscopy and virtual slides), as well as video projection, using digital cameras attached to the microscope in histology laboratory instruction is an interesting alternative method to offset the disadvantages inherent to the conventional methodology. Advances in computer sciences allow us to play a considerable amount of images and transfer them to monitor students' computers, resulting in its comfortable and objective viewing, thus facilitating the recognition of tissues and structures and their histomorphometric study through computer programs. In addition), the use of platforms for distance learning (e.g. Moodle), also allows the study of histology to be undertaken outside the classroom. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of traditional methods of histological sections visualization in photonic microscope, and the use of computer resources in teaching animal histology

Oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices of people living with diabetes in South Asia : a scoping review

Diabetes increases the risk of oral health complications. This review aimed to synthesise the current evidence on the oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices of people living with diabetes in South Asian countries and provide recommendations on possible strategies for addressing the gaps in oral health care in this population, including the role of non-dental professionals. Using a scoping review framework, six electronic databases (Ovid Medline, CINAHL, ProQuest Central, Scopus, Web of Science and Embase) were searched to identify the relevant literature published between January 2000 and December 2021. The data were extracted into three main categories based on the review’s aims, and further refined into sub-categories. A total of 23 studies were included. The review identified that while people with diabetes living in South Asian countries had some level of awareness about oral health and limited care practices to maintain good oral health, there were gaps in knowledge, and there were areas where their oral health practices and attitudes could be improved. The findings suggest a need for developing targeted oral health policies as well as implementing integrated oral health care interventions involving non-dental professionals to improve the oral health outcomes of people with diabetes