Indexing and retrieval of multimodal lecture recordings from open repositories for personalized access in modern learning settings

An increasing number of lecture recordings are available to complement face-to face and the more conventional content-based e-learning approaches. These recordings provide additional channels for remote students and time-independent access to the lectures. Many universities offer even complete series of recordings of hundreds of courses which are available for public access and this service provides added value for users outside the university. The lecture recordings show the use of a great variety of media or modalities (such as video, audiom lecture media, presentation behaviour) and formats. Insofar, none of the existing systems and services have sufficient retrieval functionality or support appropriate interfaces to enable searching for lecture recordings over several repositories. This situation has motivated us to initiate research on a lecture recording indexing and retrieval system for knowledge transfer and learning activities in various settings. This system is built on our former experiences and prototypes developed within the MISTRAL research project. In this paper we outline requirements for an enhanced lecture recording retrieval system, introduce our solution and prototype, and discuss the initial results and findings

Smoking in Systemic Sclerosis: a Longitudinal European Scleroderma Trials and Research Group Study

Data on the role of tobacco exposure in systemic sclerosis (SSc) severity and progression are scarce. We aimed to assess the effects of smoking on the evolution of pulmonary and skin manifestations in the EUSTAR database

O CONTROLE DO USO DE ANIMAIS PARA ENSINO E PESQUISA

A regulamentação da experimentação animal está fundamentada na preocupação ética de não se infringir sofrimento aos animais, demonstrada pelos movimentos sociais de proteção animal, pela legislação abordando o tema, pelas Comissões de Ética no Uso de Animais, entre outros. O objetivo desta revisão foi estudar o controle do uso de animais para ensino e pesquisa em alguns países, escolhidos aleatoriamente, comparando-os com a situação brasileira e paranaense. O controle é feito por diferentes instituições em diferentes países, a saber: pelo Presidente e Parlamento na África do Sul; instituição autônoma no Canadá; Departamento da Agricultura nos Estados Unidos; Ministério da Educação, Cultura, Esportes, Ciência e Tecnologia no Japão; Ministério Federal de Alimentos, Agricultura e Proteção do Consumidor na Alemanha; Ministério da Agricultura na França e Suécia; Ministério da Saúde, Bem-estar e Esporte na Holanda; Home Office no Reino Unido; Conselho Federal na Suíça; e Conselho Nacional de Saúde e Pesquisa Médica na Austrália. No Brasil o controle é feito pelo Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia, havendo duas Leis Federais, um Decreto e uma Resolução; no Paraná, há o Código Estadual de Proteção aos Animais. O conhecimento do trabalho de instituições responsáveis pelo controle da experimentação animal em diferentes países pode auxiliar o aprimoramento deste processo no Brasil. Tal controle é urgente pela necessidade de proteção do bem-estar animal e pela preocupação crescente da sociedade.The animal experimentation regulation is based on the ethical concern regarding not to cause animal suffering, expressed by social movements against animal experimentation, legislation on this subject, Animal Use Ethics Committees, amongst others. The objective of this review was to study the control of animal use in teaching and research in different countries, comparing them to the situation in Brazil and the State of Paraná. The control process is performed by the President and Parliament in South Africa, autonomous institution in Canada, Department of Agriculture in United States, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan, Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection in Germany, Ministry of Agriculture in France and Sweden, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport in Netherlands, Home Office in United Kingdom, Federal Council in Switzerland and National Health and Medical Research Council in Australia. The control is responsibility of the Ministry of Science and Technology in Brazil, under two Federal Laws, a Decret and a Resolution; in the State of Paraná, there is the State Animal Protection Code. Information from existing models may help the control system improvement for animal experimentation in Brazil. This process is urgent due to the need for animal welfare protection and the increasing society’s ethical concern

Serological Proteomic Screening and Evaluation of a Recombinant Egg Antigen for the Diagnosis of Low-Intensity \u3ci\u3eSchistosoma mansoni\u3c/i\u3e infections in endemic area in Brazil

Background Despite decades of use of control programs, schistosomiasis remains a global public health problem. To further reduce prevalence and intensity of infection, or to achieve the goal of elimination in low-endemic areas, there needs to be better diagnostic tools to detect low-intensity infections in low-endemic areas in Brazil. The rationale for development of new diagnostic tools is that the current standard test Kato-Katz (KK) is not sensitive enough to detect low-intensity infections in low-endemic areas. In order to develop new diagnostic tools, we employed a proteomics approach to identify biomarkers associated with schistosome-specific immune responses in hopes of developing sensitive and specific new methods for immunodiagnosis. Methods and findings Immunoproteomic analyses were performed on egg extracts of Schistosoma mansoni using pooled sera from infected or non-infected individuals from a low-endemic area of Brazil. Cross reactivity with other soil-transmitted helminths (STH) was determined using pooled sera from individuals uniquely infected with different helminths. Using this approach, we identified 23 targets recognized by schistosome acute and chronic sera samples. To identify immunoreactive targets that were likely glycan epitopes, we compared these targets to the immunoreactivity of spots treated with sodium metaperiodate oxidation of egg extract. This treatment yielded 12/23 spots maintaining immunoreactivity, suggesting that they were protein epitopes. From these 12 spots, 11 spots cross-reacted with sera from individuals infected with other STH and 10 spots cross-reacted with the negative control group. Spot number 5 was exclusively immunoreactive with sera from S. mansoni-infected groups in native and deglycosylated conditions and corresponds to Major Egg Antigen (MEA). We expressed MEA as a recombinant protein and showed a similar recognition pattern to that of the native protein via western blot. IgG-ELISA gave a sensitivity of 87.10% and specificity of 89.09% represented by area under the ROC curve of 0.95. IgG-ELISA performed better than the conventional KK (2 slides), identifying 56/64 cases harboring 1–10 eggs per gram of feces that were undiagnosed by KK parasitological technique. Conclusions The serological proteome approach was able to identify a new diagnostic candidate. The recombinant egg antigen provided good performance in IgG-ELISA to detect individuals with extreme low-intensity infections (1 egg per gram of feces). Therefore, the IgG-ELISA using this newly identified recombinant MEA can be a useful tool combined with other techniques in low-endemic areas to determine the true prevalence of schistosome infection that is underestimated by the KK method. Further, to overcome the complexity of ELISA in the field, a second generation of antibody-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) can be developed

Terapia con pregabalina versus bloqueos intervencionistas en dolor neuropático: Un estudio de cohorte

Objective: tcompare the decrease in pain in patients with pregabalin therapy versus interventional blocks. Materials and methods: retrospective cohort study that included patients older than 18 years diagnosed with neuropathic pain from a reference center in Pereira, Colombia, between the years 2010-2016. The outcome was assessed at three months in each cohort and was defined as the change in pain intensity according to the visual analog pain scale. The comparison between cohorts and the effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated through repeated measures analysis with the generalized estimating equation. Results: a total of 1451 patients with pain were selected, of these, only 94 met the inclusion criteria. Sixty-two (66%) patients received a pharmacological scheme with pregabalin, and 32 patients (34%) underwent blockages. The pain intensity prior to pregabalin treatment was 7.3 ± 1.8 and 8.9 ± 1.2 in the group with blocks, p = 0.005. The intensity of posterior pain in the group with pregabalin was 3.5 ± 2.4, with an average improvement of 53.9%, while in the group with blocks, it was 2.5 ± 2 with an average improvement of 70.7%. Interventional management reduces pain 2.09 times more compared to pregabalin therapy (p <0.001). Conclusions: the use of interventional blocks in the treatment of neuropathic pain should be considered in patients with moderate to severe neuropathic pain.Objetivo: comparar la disminución en el dolor en pacientes con terapia con pregabalina frente a bloqueos intervencionistas. Materiales y métodos: estudio de cohorte retrospectiva, se reclutó pacientes mayores de 18 años diagnosticados con dolor de tipo neuropático de centro de referencia de la ciudad de Pereira, Colombia, entre los años 2010 a 2016. Se evaluó la variación en la intensidad del dolor. La comparación entre cohortes y la efectividad de la intervención se evaluó a través del análisis de medias repetidas con la ecuación de estimación generalizada. Resultados: se incluyeron 94 pacientes con dolor neuropático. A 62 (66%) pacientes se les formuló un esquema farmacológico con pregabalina y a 32 (34%) pacientes se les realizó bloqueos. La intensidad del dolor previa al tratamiento con pregabalina fue de 7,3 ± 1,8 y de 8,9 ± 1,2 en el grupo con bloqueos, p=0,005. La intensidad del dolor posterior en el grupo con pregabalina fue de 3,5 ± 2,4, con una mejoría media de 53,9%, mientras que en el grupo con bloqueos fue del 2,5 ± 2 con una mejoría media de 70,7%. El manejo intervencionista logró una reducción 2,09 veces mayor comparada con la pregabalina (p<0,001). Conclusiones: el empleo de bloqueos intervencionistas en el tratamiento del dolor neuropático debe ser considerado en pacientes con dolor neuropático moderado a severo

Terapia con pregabalina versus bloqueos intervencionistas en dolor neuropático: Un estudio de cohorte

Objetivo: comparar la disminución en el dolor en pacientes con terapia con pregabalina frente a bloqueos intervencionistas. Materiales y métodos: estudio de cohorte retrospectiva, se reclutó pacientes mayores de 18 años diagnosticados con dolor de tipo neuropático de centro de referencia de la ciudad de Pereira, Colombia, entre los años 2010 a 2016. Se evaluó la variación en la intensidad del dolor. La comparación entre cohortes y la efectividad de la intervención se evaluó a través del análisis de medias repetidas con la ecuación de estimación generalizada. Resultados: se incluyeron 94 pacientes con dolor neuropático. A 62 (66%) pacientes se les formuló un esquema farmacológico con pregabalina y a 32 (34%) pacientes se les realizó bloqueos. La intensidad del dolor previa al tratamiento con pregabalina fue de 7,3 ± 1,8 y de 8,9 ± 1,2 en el grupo con bloqueos, p=0,005. La intensidad del dolor posterior en el grupo con pregabalina fue de 3,5 ± 2,4, con una mejoría media de 53,9%, mientras que en el grupo con bloqueos fue del 2,5 ± 2 con una mejoría media de 70,7%. El manejo intervencionista logró una reducción 2,09 veces mayor comparada con la pregabalina (p<0,001). Conclusiones: el empleo de bloqueos intervencionistas en el tratamiento del dolor neuropático debe ser considerado en pacientes con dolor neuropático moderado a severo

Para que servem os inventários de fauna?

Inventários de fauna acessam diretamente a diversidade de uma localidade, em um determinado espaço e tempo. Os dados primários gerados pelos inventários compõem uma das ferramentas mais importantes na tomada de decisões a respeito do manejo de áreas naturais. Entretanto, vários problemas têm sido observados em diversos níveis relacionados aos inventários de fauna no Brasil e vão desde a formação de recursos humanos até a ausência de padronização, de desenho experimental e de seleção de métodos inadequados. São apresentados estudos de caso com mamíferos, répteis, anfíbios e peixes, nos quais são discutidos problemas como variabilidade temporal e métodos para detecção de fauna terrestre, sugerindo que tanto os inventários quanto os programas de monitoramento devam se estender por prazos maiores e que os inventários devem incluir diferentes metodologias para que os seus objetivos sejam plenamente alcançados.Inventories of fauna directly access the diversity of a locality in a certain period of time. The primary data generated by these inventories comprise one of the most important steps in decisions making regarding the management of natural areas. However, several problems have been observed at different levels related to inventories of fauna in Brazil, and range from the training of humans to the lack of standardization of experimental design and selection of inappropriate methods. We present case studies of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fishes, where they discussed issues such temporal variability and methods for detection of terrestrial fauna, suggesting that both inventories and monitoring programs should be extended for longer terms and that inventories should include different methodologies to ensure that their goals are fully achieved

Biogeochemical, isotopic and bacterial distributions trace oceanic abyssal circulation

We explore the possibility of tracing routes of dense waters toward and within the ocean abyss by the use of an extended set of observed physical and biochemical parameters. To this purpose, we employ mercury, isotopic oxygen, biopolymeric carbon and its constituents, together with indicators of microbial activity and bacterial diversity found in bottom waters of the Eastern Mediterranean. In this basin, which has been considered as a miniature global ocean, two competing sources of bottom water (one in the Adriatic and one in the Aegean seas) contribute to the ventilation of the local abyss. However, due to a recent substantial reduction of the differences in the physical characteristics of these two water masses it has become increasingly complex a water classification using the traditional approach with temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen alone. Here, we show that an extended set of observed physical and biochemical parameters allows recognizing the existence of two different abyssal routes from the Adriatic source and one abyssal route from the Aegean source despite temperature and salinity of such two competing sources of abyssal water being virtually indistinguishable. Moreover, as the near-bottom development of exogenous bacterial communities transported by convectively-generated water masses in the abyss can provide a persistent trace of episodic events, intermittent flows like those generating abyssal waters in the Eastern Mediterranean basin may become detectable beyond the availability of concomitant measurements.We explore the possibility of tracing routes of dense waters toward and within the ocean abyss by the use of an extended set of observed physical and biochemical parameters. To this purpose, we employ mercury, isotopic oxygen, biopolymeric carbon and its constituents, together with indicators of microbial activity and bacterial diversity found in bottom waters of the Eastern Mediterranean. In this basin, which has been considered as a miniature global ocean, two competing sources of bottom water (one in the Adriatic and one in the Aegean seas) contribute to the ventilation of the local abyss. However, due to a recent substantial reduction of the differences in the physical characteristics of these two water masses it has become increasingly complex a water classification using the traditional approach with temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen alone. Here, we show that an extended set of observed physical and biochemical parameters allows recognizing the existence of two different abyssal routes from the Adriatic source and one abyssal route from the Aegean source despite temperature and salinity of such two competing sources of abyssal water being virtually indistinguishable. Moreover, as the near-bottom development of exogenous bacterial communities transported by convectively-generated water masses in the abyss can provide a persistent trace of episodic events, intermittent flows like those generating abyssal waters in the Eastern Mediterranean basin may become detectable beyond the availability of concomitant measurements. © 2016 Rubino et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited

Transapical mitral valve implantation for treatment of symptomatic mitral valve disease: a real-world multicentre experience.

AIMS Transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI) is a new treatment option for patients with symptomatic mitral valve (MV) disease. Real-world data have not yet been reported. This study aimed to assess procedural and 30-day outcomes of TMVI in a real-world patient cohort. METHOD AND RESULTS All consecutive patients undergoing implantation of a transapically delivered self-expanding valve at 26 European centres from January 2020 to April 2021 were included in this retrospective observational registry. Among 108 surgical high-risk patients included (43% female, mean age 75 ± 7 years, mean STS-PROM 7.2 ± 5.3%), 25% was treated for an off-label indication (e.g. previous MV intervention or surgery, mitral stenosis, mitral annular calcification). Patients were highly symptomatic (New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class III/IV in 86%) and mitral regurgitation (MR) was graded 3+/4+ in 95% (38% primary, 37% secondary, and 25% mixed aetiology). Technical success rate was 96%, and MR reduction to ≤1+ was achieved in all patients with successful implantation. There were two procedural deaths and 30-day all-cause mortality was 12%. At early clinical follow-up, MR reduction was sustained and there were significant reductions of pulmonary pressure (systolic pulmonary artery pressure 52 vs. 42 mmHg, p < 0.001), and tricuspid regurgitation severity (p = 0.013). Heart failure symptoms improved significantly (73% in NYHA class I/II, p < 0.001). Procedural success rate according to MVARC criteria was 80% and was not different in patients treated for an off-label indication (74% vs. 81% for off- vs. on-label, p = 0.41). CONCLUSION In a real-world patient population, TMVI has a high technical and procedural success rate with efficient and durable MR reduction and symptomatic improvement