Streamlining Power Electronics Teaching

This work intends to introduce the use of remote laboratories for power electronics teaching, by means of VISIR (Virtual Instrument System in Reality). The system is applied for the analysis of two simple circuits, a RC filter and an AC measuring network. The proposed methodology introduces remote activities after theoretical lessons, pen and pencil exercises, circuit simulations, and on-site laboratory experimentation. This strategy has been validated by professors and a pilot group of students at the Electronics Department of the Federal Institute of Santa Catarina. As a general conclusion, remote labs contribute to learning, but cannot substitute completely on-site laboratories.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of slaughter weight on the quality of Nile tilapia fillets

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of slaughter weight on the expression of calpastatin, mcalpain and the RyR3 gene, and on the chemical composition, morphometric measurements, fillet yield and sensorial characteristics of Nile tilapia fillets. In the experiment, 90 Nile tilapia were divided into three experimental treatments regarding slaughter weight (n = 30): in treatment 1, tilapia aged 140 days were slaughtered with an average body weight of 665 ± 85 g; in treatment 2, the animals were slaughtered at 182 days and weighed 1000 ± 177 g; and in treatment 3, they were slaughtered at 238 days and weighed 1325 ± 167 g. There was no significant difference (P > .05) between the treatments for the chemical composition and fillet yield. Fillets of tilapia slaughtered with a weight of 665 g presented higher expression of mcalpain and lower expression of calpastatin gene, lower pH values of the thawed fillet, lower drip and thawing loss, and lower shear force than animals slaughtered with the highest evaluated weight. Tilapias slaughtered at 665 g also presented higher flavor and general acceptance. These results show that slaughter weight may influence important aspects of the quality of Nile tilapia fillets and that the slaughter of Nile tilapia with a body weight of 665 g allows fillets that serve the consumer market to be obtained.This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq, Brazil. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brazil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Phytotherapy in Quail Production (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

El objetivo de la presente investigación fue evaluar el efecto de una tintura de ajo (Allium sativum) más orégano (Origanum vulgare) en la terapéutica de la coccidiosis y su repercusión en los parámetros productivos de la codorniz. Con cuatro tratamientos: T1 (libre de coccidiostático), T2 (Sulfaquinoxalina Sódica 34 mg + Vitamina K a razón de 10 mL por cada 3.5 litros de agua), T3 (balanceado libre de coccidiostático + 10% de tintura distribuidos en 10 mL tintura/1litro de agua), T4 (balanceado libre de coccidistático + 20% de tintura distribuidos en 20 mL de tintura/1litro de agua). La tintura se elaboró a partir de una solución madre de ambos aditivos por el método de maceración. Se empleó un diseño completamente al azar con seis repeticiones; cada unidad experimental conformada por cinco aves. Para establecer las diferencias entre medias de los tratamientos se empleó la prueba de Tukey (P≤0.05). Se evaluaron las variables: ganancia de peso, consumo de alimento, índice de conversión alimenticia, masa del huevo, porciento de postura. Los resultados indicaron que el tratamiento más favorable fue el balanceado libre de coccidiostático + 20% de tintura (Ajo y orégano) distribuidos en 20 mL de tintura/L de agua (T4). La coprología se analizó con la prueba cuantitativa de flotación en tubo de ensayo para el diagnóstico parasitológico veterinario; al inicio y final de la investigación; se registró una disminución significativa del número de ooquistes de coccidias por gramos de heces en los tratamientos T3, T4 al final de experimento.The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of a tincture of garlic (Allium sativum) plus oregano (Origanum vulgare) in the treatment of coccidiosis and its repercussion on the productive parameters of quail. With four treatments: T1 (free of coccidiostatic), T2 (Sulfaquinoxaline Sodium 34 mg + Vitamin K at a rate of 10 mL per 3.5 liters of water), T3 (balanced free of coccidiostatic + 10% tincture distributed in 10 mL tincture / 1 liter of water), T4 (balanced coccidistatic free + 20% tincture distributed in 20 mL of tincture / 1 liter of water). The tincture was made from a stock solution of both additives by the maceration method. A completely randomized design with six replications was used; each experimental unit made up of five birds. To establish the differences between means of the treatments, the Tukey test (P≤0.05) was used. The variables were evaluated: weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion index, egg mass, percentage of laying. The results indicated that the most favorable treatment was the balanced coccidiostatic free + 20% tincture (Garlic and oregano) distributed in 20 mL of tincture / L of water (T4). The coprology was analyzed with the quantitative flotation test in a test tube for the veterinary parasitological diagnosis; at the beginning and end of the investigation; a significant decrease in the number of coccidial oocysts per gram of feces was recorded in treatments T3, T4 at the end of the experiment

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on stroke and atrial fibrillation in diabetic kidney disease: Results from the CREDENCE trial and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic kidney disease with reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate or elevated albuminuria increases risk for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. This study assessed the effects of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on stroke and atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/AFL) from CREDENCE (Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes With Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation) and a meta-Analysis of large cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) of SGLT2i in type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: CREDENCE randomized 4401 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease to canagliflozin or placebo. Post hoc, we estimated effects on fatal or nonfatal stroke, stroke subtypes, and intermediate markers of stroke risk including AF/AFL. Stroke and AF/AFL data from 3 other completed large CVOTs and CREDENCE were pooled using random-effects meta-Analysis. RESULTS: In CREDENCE, 142 participants experienced a stroke during follow-up (10.9/1000 patient-years with canagliflozin, 14.2/1000 patient-years with placebo; hazard ratio [HR], 0.77 [95% CI, 0.55-1.08]). Effects by stroke subtypes were: ischemic (HR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.61-1.28]; n=111), hemorrhagic (HR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.19-1.32]; n=18), and undetermined (HR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.20-1.46]; n=17). There was no clear effect on AF/AFL (HR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.53-1.10]; n=115). The overall effects in the 4 CVOTs combined were: Total stroke (HRpooled, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.82-1.12]), ischemic stroke (HRpooled, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.89-1.14]), hemorrhagic stroke (HRpooled, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.30-0.83]), undetermined stroke (HRpooled, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.49-1.51]), and AF/AFL (HRpooled, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.71-0.93]). There was evidence that SGLT2i effects on total stroke varied by baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (P=0.01), with protection in the lowest estimated glomerular filtration rate (45 mL/min/1.73 m2]) subgroup (HRpooled, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.31-0.79]). CONCLUSIONS: Although we found no clear effect of SGLT2i on total stroke in CREDENCE or across trials combined, there was some evidence of benefit in preventing hemorrhagic stroke and AF/AFL, as well as total stroke for those with lowest estimated glomerular filtration rate. Future research should focus on confirming these data and exploring potential mechanisms