Neural Connectivity with Hidden Gaussian Graphical State-Model

The noninvasive procedures for neural connectivity are under questioning. Theoretical models sustain that the electromagnetic field registered at external sensors is elicited by currents at neural space. Nevertheless, what we observe at the sensor space is a superposition of projected fields, from the whole gray-matter. This is the reason for a major pitfall of noninvasive Electrophysiology methods: distorted reconstruction of neural activity and its connectivity or leakage. It has been proven that current methods produce incorrect connectomes. Somewhat related to the incorrect connectivity modelling, they disregard either Systems Theory and Bayesian Information Theory. We introduce a new formalism that attains for it, Hidden Gaussian Graphical State-Model (HIGGS). A neural Gaussian Graphical Model (GGM) hidden by the observation equation of Magneto-encephalographic (MEEG) signals. HIGGS is equivalent to a frequency domain Linear State Space Model (LSSM) but with sparse connectivity prior. The mathematical contribution here is the theory for high-dimensional and frequency-domain HIGGS solvers. We demonstrate that HIGGS can attenuate the leakage effect in the most critical case: the distortion EEG signal due to head volume conduction heterogeneities. Its application in EEG is illustrated with retrieved connectivity patterns from human Steady State Visual Evoked Potentials (SSVEP). We provide for the first time confirmatory evidence for noninvasive procedures of neural connectivity: concurrent EEG and Electrocorticography (ECoG) recordings on monkey. Open source packages are freely available online, to reproduce the results presented in this paper and to analyze external MEEG databases

Efeito do jato de bicarbonato de sódio sobre o esmalte bovino e posterior efeito remineralizador da saliva

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the alterations of surface microhardness and wear caused by the sodium bicarbonate jet on bovine enamel and the further remineralizing effect of artificial saliva. METHODS: Fifteen enamel samples (4,0mm x 4,0mm) were used, which constituted the groups: no treatment (MI); treatment with sodium bicarbonate jet (MII and DI); treatment with sodium bicarbonate jet and immersion in saliva for one hour (MIII and DII), 24 hours (MIV and DIII) and 7 days (MV and DIV). Microhardness tests were carried out using a microdurometer in groups M and wear tests by a rugosimeter in groups D. The data were assessed by the one criterion variance analysis and Tukey test. RESULTS: The mean value of microhardness, in KHN, in groups MI, MII, MIII, MIV and MV were 359,80; 335,46; 369,20; 377,73 and 341,86, respectively, whereas the mean values in µm, of wear for group DI, DII, DIII and DIV were 0,564; 0,519; 0,441 and 0,428, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The sodium bicarbonate jet caused a wear and a reduction in microhardness on the enamel surface; saliva promoted the recovery of initial condition surface microhardness and reduced the wear; the repairing effect of saliva on the surface microhardness alterations occurred within one hour of treatment, having no significant statistical difference from the effect obtained in 24 hours; the best saliva repairing effect on the wear occurred with treatment of 24 hours.OBJETIVO: A finalidade do trabalho foi avaliar as alterações da microdureza e o desgaste provocado pelo jato de bicarbonato de sódio em esmalte bovino e o posterior efeito remineralizador da saliva artificial. MÉTODOS: Utilizaram-se 15 espécimes de esmalte (4,0mm x 4,0mm) que constituíram os grupos: sem tratamento (MI); tratamento com jato de bicarbonato de sódio (MII e DI); tratamento com jato de bicarbonato de sódio e imersão em saliva artificial por uma hora (MIII e DII), 24 horas (MIV e DIII) e sete dias (MV e DIV). Foram realizados testes de microdureza com um microdurômetro nos grupos M e testes de desgaste com um rugosímetro nos grupos D. RESULTADOS: Os dados foram avaliados pela Análise de Variância a um critério e pelo Teste de Tukey. O valor das médias da microdureza, em KHN, nos grupos MI, MII, MIII, MIV e MV foram 359,80; 335,46; 369,20; 377,73 e 341,86; respectivamente, enquanto que os valores médios, em µm, do desgaste para o grupo DI, DII, DIII e DIV foram 0,564; 0,519; 0,441 e 0,428, respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: o jato de bicarbonato de sódio causou desgaste e diminuição da microdureza superficial; a saliva promoveu o retorno da microdureza superficial à condição inicial e reduziu o desgaste; o efeito reparador da saliva sobre as alterações na microdureza superficial já ocorreu com uma hora de tratamento, não havendo diferença estatisticamente significante do efeito obtido com 24 horas; o melhor efeito reparador da saliva sobre o desgaste ocorreu com 24 horas de tratamento

Late gadolinium enhancement distribution patterns in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy: Genotype-phenotype correlation.

AIMS Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is frequently found in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), there is little information about its frequency and distribution pattern according to underlying genetic substrate. We sought to describe LGE patterns according to genotype and to analyze the risk of major ventricular arrhythmias (MVA) according to patterns. METHODS AND RESULTS Cardiac magnetic resonance findings and LGE distribution according to genetics was performed in a cohort of 600 DCM patients followed at 20 Spanish centers. After exclusion of individuals with multiple causative gene variants or with variants in infrequent DCM-causing genes, 577 patients (34% females, mean age 53.5 years, LVEF 36.9 ± 13.9%) conformed the final cohort. A causative genetic variant was identified in 219 (38%) patients and 147 (25.5%) had LGE. Significant differences were found comparing LGE patterns between genes (P < 0.001). LGE was absent or rare in patients with variants in TNNT2, RBM20 and MYH7 (0%, 5% and 20%, respectively). Patients with variants in DMD, DSP and FLNC showed predominance of LGE subepicardial pattern (50%, 41% and 18%, respectively) whereas patients with variants in TTN, BAG3, LMNA and MYBPC3 showed unspecific LGE patterns. Genetic yield differed according to LGE pattern. Patients with subepicardial, lineal midwall, transmural, right ventricular insertion points or with combination of LGE patterns showed increased risk of MVA compared with patients without LGE. CONCLUSION LGE patterns in DCM has a specific distribution according to the affected gene. Certain LGE patterns are associated with increased risk of MVA and with increased yield of genetic testing.This study has been funded by Instituto Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) through the projects ‘PI18/0004, PI19/01283, and PI20/0320’ (co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund/European Social Fund ‘A way to make Europe’/‘Investing in your future’). The Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, the Hospital Universitario Vall Hebrón, the Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, and the Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca are members of the European Reference Network for Rare, Low Prevalence, and Complex Diseases of the Heart (ERN GUARD-Heart). F.d.F. receives grant support from ISCIII (CM20/00101). R.B. receives funding from the Obra Social la Caixa Foundation. M.B. receives funding from ISCIII (PI19/01283). The CNIC is supported by the ISCIII, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of the Spanish Government (MCIN), and Pro CNIC Foundation.S

Avaliação físico-química e microbiológica de águas procedentes de soluções alternativas de abastecimento na Região Metropolitana da Baixada Santista, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Water is essential to life but its contamination may endanger public health. This study evaluated the physical-chemical and microbiological quality of alternative water supply solutions located in the Baixada Santista / SP. 67 samples (41 water spouts, 13 springs and 13 wells) were initially collected, and then 22 new collections were made. Total coliforms and Escherichia coli, according to the methodology of APHA (2012) and the contents of chloride, free residual chlorine (in treated waters), apparent color, hardness, iron, fluoride, nitrate, nitrite, odor, pH, total dissolved solids, and sulfate turbidity, were counted according to the techniques described by ANVISA (2005). Of the total of the samples, 56 (83,6%) were not in compliance with Decree 2914/2011 of the Ministry of Health, which refers to the potability of water for human consumption. The tests with the highest percentage of unsatisfactory results were E. coli, 39 (58,2%); apparent color 16 (23,9%) and nitrate, 15 (22,4%). A frequent monitoring of the quality of these waters is suggested – carrying out measures for their treatment, such as chlorination-, as well as a clarification to consumers about the quality of these waters by the competent bodies and the media for the benefit of the population’s health.A água é indispensável e essencial à vida, mas sua contaminação pode colocar em risco a saúde pública. Foram avaliadas a qualidade físico-química e a microbiológica da água de soluções alternativas de abastecimento localizadas na Região Metropolitana da Baixada Santista/SP. Foram coletadas 67 amostras (41 de água de bicas, 13 de nascentes e 13 de poços) e realizadas 22 novas coletas, quanto à pesquisa e contagem de coliformes totais e Escherichia coli, conforme a metodologia da APHA (2012) e os teores de cloreto, cloro residual livre (nas águas tratadas), cor aparente, dureza, ferro, fluoreto, nitrato, nitrito, odor, pH, sólidos totais dissolvidos, sulfato e turbidez, segundo as técnicas descritas pela Anvisa (2005). Do total, 56 (83,6%) foram reprovadas com base na Portaria no 2.914/2011 do Ministério da Saúde, que dispõe sobre a potabilidade da água para consumo humano. Os ensaios com maior percentual de resultados insatisfatórios foram: E. coli, 39 (58,2%); cor aparente, 16 (23,9%) e nitrato, 15 (22,4%). Sugere-se um monitoramento frequente da qualidade das referidas águas, a realização de medidas para o seu tratamento, como a cloração, e um esclarecimento aos consumidores quanto à qualidade dessas águas por parte dos órgãos competentes e da mídia em benefício da saúde da população

Comparative patterns of plant invasions in the mediterranean biome

The objective of this work was to compare and contrast the patterns of alien plant invasions in the world’s five mediterranean-climate regions (MCRs). We expected landscape age and disturbance history to have bearing on levels of invasion. We assembled a database on naturalized alien plant taxa occurring in natural and semi-natural terrestrial habitats of all five regions (specifically Spain, Italy, Greece and Cyprus from the Mediterranean Basin, California, central Chile, the Cape Region of South Africa and Southwestern - SW Australia). We used multivariate (hierarchical clustering and NMDS ordination) trait and habitat analysis to compare characteristics of regions, taxa and habitats across the mediterranean biome. Our database included 1627 naturalized species with an overall low taxonomic similarity among the five MCRs. Herbaceous perennials were the most frequent taxa, with SW Australia exhibiting both the highest numbers of naturalized species and the highest taxonomic similarity (homogenization) among habitats, and the Mediterranean Basin the lowest. Low stress and highly disturbed habitats had the highest frequency of invasion and homogenization in all regions, and high natural stress habitats the lowest, while taxonomic similarity was higher among different habitats in each region than among regions. Our analysis is the first to describe patterns of species characteristics and habitat vulnerability for a single biome. We have shown that a broad niche (i.e. more than one habitat) is typical of naturalized plant species, regardless of their geographical area of origin, leading to potential for high homogenization within each region. Habitats of the Mediterranean Basin are apparently the most resistant to plant invasion, possibly because their landscapes are generally of relatively recent origin, but with a more gradual exposure to human intervention over a longer period

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016