Sample size estimation for power and accuracy in the experimental comparison of algorithms

Experimental comparisons of performance represent an important aspect of research on optimization algorithms. In this work we present a methodology for defining the required sample sizes for designing experiments with desired statistical properties for the comparison of two methods on a given problem class. The proposed approach allows the experimenter to define desired levels of accuracy for estimates of mean performance differences on individual problem instances, as well as the desired statistical power for comparing mean performances over a problem class of interest. The method calculates the required number of problem instances, and runs the algorithms on each test instance so that the accuracy of the estimated differences in performance is controlled at the predefined level. Two examples illustrate the application of the proposed method, and its ability to achieve the desired statistical properties with a methodologically sound definition of the relevant sample sizes

Distribuição atual de Achatina fulica Bowdich, 1822 no Estado de São Paulo com registro de infestação por larvas de Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Nematoda)

É apresentada a distribuição de Achatina fulica Bowdich, 1822 no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. É fornecido o registro de A. fulica naturalmente infestada por larvas de Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Railliet, 1898) (Nematoda: Metastrongylidae) no município de Guaratinguetá. Foi encontrada A. fulica portando larvas de Metastrongylidae sem importância médica e veterinária conhecida nos municípios de Carapicuíba, Embu Guaçu, Itapevi, São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo e Taboão da Serra.The currently known distribution range of Achatina fulica Bowdich, 1822, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, is presented. The record of A. fulica naturally infested with Aelurostrongylus abstrusus larvae (Railliet, 1898) (Nematoda: Metastrongylidae) can be found in the city of Guaratinguetá. It was found A. fulica with Metastrongylidae larvae without known medical and veterinary importance in the cities of Carapicuíba, Embu-Guaçu, Itapevi, São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo and Taboão da Serra

Efeitos da infecção experimental de um foco de transmissão de Schistosoma mansoni em população de Biomphalaria tenagophila (D'Orbigny, 1835) na região do Vale do Ribeira de Iguape, Brasil

To observe the effects of the parasitic infection on the biology of B. tenagophila, field and laboratory populations of this mollusk from Itariri, in Vale do Ribeira, Brazil, were experimentally infected. Each mollusk received 10 miracidia of Schistosoma mansoni (SJ lineage) and was observed throughout the parasite's development. The biological variables were compared according to the criteria "group" and "infectious phase". The main damage caused by the parasitic infection manifested itself in reproduction, longevity and lesions on the shell of the mollusks in the patent phase. An infection rate of 58.8% was observed. Microanatomical study of the mollusk's digestive gland and ovotestis revealed the presence of evolving larval forms and cercariae. It was concluded that the effects of the parasitic infection on both populations were moderate, despite the low survival rate of the infected mollusks, the damage did not prevent either reproduction or the elimination of cercariae, which continued for a long time.Com objetivo de observar os efeitos da infecção parasitária na biologia de B. tenagophila, foram realizadas infecções experimentais em populações de campo e laboratório, ambas procedentes de Itariri, Vale do Ribeira, Brasil. Cada molusco recebeu 10 miracídios de Schistosoma mansoni (linhagem SJ), sendo observado durante o desenvolvimento dos parasitos. As variáveis biológicas foram comparadas segundo os critérios "grupo" e "fase de infecção". Os principais danos decorrentes do parasitismo se manifestaram na reprodução, na longevidade e em lesões na concha dos moluscos na fase patente. Foi encontrada uma taxa de infecção de 58,8%. O estudo microanatômico da glândula digestiva e do ovoteste do molusco revelou a presença de formas larvárias em evolução e cercárias. Concluiu-se que os efeitos da infecção parasitária, sobre as duas populações, foram moderados, uma vez que os danos não impediram a reprodução e a eliminação de cercárias que se manteve por um longo período, apesar da baixa sobrevivência dos moluscos parasitados

Productivity of cassava grown on Marandu grass straw managed through diferent grazing intensities

For cassava farming, conventional soil preparation is traditionally used. However, in recent years, some producers have been showing interest in adopting no-tillage system. We evaluated the cassava yield in conventional tillage or no-tillage systems with marandu grass straw, as well as the straw decomposition and the physical and chemical soil attributes. A completely randomized design with five treatments and four replicates was used. The treatments were no-tillage (NT 0% - no-grazing pasture; NT 25%, NT 50%, NT 75% - grazing intensities to obtain an intake of 25%, 50% and 75% of forage mass, by animals) and conventional tillage (CT 50% - grazing intensity to obtain an intake of 50% of forage mass, before tillage). The soil tillage did not influence fresh and dry weight of cassava roots, with averages of 31.84 and 10.88 Mg ha-1. After 448 days of cassava planting, straw decomposition did not differ between treatments, with an average value of 53%. The half-life time of straw was 221, 218, 263 and 321 days to treatments NT 0%, NT 25%, NT 50%, NT 75%, respectively. We observed that soil physical quality was improved in no-tillage treatment NT 50%, when compared to CT 50%. The residual straw of Marandu grass did not influence the cassava yield in no-tillage, when compared to conventional tillage. Part of the forage available in the pasture can be used for animal feed, before cassava planting

Ear piercing perichondritis: case reports and literature review

Auricular perichondritis is a complication related to ear piercing, caused by the hypersensitivity to nickel. The diagnosis is essentially based on clinical findings. The most pathogen frequently involved is Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Culture is important to determine the antibiotic susceptibility. We report 3 cases of ear piercing associated perichondritis and present a literature review.A pericondrite é uma infecção que envolve o pericôndrio do pavilhão auricular. Desencadeada pelo piercing, é secundária a uma reação alérgica ao níquel. O diagnóstico é essencialmente clínico, porém a realização de cultura e antibiograma é fundamental. Os patógenos freqüentemente envolvidos são germes Gram negativos (Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Os autores apresentam 3 casos de pericondrite por piercing atendidos no ambulatório de otorrinolaringologia e realizam uma revisão da literatura.CemaUNIFESP-EPMUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Cassava yield in conventional and no-tillage cultivation in integrated crop-livestock systems

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produtividade de mandioca (Manihot esculenta), bem como a densidade e o teor de carbono do solo, sob cultivo em plantio direto e convencional, em rotação com capim-marandu (Urochloa brizantha) submetido a pastejo. Os tratamentos consistiram de mandioca cultivada como a seguir: em plantio convencional após dois (CC-2P) e quatro (CC-4P) anos de pastagem; em plantio direto após dois (NTC-2P) e quatro (NTC-4P) anos de pastagem; e com pastagem perene (PP) de capim-marandu. O tratamento CC-2P apresentou maior produtividade de mandioca no ano-safra de 2016/2017 (63,29 Mg ha-1) do que o NTC-2P (47,85 Mg ha-1). No ano-safra de 2018/2019, não foram observadas diferenças significativas quanto à produtividade entre CC-4P (60,95 Mg ha-1 e NTC-4P (60,68 Mg ha-1). Entre 2012 e 2019, o teor de carbono no solo (0–10 cm) diminuiu no tratamento CC-2P. Em 2019, o estoque de carbono foi maior para o NTC-4P, em comparação aos de CC-4P e CC-2P, tendo aumentado de 16,41 Mg ha-1 a 21,46 Mg ha-1. A produtividade da mandioca varia conforme o ano-safra, enquanto o teor de carbono no solo diminui após o tratamento CC-2P, mas aumenta após o NTC-4P.The objective of this work was to evaluate cassava (Manihot esculenta) crop yield, as well as soil density and carbon content, under no‑tillage and conventional cultivation, in rotation with palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha) subjected to grazing. Treatments consisted of cassava cultivated as follows: in conventional tillage after 2 (CC-2P) and 4 (CC-4P) years of pasture; in no-tillage after 2 (NTC-2P) and 4 (NTC-4P) years of pasture; and with perennial pasture (PP) of palisade grass. The CC-2P treatment showed higher cassava yield in the 2016/2017 crop year (63.29 Mg ha-1) than NTC-2P (47.85Mg ha-1). However, in the 2018/2019 crop year, no significant yield differences were observed between CC-4P (60.95 Mg ha-1) and NTC-4P (60.68 Mg ha-1). Between 2012 and 2019, soil carbon content (0–10 cm) decreased in the CC-2P treatment. In 2019, carbon stock was higher for NTC-4P compared with CC-4P and CC-2P, increasing from 16.41 to 21.46 Mg ha-1 between 2012 and 2019. Cassava yield varies depending on crop year, whereas soil carbon content decreases after CC-2P, but increases after NTC-4P

Alveolar Macrophages Are Key Players in the Modulation of the Respiratory Antiviral Immunity Induced by Orally Administered Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CRL1505

The oral administration of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CRL1505 differentially modulates the respiratory innate antiviral immune response triggered by Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) activation in infant mice, improving the resistance to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection. In this work, by using macrophages depletion experiments and a detailed study of their production of cytokines and antiviral factors we clearly demonstrated the key role of this immune cell population in the improvement of both viral elimination and the protection against lung tissue damage induced by the CRL1505 strain. Orally administered L. rhamnosus CRL1505 activated alveolar macrophages and enhanced their ability to produce type I interferons (IFNs) and IFN-γ in response to RSV infection. Moreover, an increased expression of IFNAR1, Mx2, OAS1, OAS2, RNAseL, and IFITM3 was observed in alveolar macrophages after the oral treatment with L. rhamnosus CRL1505, which was consistent with the enhanced RSV clearance. The depletion of alveolar macrophages by the time of L. rhamnosus CRL1505 administration abolished the ability of infant mice to produce increased levels of IL-10 in response to RSV infection. However, no improvement in IL-10 production was observed when primary cultures of alveolar macrophages obtained from CRL1505-treated mice were analyzed. Of note, alveolar macrophages from the CRL1505 group had an increased production of IL-6 and IL-27 suggesting that these cells may play an important role in limiting inflammation and protecting lung function during RSV infection, by increasing the maturation and activation of Treg cells and their subsequent production of IL-10. In addition, we provided evidence of the important role of CD4+ cells and IFN-γ in the activation of alveolar macrophages highlighting a putative pathway through which the intestinal and respiratory mucosa are communicated under the influence of L. rhamnosus CRL1505.Fil: Garcia Castillo, Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Tomokiyo, Mikado. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Raya Tonetti, María Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Islam, Md Aminul. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Takahashi, Hideki. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Kitazawa, Haruki. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Villena, Julio Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Tohoku University; Japó

Socioeconomic Barriers to Rhegmatogenous Detachment Surgery in Brazil

Purpose. To verify access barriers patients with retinal detachment face to arrive at a reference center and to evaluate patients’ knowledge about the disease. Methods. Transversal study that applied a questioner to 65 patients of the Clinical Hospital of the University of Sao Paulo with retinal detachment between February and August of 2010. Results. Reasons for not performing the surgery in other services were as follows: 47% were referred because there was not vitreoretinal surgeon at original service; 27% could not afford the surgery, had no health insurance, or had no coverage at health insurance plan for the procedure. Time between the first symptom and the arrival at our service was as follows: 18 patients arrived in up to 7 days; 35 between 8 and 30 days; 8 between 31 and 90 days; 5 in more than 90 days. Reasons for delay were as follows: 70% did not know how serious the pathology was; 56% thought that it had spontaneous cure; 16% did not have money to pay for ophthalmic evaluation, 10% did not know where to go and 24% for other reasons. Conclusion. Educational programs about disease and measures to optimize the referral to specialized services are needed to accelerate the treatment of patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment