Evaluating multi-agent conversational interfaces in the early stages of the design process

In this paper we describe a mixed-approach technique to understand user’s perceptions of concepts in the early stage of the design process. We designed an evaluation study to understand desirability of a multi-agent cognitive investment advisor, a Chabot. The study was threefold. First participants watched the video, then chose reaction card adjectives to report their perceptions, and lastly gave their opinions guided by questions about the multi-party dialogue. From this experiment, we gather positive and negative reactions from users that helped to shape the user experience of cognitive investment advisors.Â

Dados epidemiológicos sobre embolia e trombose arterial no norte de Minas Gerais em tempo de COVID-19: Epidemiological data on embolia and arterial thrombosis in the north of Minas Gerais in the time of COVID-19

Introdução: O SARS-CoV-2, também conhecida como, Covid-19, é uma infecção viral respiratória que afeta diferentes pessoas de diferentes maneiras, desde sintomas gripais leves a casos mais graves como a Síndrome Respiratória Aguda (SARS) e pode levar ao desencadeamento de diversas outras complicações no trato respiratório, como também, em outros sistemas. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico descritivo, cujos dados foram obtidos através da base de dados DATASUS/TABNET. Foi selecionado na listagem da página principal da TABNET o indício, epidemiológicas e morbidade. Resultados e Discussão: De acordo com os dados obtidos, é observado aumento nos números de casos de Embolia e Trombose Arterial nos anos subsequentes ao de início da pandemia de Covid-19 no Norte de Minas Gerais. Conclusão: Nota-se que nas diversas literaturas encontradas relacionam o aumento do risco para embolia e trombose arterial quando diagnosticados com SARS-CoV-2 em maior frequência nos quadro clínico grave

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

MicroRNA-195 acts as an anti-proliferative miRNA in human melanoma cells by targeting Prohibitin 1

Abstract Background Melanoma is the most lethal type of skin cancer. Since chemoresistance is a significant barrier, identification of regulators affecting chemosensitivity is necessary in order to create new forms of intervention. Prohibitin 1 (PHB1) can act as anti-apoptotic or tumor suppressor molecule, depending on its subcellular localization. Our recent data shown that accumulation of PHB1 protects melanoma cells from chemotherapy-induced cell death. Lacking of post-transcriptional regulation of PHB1 could explain this accumulation. Interestingly, most of melanoma patients have down-regulation of microRNA-195. Here, we investigate the role of miR-195, its impact on PHB1 expression, and on chemosensitivity in melanoma cells. Methods TCGA-RNAseq data obtained from 341 melanoma patient samples as well as a panel of melanoma cell lines were used in an expression correlation analysis between PHB1 and predicted miRNAs. miR-195 impact on PHB1 mRNA and protein levels and relevance of this regulation were investigated in UACC-62 and SK-MEL-5 melanoma lines by RT-qPCR and western blot, luciferase reporter and genetic rescue experiments. Cell proliferation, cell-cycle analysis and caspase 3/7 assay were performed to investigate the potential action of miR-195 as chemosensitizer in melanoma cells treated with cisplatin and temozolomide. Results Analysis of the TCGA-RNAseq revealed a significant negative correlation (Pearson) between miR-195 and PHB1 expression. Moreover, RT-qPCR data showed that miR-195 is down-regulated while PHB1 is up-regulated in a collection of melanoma cells. We demonstrated that miR-195 regulates PHB1 directly by RT-qPCR and western blot in melanoma cells and luciferase assays. To establish PHB1 as a relevant target of miR-195, we conducted rescue experiments in which we showed that PHB1 transgenic expression could antagonize the suppressive effect miR-195 on the proliferation of melanoma cells. Finally, transfection experiments combined with drug treatments performed in the UACC-62 and SK-MEL-5 melanoma cells corroborated miR-195 as potential anti-proliferative agent, with potential impact in sensitization of melanoma cell death. Conclusions This study support the role of miR-195 as anti-proliferative miRNA via targeting of PHB1 in melanoma cells

Natural products and Chagas’ disease: the action of triterpenes acids isolated from Miconia species

The protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas’ disease, a neglected illness that remains a relevant public health concern in Latin America. In Brazil, Benznidazole is available for its treatment. This compound is effective against circulating forms of the parasite in the acute phase of the disease, but its efficacy during the chronic stage is debatable. The search for new medications that can treat Chagas’ disease is therefore mandatory. Natural sources display a wide range of secondary metabolites and may play an important role in the discovery of new potential drugs. Miconia is one of the largest genus of the family Melastomataceae and includes approximately 1,000 plant species; Brazil alone is home to approximately 250 of these species, which exist in forests and savannas. Studies on the various biological activities of the Miconia species have reported promising results. Several researchers have screened these plants as well as their extracts in vitro against trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi, which displayed significant trypanocidal activity. It has been demonstrated that the presence of ursolic and oleanolic determines this biological activity

Natural products and Chagas’ disease: the action of triterpenes acids isolated from Miconia species

The protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas’ disease, a neglected illness that remains a relevant public health concern in Latin America. In Brazil, Benznidazole is available for its treatment. This compound is effective against circulating forms of the parasite in the acute phase of the disease, but its efficacy during the chronic stage is debatable. The search for new medications that can treat Chagas’ disease is therefore mandatory. Natural sources display a wide range of secondary metabolites and may play an important role in the discovery of new potential drugs. Miconia is one of the largest genus of the family Melastomataceae and includes approximately 1,000 plant species; Brazil alone is home to approximately 250 of these species, which exist in forests and savannas. Studies on the various biological activities of the Miconia species have reported promising results. Several researchers have screened these plants as well as their extracts in vitro against trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi, which displayed significant trypanocidal activity. It has been demonstrated that the presence of ursolic and oleanolic determines this biological activity