Estudo preliminar de alguns factores que influenciam as pontuações atribuídas na admissão ao libro de adultos do cavalo puro sangue lusitano

Avaliaram-se a altura ao garrote e as pontuações atribuídas em concursos de admissão ao Livro de Reprodutores da raça Lusitana a 501 animais (175 machos e 326 fêmeas). Encontraram-se correlações altamente significativas de valor positivo entre praticamente todas as variáveis em estudo. Os factores classificação de mérito ou recomendado do progenitor masculino, sexo do animal e ano de admissão ao Livro de Reprodutores tiveram influência significativa sobre as pontuações obtidas pelos animais da amostra aquando da sua admissão ao Livro de Reprodutores. Os resultados obtidos mostram que tem havido um aumento do nível de exigência dos juízes na admissão dos animais ao Livro de Reprodutores, facto a que não é alheia a obrigatoriedade da apresentação dos machos montados, sendo que o mesmo efeito é de esperar se tal critério for também introduzido na admissão das fêmeas

HOTSPOT ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON BETWEEN SATELLITE-DERIVED AEROSOL OPTICAL DEPTH AND GROUND-BASED PARTICULATE MATTER MEASUREMENTS IN METRO MANILA

Highly urbanized regions such as the Metro Manila area in the Philippines contribute to the deterioration of air quality through overpopulation, excessive vehicle emissions, and industrialization. However, the limited number of ground monitoring stations hinders the detailed estimation of the region’s overall air quality. Satellite-derived air pollutant concentrations have been used in several research studies as a substitute or supplementary to ground-based data due to their extensive spatial and temporal coverage. Using the aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the MODIS Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) algorithm and ground measurements of coarse particulate matter (PM10), this study explores the comparison between satellite-derived and ground-based air pollutant concentrations measured from 2017 to 2020 through trend analysis of monthly average values per city. With 16 stations located in different cities, the monthly average values of AOD vs PM10 showed inconsistent results due to significant gaps in the ground data. Through optimized hotspot analysis, it was found that 7.24% of the Metro Manila region are considered hotspots using the MAIAC AOD values from 2017 to 2019 (pre-pandemic). From 2018 to 2020 (pandemic), 23.86% of Metro Manila are counted as hotspots. The AOD derived from satellite imagery and hotspot analysis can be used for future studies that focus on the development of models to predict ground pollutant values and the designation of non-attainment areas

ESTIMATING AIRBORNE PARTICULATE MATTER IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION, PHILIPPINES USING MULTIPLE LINEAR REGRESSION AND GRADIENT BOOSTING ALGORITHM ON MODIS MAIAC AEROSOL OPTICAL DEPTH

The generation of air quality concentration data is imperative for the health and environment of highly urbanized regions. Through remote sensing, air pollutant concentrations can be obtained over large areas for a long time. In this study, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) concentrations were estimated using satellite-derived Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) values observed in the National Capital Region (NCR), Philippines. Models were generated using multiple linear regression (MLR) and gradient boosting regression to determine the best models for the whole data from 2017 to 2020, dry season, and wet season with a 70–30 split for the train-test sets. Initial models resulted with the best coefficient of determination R2 values of 2.6% and 1.2% using MLR and 2.0% using gradient boosting regression. The results for PM2.5 and PM10 showed the lowest Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values of 8.79 μg/m3 and 18.99 μg/m3 using MLR and 8.08 μg/m3 and 16.85 μg/m3 using gradient boosting, respectively. The preliminary results indicate the relatively poor performance of models in estimating particulate matter using satellite-derived AOD images. Improvements in the models will include the integration of more in-situ data from air quality monitoring stations and the addition of additional variables and features such as meteorological parameters and geographical layers

Clinical and Biomarker Responses to BI 655064, an Antagonistic Anti-CD40 Antibody, in Patients With Active Lupus Nephritis:A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase II Trial

Objective: To characterize its dose-response relationship, BI 655064 (an anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody) was tested as an add-on to mycophenolate and glucocorticoids in patients with active lupus nephritis (LN).Methods: A total of 121 patients were randomized (2:1:1:2) to receive placebo or BI 655064 120, 180, or 240 mg and received a weekly loading dose for 3 weeks followed by dosing every 2 weeks for the 120 and 180 mg groups, and 120 mg weekly for the 240 mg group. The primary endpoint was complete renal response (CRR) at week 52. Secondary endpoints included CRR at week 26.Results: A dose-response relationship with CRR at week 52 was not shown (BI 655064 120 mg, 38.3%; 180 mg, 45.0%; 240 mg, 44.6%; placebo, 48.3%). At week 26, 28.6% (120 mg), 50.0% (180 mg), 35.0% (240 mg), and 37.5% (placebo) achieved CRR. The unexpected high placebo response prompted a post hoc analysis evaluating confirmed CRR (cCRR, at weeks 46 and 52). cCRR was achieved in 22.5% (120 mg), 44.3% (180 mg), 38.2% (240 mg), and 29.1% (placebo) of patients. Most patients reported ≥1 adverse event (BI 655064, 85.7–95.0%; placebo, 97.5%), most frequently infections and infestations (BI 655064 61.9–75.0%; placebo 60%). Compared with other groups, higher rates of serious (20% vs. 7.5–10%) and severe infections (10% vs. 4.8–5.0%) were reported with 240 mg BI 655064.Conclusion: The trial failed to demonstrate a dose-response relationship for the primary CRR endpoint. Post hoc analyses suggest a potential benefit of BI 655064 180 mg in patients with active LN.</p

No straight lines – young women’s perceptions of their mental health and wellbeing during and after pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-ethnography

Background: Young mothers face mental health challenges during and after pregnancy including increased rates of depression compared to older mothers. While the prevention of teenage pregnancy in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom has been a focus for policy and research in recent decades, the need to understand young women’s own experiences has been highlighted. The aim of this meta-ethnography was to examine young women’s perceptions of their mental health and wellbeing during and after pregnancy to provide new understandings of those experiences. Methods: A systematic review and meta-ethnographic synthesis of qualitative research was conducted. Seven databases were systematically searched and forward and backward searching conducted. Papers were included if they were from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries and explored mental health and wellbeing experiences of young mothers (age under 20 in pregnancy; under 25 at time of research) as a primary research question – or where evidence about mental health and wellbeing from participants was foregrounded. Nineteen papers were identified and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist for qualitative research used to appraise the evidence. Following the seven-step process of meta-ethnography, key constructs were examined within each study and then translated into one another. Results: Seven translated themes were identified forming a new line of argument wherein mental health and wellbeing was analysed as relating to individual bodily experiences; tied into past and present relationships; underpinned by economic insecurity and entangled with feelings of societal surveillance. There were ‘no straight lines’ in young women’s experiences, which were more complex than dominant narratives around overcoming adversity suggest. Conclusions: The synthesis concludes that health and social care professionals need to reflect on the operation of power and stigma in young women’s lives and its impact on wellbeing. It adds to understanding of young women’s mental health and wellbeing during and after pregnancy as located in physical and structural factors rather than individual capacities alone

Is diet partly responsible for differences in COVID-19 death rates between and within countries?

Correction: Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Article Number: 44 DOI: 10.1186/s13601-020-00351-w Published: OCT 26 2020Reported COVID-19 deaths in Germany are relatively low as compared to many European countries. Among the several explanations proposed, an early and large testing of the population was put forward. Most current debates on COVID-19 focus on the differences among countries, but little attention has been given to regional differences and diet. The low-death rate European countries (e.g. Austria, Baltic States, Czech Republic, Finland, Norway, Poland, Slovakia) have used different quarantine and/or confinement times and methods and none have performed as many early tests as Germany. Among other factors that may be significant are the dietary habits. It seems that some foods largely used in these countries may reduce angiotensin-converting enzyme activity or are anti-oxidants. Among the many possible areas of research, it might be important to understand diet and angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) levels in populations with different COVID-19 death rates since dietary interventions may be of great benefit.Peer reviewe