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The focus on building energy efficiency using alternative materials in structures, especially concrete, and the main technical and environmental challenges therein, aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This study proposes a review that analyzes structures made with recycled concrete, relating to the energy efficiency of buildings. A classification structure was proposed, addressing the following questions: (i) What are the various dimensions in which research into energy-efficient recycled concrete is concentrated? (ii) What are the themes and classes of research associated with these dimensions? (iii) What are the main shortcomings of current approaches, and what would be a good research agenda for the future development of energy-efficient recycled concrete? A bibliometric analysis was carried out, presenting geographical and cluster maps to understand different research trends and refine future research. This was followed by a bibliographic analysis, reviewing the most relevant studies from the last five years (2019–2024). The results showed some residual alternative materials (around 45 types from five different industries) used in the production of energy-efficient concrete. And, as a negative effect, as substitution rates increase, porosity is the property with the greatest impact on energy efficiency. The greater the number of pores and the greater their interconnection, the lower the material's thermal insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brown spot, caused by Bipolaris oryzae, is a very important disease of rice. This study investigated the effect of potassium (K) on rice resistance to brown spot. The working hypothesis tested was that higher foliar K concentration could allow plants to respond more efficiently against fungal infection. Plants were grown in nutrient solution amended with three K rates (0.5, 1.0 and 2.5 mM) and noninoculated or inoculated with B. oryzae. The photosynthetic performance of plants, activities of defence and antioxidant enzymes and the concentrations of reactive oxygen species, phenolics and lignin were determined. Foliar K concentration was significantly higher by 38% and 91% for plants supplied with 1.0 and 2.5 mM K, respectively, compared to plants supplied with 0.5 mM K. Brown spot severity was significantly higher (≥20%) for plants supplied with 1.0 and 2.5 mM K than those supplied with 0.5 mM K (≤15%). Higher brown spot severity for plants supplied with 2.5 mM K resulted in changes in the photosynthetic apparatus, reduced chlorophyll a + b and carotenoids concentrations, and higher production of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion radical. In contrast, higher activities of defence and antioxidant enzymes and more production of phenolics for plants supplied with 0.5 mM K helped them to cope with B. oryzae infection more efficiently. In conclusion, rice resistance against brown spot was achieved by keeping a lower foliar K concentration linked to more active defence reactions, a robust antioxidative system and less damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS) is a destructive disease that causes substantial yield losses in South and North America. Whereas four Fusarium species were identified as the causal agents, F. virguliforme is the primary SDS-causing pathogen in North America and it also contributes substantially to SDS in Argentina. In this study, we comparatively analyzed genome assemblies of four F. virguliforme strains and identified 29 informative microsatellite markers. Sixteen of the 29 markers were used to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of this pathogen in a collection of 90 strains from Argentina and the USA. A total of 37 multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were identified, including 10 MLGs in Argentina and 26 in the USA. Only MLG2, the most dominant MLG, was found in both countries. Analyses with three different approaches showed that these MLGs could be grouped into three clusters. Cluster IA consisting of four MLGs exclusively from the USA has much higher genetic diversity than the other two clusters, suggesting that it may be the ancestral cluster although additional data are necessary to support this hypothesis. Clusters IB and II consisted of 13 and 21 MLGs, respectively. MLGs belonging to these two clusters were present in all four sampled states in Argentina and all five sampled states in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In real-world scenarios, deviations in the frequency response of instrumentation transformers can lead to distorted harmonic measurements, highlighting the critical role harmonic measurement plays in assessing power quality. The blind channel equalization technique offers a potential solution to improve the frequency response of a large number of instrumentation transformers already installed in substations. These transformers were designed to accurately measure only the fundamental phasor component. Therefore, in order to use them for harmonic phasor measurement, methodologies for reducing frequency distortion must be applied. In this work, we propose a novel approach to improve the frequency response of the instrument transformer using adaptive blind equalization. The blind technique can compensate for distortions caused by voltage and current transducers without requiring prior knowledge of input signals or circuit characteristics. The proposed methodology uses a Linear Prediction Filter to convert the colored noise present at the channel output into white noise. Furthermore, a genetic algorithm is used to find a pole to cancel possible zeroes present in the frequency response of some transducers. The main advantage of blind equalization with the genetic algorithm is its independence, operating without clear information about the channel or the input signal. Through extensive experimentation, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology in significantly reducing the absolute error in ratio and phase caused by current and voltage transformers. Simulated and laboratory experiments are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the lipid‐lowering and antiplatelet combined strategies on the expression of the receptors CCR2, CCR5, and CX3CR1 and the percentage of CCR2, CCR5, and CX3CR1 cells in monocyte subtypes after acute myocardial infarction. Methods: Prospective, randomized, open‐label study, with blinded analyses of endpoints (PROBE, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02428374, registration date: April 28, 2015). Participants were treated with rosuvastatin 20 mg or simvastatin 40 mg plus ezetimibe 10 mg, as well as ticagrelor 90 mg or clopidogrel 75 mg. The chemokine receptors CCR2, CCR5, and CX3CR1 were analyzed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction as well as the percentages of CCR2, CCR5, and CX3CR1 cells in the monocyte subtypes (classical, intermediate, and non‐classical), which were quantified by flow cytometry, at baseline, and after 1 and 6 months of treatment. Results: After comparisons between the three visits, regardless of the treatment arm, there was an increase in CCR2 expression after treatment, as well as an increase in intermediate monocytes CCR2+ and a reduction in non‐classical monocytes CCR2+ at the end of treatment. There was also a lower expression of CCR5 after treatment and an increase in classical and non‐classical monocytes CCR5+. Concerning CX3CR1, there were no differences in the expression after treatment; however, there were reductions in the percentage of intermediate and non‐classical monocytes CX3CR1+ at the end of treatment. Conclusions: The results suggest the persistence of the inflammatory phenotype, known as trained immunity, even with the highly‐effective lipid‐lowering and antiplatelet therapies. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 700–707. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) helps prevent cancer caused by this virus. Determining which viral genotypes should be included is key for developing successful vaccination strategies. Low-risk genotypes, especially HPV6 and HPV11, are associated with benign warts. However, some studies also report their presence in cancers. We reviewed the scientific literature to estimate the proportion of cancers that bear single or dual HPV6/11 infections. HPV6 and HPV11 have been reported in up to 5.5% of penile and 87.5% of laryngeal cancers; however, they have not been reported in vulvar, vaginal or oral cancers. Next, we compared the HPV6/11 genomes with HPV16, the most common high-risk HPV genotype, and observed that the similarities mainly involved the E7 gene, suggesting a limited ability to interfere with the differentiation of the host cells. These findings support the use of HPV vaccines that cover HPV6/11 not only for preventing genital warts but also for preventing specific types of cancers. High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is etiologically related to cervical cancer, other anogenital cancers and oropharyngeal carcinomas. Low-risk HPV, especially HPV6 and HPV11, cause genital warts and laryngeal papillomas. However, the accumulating data suggests that HPV6 and HPV11 may cause malignant lesions at non-cervical anatomic sites. This review aims to estimate the proportions of single and dual HPV6/11 infections in multiple cancers reported in the last 10 years in the Cochrane, Embasa and PubMed databases. Secondly, the genomes of HPV6/11 were compared with the most common high-risk genotype, HPV16, to determine the similarities and differences. A total of 11 articles were selected, including between one and 334 HPV+ cancer patients. The frequencies of single or dual HPV6/11 infections ranged between 0–5.5% for penile and 0–87.5% for laryngeal cancers and were null for vulvar, vaginal and oral cancers. The genomic similarities between HPV6/11 and HPV16 mainly involved the E7 gene, indicating a limited ability to block cell differentiation. The presence of single or dual HPV6/11 infections in variable proportions of penile and laryngeal cancers support the vaccination strategies that cover these genotypes, not only for preventing genital warts but also for cancer prevention. Other risk factors and co-carcinogens are likely to participate in epithelial carcinogenesis associated with low-risk HPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cutaneous toxicity of MEK inhibitors may limit treatment adherence. The authors present a retrospective study of 41 paediatric patients with NF‐1 undergoing therapy with selumetinib and propose a treatment algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The automotive industry is undergoing significant changes driven by factors such as reducing carbon dioxide emissions, advancing technology, evolving regulations, and the emergence of new energy sources. Lightweight materials, particularly aluminum alloys, are being extensively researched and integrated into vehicles to reduce weight and improve performance. However, the heating process during vehicle production can cause thermal buckling in thin aluminum alloy structures, affecting their appearance and quality. While thermal buckling has been studied in other industries, research in the automotive sector, particularly for non-structural parts like car roofs, is limited. This study uses numerical simulation to predict thermal buckling and post-buckling behavior of a EN AW 6016-T4 alloy car roof assembled in a predominantly steel body-in-white. The research findings indicate that roof buckling occurs at a relatively low temperature difference of approximately 60 °C, which is lower than the maximum temperatures experienced during the painting phases in the automotive industry. Consequently, undulations in the roof's shape become apparent, underscoring the importance of design modifications to ensure visual conformity. Validation through physical testing confirms the model's accuracy, providing valuable insights for designing lightweight structures with improved performance and aesthetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to present the potential of Clifford Geertz's anthropological theories for studies on the material culture of extinct sociocultural systems, more specifically, for the Urban Archeology. The concepts of culture presented by this anthropologist allow them to be adapted as important theoretical and methodological references. The bibliography dealing with urban issues from geographical, historical and architectural approaches is important, but it suffers from an interdisciplinary dialogue between the Social Sciences that aims to improve the theoretical bases in order to obtain a better understanding of the phenomena that are being studied. Thus, the text presents this reflection, demonstrating how Geertz's thought can contribute to symbolic readings in the field of Urban Archeology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay aims to evaluate four image representations made by students from a public school in Rio de Janeiro. These representations are usually called “scribbles” or “graffiti” because they are made in multiple spaces of the school. We will discuss, in these reflections, from the images, gender and sexualities, as well as problematize the bodies and desires in transit in the school environment. The images that will be presented are part of a group of 22 photographs taken by us in twelve classrooms. To develop the discussion, we will draw on the contributions of gender researchers and Cultural Studies. Our choice for analyzing images was due to our belief in the non-verbal discursive potential of graphic representations. We conclude that every text - whether imagetic or verbal - is not only reproduction, but also the production of factual meanings by the author / a or someone else. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isochronicity problem is a classical problem in the qualitative theory of planar vector fields which consists in characterizing whether a center is isochronous or not, that is, if all the trajectories in a neighborhood of the center have the same period. This problem is usually investigated by means of the so-called period function. In this paper, we are interested in exploring the isochronicity problem for tangential centers of planar Filippov vector fields. By computing the period function for planar Filippov vector fields around tangential centers, we show that such centers are never isochronous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an attribute control chart named npx(I)μ$np_{x(I)}^{\mu }$ which is used for monitoring the process mean value of a variable (X) by employing sequential sample sizes of na$n_a$, nb$n_b$ with na>nb$n_a> n_b$. Each item is classified as approved or not according to a discriminant limit (wi$w_i$, i=a,b$i=a, b$) using a GO/NO GO gauge. In the end of inspection we'll have Ya$Y_a$ and Yb$Y_b$ items classified as disapproved. Whenever Ya>UCLna$Y_a> UCL_{n_a}$ or Yb>UCLnb$Y_b> UCL_{n_b}$, the process is judged to be out of control and after adjustments in the process, the inspection is always restarted with a sample size of na$n_a$. The parameters used in the construction of the npx(I)μ$np_{x(I)}^{\mu }$ control chart were obtained through a search for values that optimize their performance, such that can compete with the standard attribute npx$np_x$ chart and the traditional X¯$\overline{X}$ control chart. The performances were compared in terms of average run length (ARL$ARL$) in scenarios of shift sizes (δ) in the process mean. A numerical example illustrates its application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Re-exposing an animal to an environment previously paired with an aversive stimulus evokes large alterations in behavioral and cardiovascular parameters. Dorsal hippocampus (dHC) receives important cholinergic inputs from the basal forebrain, and respective acetylcholine (ACh) levels are described to influence defensive behavior. Activation of muscarinic M1 and M3 receptors facilitates autonomic and behavioral responses along threats. Evidence show activation of cholinergic receptors promoting formation of nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in dHC. Altogether, the action of ACh and NO on conditioned responses appears to converge within dHC. Objectives: As answer about how ACh and NO interact to modulate defensive responses has so far been barely addressed, we aimed to shed additional light on this topic. Methods: Male Wistar rats had guide cannula implanted into the dHC before being submitted to the contextual fear conditioning (3footshocks/085 mA/2 s). A catheter was implanted in the femoral artery the next day for cardiovascular recordings. Drugs were delivered into dHC 10 min before contextual re-exposure, which occurred 48 h after the conditioning procedure. Results: Neostigmine (Neo) amplified the retrieval of conditioned responses. Neo effects (1 nmol) were prevented by the prior infusion of a M1–M3 antagonist (fumarate), a neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (NPLA), a NO scavenger (cPTIO), a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor (ODQ), and a NMDA antagonist (AP-7). Pretreatment with a selective M1 antagonist (pirenzepine) only prevented the increase in autonomic responses induced by Neo. Conclusion: The results show that modulation in the retrieval of contextual fear responses involves coordination of the dHC M1-M3/NO/cGMP/NMDA pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is a fundamental activity for human development. However, its sustainable practice is required to ensure the perpetuity of future resources. In this way, bacteria can benefit crops by making available nutrients and metabolites, mainly contributing to reducing the demand for chemical fertilizers. This study aimed to evaluate the biofertilizing capacity of Azospirillum brasilense, Bacillus megaterium, and Brevibacillus fluminis and their effects on improving the physiological and morphoanatomical properties of strawberry seedlings. In vitro tests were performed to evince their potential to supply nutrients (P and K) and produce siderophores and indole-acetic acid. In an inoculation experiment, these strains were inoculated in isolation and mixed in pairs and triples. This experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design (CRD). The inoculated treatments were fertilized with 30% N and P demands; the uninoculated control received 30% and 100% of these demands. Leaf gas exchange, total chlorophylls, and crown diameter were evaluated during cultivation. After 138 days, leaf number, nutrient content, root length, root and shoot fresh and dry weight, and total seedlings were evaluated. The bacteria tested positive in all in vitro evaluations except for siderophore production. The strawberry responded positively to inoculation. The inoculation, either in isolation or in a mixture, improved stomatal conductance, leaf transpiration, internal CO2 concentration, leaf N and Mg contents, crown diameter, leaf area, and root elongation. We can conclude that the intermediation of microorganisms improves nutrient use efficiency and reduces the strawberry's fertilizer demand by up to 70%, leading to plant development and yields comparable to complete fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aimed to analyze the profile and the scientific production of researchers awarded with CNPq research productivity grants who worked in mathematics education in 2021. We considered the following investigative problem: What profile and scientific production do CNPq research productivity grantees who work in mathematics education have? For the 37 grantees identified, we considered the following variables: time of doctoral studies; leadership in research groups and research lines; completed supervisions; bibliographic production, and vehicles for the publication. The theoretical and methodological contributions are connected to the specific literature on mathematics education, the norms/resolutions of CNPq and the productivity grant (PQ), and the descriptive survey research with a comparative and qualitative-quantitative approach. For data production, we consulted information from the grantees in CNPq, Currículo Lattes, and Directory of Research Groups in Brazil. The main results revealed that the time it took for the grantees to obtain their doctorates varied between 9 and 48 years, with an average of 19 years; most grantees are leaders in research groups and plural in research lines; the human resources training for doctorates was carried out mostly by grantees 1 (A, B and C) and for masters' degree by grantees 1C and 2; the most outstanding scientific productions were full papers in proceedings (3,514) and articles published in journals (3,267); and the articles were published in 618 different journals with a predominance of national journals (449). Interlacements between our research and academic productiveness evoked future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data classification is a data mining task that consists of an algorithm adjusted by a training dataset that is used to predict an object's class (unclassified) on analysis. A significant part of the performance of the classification algorithm depends on the dataset's complexity and quality. Data Complexity involves the investigation of the effects of dimensionality, the overlap of descriptive attributes, and the classes' separability. Data Quality focuses on the aspects such as noise data (outlier) and missing values. The factors Data Complexity and Data Quality are fundamental for the performance of classification. However, the literature has very few studies on the relationship between these factors and to highlight their significance. This paper applies Structural Equation Modeling and the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) algorithm and, in an innovative manner, associates Data Complexity and Data Quality contributions to Classification Quality. Experimental analysis with 178 datasets obtained from the OpenML repository showed that the control of complexity improves the classification results more than data quality does. Additionally paper also presents a visual tool of datasets analysis about the classification performance perspective in the dimensions proposed to represent the structural model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A strategy for micromorphic description without the need to define the high number of material parameters of this theory. • Possibility of adopting damage constitutive models established in classical theory in the context of micromorphic theory. • Ability to simulate strain localization not well reproduced by classical theory and adopting wellknown material parameters. • The strategy is promising in the study of the influence of microscopic heterogeneities on the macroscopic response. The formulation of the micromorphic continuum theory and its finite element approach are well-established, however, the physical interpretation and determination of the large number of constitutive parameters of this theory limit its practical application. In this sense, this paper presents a multiscale numerical strategy to obtain a macroscopic micromorphic description of the continuum from a proposed solution to the boundary value problems at the microscale governed by the classical continuum theory. Consequently, the micromorphic analysis is performed adopting well-known material parameters. To obtain the macroscopic micromorphic material response based on classical constitutive parameters, an approach which employs a cubic displacement ansatz is derived from a micromorphic homogenization framework proposed in the literature. To illustrate the capacity of the strategy to reproduce a micromorphic description adopting classical material parameters, the approach is implemented in an finite element code to demonstrate that the method overcomes the spurious mesh dependency of classical models of quasi-brittle damage due to regularization effects in localization problems achieved with generalized continuum models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To identify and analyse genes that encode pectinases in the genome of the fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, evaluate the expression of these genes, and compare putative pectinases found in C. lindemuthianum with pectinases produced by other fungi and oomycetes with different lifestyles. Methods and Results: Genes encoding pectinases in the genome of C. lindemuthianum were identified and analysed. The expression of these genes was analysed. Pectinases from C. lindemuthianum were compared with pectinases from other fungi that have different lifestyles, and the pectinase activity in some of these fungi was quantified. Fifty‐eight genes encoding pectinases were identified in C. lindemuthianum. At least six types of enzymes involved in pectin degradation were identified, with pectate lyases and polygalacturonases being the most abundant. Twenty‐seven genes encoding pectinases were differentially expressed at some point in C. lindemuthianum during their interactions with their host. For each type of pectinase, there were at least three isoenzyme groups. The number of pectinases present in fungi with different lifestyles seemed to be related more to the lifestyle than to the taxonomic relationship between them. Only phytopathogenic fungi showed pectate lyase activity. Conclusions: The collective results demonstrate the pectinolytic arsenal of C. lindemuthianum, with many and diverse genes encoding pectinases more than that found in other phytopathogens, which suggests that at least part of these pectinases must be important for the pathogenicity of the fungus C. lindemuthianum. Significance and Impact of the Study: Knowledge of these pectinases could further the understanding of the importance of this broad pectinolytic arsenal in the common bean infection and could be exploited for biotechnological purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several market sectors are attracted by the potential of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as delivery, agriculture, and cinema, among others. UAVs are becoming part of Internet of Things (IoT) networks in the development of autonomous and scalable solutions. However, these vehicles are gradually becoming attractive targets for cyberattacks. This study proposes the development of an efficient platform based on the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol for UAV control and Denial-of-Service (DoS) detection embedded in the UAV system. For the efficiency test, latency, network and memory consumption on the platform were measured, in addition to the correlation between payload and delay time. The results of efficiency tests were collected for the three levels of quality of service (QoS). A strong correlation greater than 90% was found between delay and data size for all QoS levels, showing almost a linear proportion. In DoS detection, the best results were a true positive rate (TPR) of 0.97 with 16 features from the AWID2 dataset using LightGBM with Bayesian optimization and data balancing. Unlike other studies, the built platform shows efficiency for UAV control and guarantees security in the communication with the broker and in the Wi-Fi UAV network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In dynamic ensemble selection (DES) techniques, the competence level of each classifier is estimated from a pool of classifiers, and only the most competent ones are selected to classify a specific test sample and predict its class labels. A significant challenge in DES is efficiently estimating classifier competence for accurate prediction, especially when these techniques employ the K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) algorithm to define the competence region of a test sample based on a validation set (known as the dynamic selection dataset or DSEL). This challenge is exacerbated when the DSEL does not accurately reflect the original data distribution or contains noisy data. Such conditions can reduce the precision of the system, induce unexpected behaviors, and compromise stability. To address these issues, this paper introduces the self-generating prototype ensemble selection (SGP.DES) framework, which combines meta-learning with prototype selection. The proposed meta-classifier of SGP.DES supports multiple classification algorithms and utilizes meta-features from prototypes derived from the original training set, enhancing the selection of the best classifiers for a test sample. The method improves the efficiency of KNN in defining competence regions by generating a reduced and noise-free DSEL set that preserves the original data distribution. Furthermore, the SGP.DES framework facilitates tailored optimization for specific classification challenges through the use of hyperparameters that control prototype selection and the meta-classifier operation mode to select the most appropriate classification algorithm for dynamic selection. Empirical evaluations of twenty-four classification problems have demonstrated that SGP.DES outperforms state-of-the-art DES methods as well as traditional single-model and ensemble methods in terms of accuracy, confirming its effectiveness across a wide range of classification contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic study of the distribution of the Naturally Occurring Radioactivity in stone dust and crushed stone, has been carried out with an objective of establishing reliable baseline data on the radiation level and hence to evaluate hazard indices approach and the production of radioactive heat (RHP) due to radiation exposure to the workers and to the inhabitants of the studied area. Twenty-six samples have been collected from different locations in the State of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). To calculate the specific activity, gamma ray spectrometry and a detector of High Purity Germanium (HPGe; Canberra, 30% relative efficiency) was used. The activity concentration of 238U, 226Ra 232Th and 40K ranged from 29.3 ± 18.6 to 206.8 ± 21.5 Bq kg−1, 30.3 ± 1.0 to 134.3 ± 1.8, 27.9 ± 0.7 to 86.2 ± 0.9 Bq kg−1, and 734.9 ± 35.1 to 1204.8 ± 53.5 Bq kg−1, respectively. The mean values of the I ex , I in , I γ , I α , A UI , I RP112Rn , I PA , I PI and I Yu indices were 0.68 ± 0.09, 0.92 ± 0.12, 0.93 ± 0.12, 0.43 ± 0.07, 0.88 ± 0.20, 1.25 ± 0.21, 0.34 ± 0.05, 0.75 ± 0.10, 0.63 ± 0.08 and 34. ± 6.31, respectively. The average radioactive heat production (RHP) of 2.01 ± 0.28 μ Wm−3 was above the values found in the literature, which may contribute to the heat flow in the study area because the raw materials that make up the samples showed a high value of environmental radioactivity. The Brazilian Hazard Index to assess the radiological risk of crushed stone and stone dust was created and the average value was 0.74 ± 0.10, a value below 1, which means only moderate control over the use of these materials, with no indication of restriction to the its use. • High-res gamma spectrometer measured levels of natural radionuclides in stone dust, crushed stone. • Study assesses radionuclide exposure risks in building materials, safety for workers & residents. • Research helps build database to minimize ionizing radiation damage, inform public policy. • A Brazilian Risk Index for samples was created to better adapt to the reality of using these materials in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation of turbulent boundary layers (TBLs) is presented for a NACA0012 airfoil at angles of attack 9 and 12 deg. Wall-resolved large eddy simulations (LES) are conducted for a freestream Mach number M = 0. 2 and chord-based Reynolds number R e = 4 × 1 0 5 , where the boundary layers are tripped near the airfoil leading edge on the suction side. For the angles of attack analyzed, mild, moderate and strong adverse pressure gradients (APGs) develop over the airfoil. Despite the strong APGs, the mean flow remains attached along the entire airfoil suction side. Similarly to other APG-TBLs investigated in the literature, a secondary peak appears in the Reynolds stress and turbulence production profiles. This secondary peak arises in the outer layer and, for strong APGs, it may overcome the first peak typically observed in the inner layer. The analysis of the turbulence production shows that other components of the production tensor become important in the outer layer besides the shear term. For moderate and strong APGs, the mean velocity profiles depict three inflexion points, the third being unstable under inviscid stability criteria. In this context, an embedded shear layer develops along the outer region of the TBL leading to the formation of two-dimensional rollers typical of a Kelvin–Helmholtz instability which are captured by a spectral proper orthogonal decomposition (SPOD) analysis. The most energetic SPOD spatial modes of the tangential velocity show that streaks form along the airfoil suction side and, as the APG becomes stronger, they grow along the spanwise and wall-normal directions, having a spatial support along the entire boundary layer. • Mean velocity profiles with strong APGs depict three inflection points, the outer one being unstable under inviscid stability criteria. • The production of TKE is affected by additional terms besides the shear component, especially in the outer layer. • The turbulence anisotropy state changes from a TBL to a shear layer under the APG influence. • The most energetic SPOD mode of tangential velocity shows streaks which grow along the spanwise and wall-normal directions due to strong APGs. • In the outer region of the TBLs, Kelvin–Helmholtz structures are depicted by the most energetic SPOD mode of wall-normal velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sought to compare the diagnostic accuracy of cephalic indices for type B basilar invagination (BI). This retrospective study examined head and neck magnetic resonance imaging sequences of 31 Group B BI cases and 96 controls. Two examiners blinded to diagnostic data evaluated the cephalic indices of each magnetic resonance imaging sequence, described as width/length (WLI) and height/width (HWI). The distance of the odontoid process apex to Chamberlain line and clivus canal angle were measured. The interexaminer and intraexaminer reproducibility of the cephalic indices was calculated using intraclass correlation coefficient. The diagnostic accuracy was discerned by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. All analyses were scrutinized with a 95% confidence interval. Cephalic indices showed interexaminer and intraexaminer reproducibility ≥94%. The areas under the ROC curve were 0.639 (WLI) and 0.874 (HWI) (95% confidence interval: P < 0.05). The HWI showed a sensitivity of 74.7% and a specificity of 85.5% for the cutoff criterion ≤58. The WLI presented a sensitivity of 53.3% and a specificity of 66.7% for the cutoff criterion ≥86. The HWI showed the largest area under the ROC curve in comparison with the WLI, with robust sensitivity and specificity values, indicating that the proportions between cranial height and width can help clinicians in investigating type B BI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports the synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial properties of silver trimolybdate (Ag2Mo3O10.2H2O) nanorods. The synthesis was performed using a conventional hydrothermal method. The sample was characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV–Vis–NIR diffuse reflectance, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The direct antibacterial activity was evaluated using the microdilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). To assess the ability of Ag2Mo3O10.2H2O nanorods to modulate antibacterial resistance, the MIC of aminoglycosides was established in the presence of a subinhibitory concentration of this substance alone and associated with LED light exposure. The characterization of the sample indicated that the synthesis of silver trimolybdate generated nanometric crystals with rod-like morphology, without secondary phases. The treatment with Ag2Mo3O10.2H2O nanorods alone or combined with visible LED lights exhibited clinically relevant antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. This nanostructure presented a variable antibiotic-modulating action, which was not improved by visible LED light exposure. Nevertheless, LED lights showed promising antibiotic-enhancing activities in the absence of Ag2Mo3O10.2H2O nanorods. In conclusion, silver trimolybdate dihydrate nanorods have antibacterial properties that can be photocatalysed by visible-light exposure. While showing the potential use to combat antibacterial resistance, the simultaneous combination of silver trimolybdate, visible LED lights, and antibacterial drugs should be carefully analysed to avoid antagonist effects that could impair the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Background: nutrition therapy is a complex area of healthcare systems that encompasses patient characteristics, medical decision making, nutritional formula characteristics, and costs, composing a complex ecosystem. The integration of these different domains is actualized in medical prescription in a heuristic and iterative way, taking into account patient characteristics and formulas, with a limited capacity for in-scale calculations and inclusion of factors involved in the prescription of nutritional formulas and other ecosystem elements. From a practical standpoint, depicting the four areas as equalities could provide the necessary equivalence to study dependence and consequence from left- and right-side terms. Objectives: the objective of this theoretical study is to provide a mathematical model that describes and integrates different aspects of nutrition therapy. Methods: in this theoretical study, we deducted a mathematical representation for nutrition therapy using first-grade equations and simple calculus techniques. Results: a formula that coordinates four elements of the nutrition therapy ecosystem was found: cashflow, compliance adherence, patient, and macronutrient mass, formula density and unitary cost. Conclusion: factors involving decision-making in nutrition therapy can be unified in a mathematical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane is a cultivar of great economic importance, mainly used in the production of sugar and ethanol. Through classical breeding, different cultivars are produced by crossing wild species (Saccharum officinarum and Saccharum spontaneum). In addition to the increased concentration of sucrose, the production of hybrids looks for cultivars with greater resistance to disease. Understanding the origin of resistance in cultivars is important for breeding. One of the molecules associated with plant defense is the snakins. Despite characterization in different species, snakins were not characterized in sugarcane. This work aims to identify and characterize, through bioinformatics tools, genes and transcripts in different sugarcane genotypes. We identified 13 genes in S. spontaneum; 6 genes in hybrid SP70-1143; 5 genes in hybrid R570, and 26 genes in hybrid SP80-3280, in addition to 16 transcripts. A total of 60 snakins were identified. All predicted proteins demonstrated the cysteine-rich motif, typical of snakins, in addition to new motifs. Despite the divergence of primary structures, the snakin modeling revealed high conservation of tertiary structures. Phylogenetic analysis with snakins from other plants (monocots and dicots) showed that snakins from sugarcane are dispersed. The analysis of the promoter region of the snakins genes revealed the presence of binding regions of hormone-responsive transcription factors (abscisic acid, methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid). We hope that the characterization of these important molecules will contribute to a better understanding of the different sugarcane defense responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gaia has revealed clear evidence of bending waves in the vertical kinematics of stars in the solar neighbourhood. We study bending waves in two simulations, one warped, with the warp due to misaligned gas inflow, and the other unwarped. We find slow, retrograde bending waves in both models, with the ones in the warped model having larger amplitudes. We also find fast, prograde bending waves. Prograde bending waves in the unwarped model are very weak, in agreement with the expectation that these waves should decay on short, approximately crossing, time-scales, due to strong winding. However, prograde bending waves are much stronger for the duration of the warped model, pointing to irregular gas inflow along the warp as a continuous source of excitation. We demonstrate that large-amplitude bending waves that propagate through the solar neighbourhood give rise to a correlation between the mean vertical velocity and the angular momentum, with a slope consistent with that found by Gaia. The bending waves affect populations of all ages, but the sharpest features are found in the young populations, hinting that short-wavelength waves are not supported by the older, kinematically hotter, populations. Our results demonstrate the importance of misaligned gas accretion as a recurrent source of vertical perturbations of disc galaxies, including in the Milky Way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1,8-Cineole is a naturally occurring compound found in essential oils of different plants and has well-known anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. In the present work, we aimed to investigate its potential antimalarial effect, using the following experimental models: (1) the erythrocytic cycle of Plasmodium falciparum; (2) an adhesion assay using brain microvascular endothelial cells; and (3) an experimental cerebral malaria animal model induced by Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection in susceptible mice. Using the erythrocytic cycle of Plasmodium falciparum, we characterized the schizonticidal effect of 1,8-cineole. This compound decreased parasitemia in a dose-dependent manner with a half maximal inhibitory concentration of 1045.53 ± 63.30 μM. The inhibitory effect of 972 μM 1,8-cineole was irreversible and independent of parasitemia. Moreover, 1,8-cineole reduced the progression of intracellular development of the parasite over 2 cycles, inducing important morphological changes. Ultrastructure analysis revealed a massive loss of integrity of endomembranes and hemozoin crystals in infected erythrocytes treated with 1,8-cineole. The monoterpene reduced the adhesion index of infected erythrocytes to brain microvascular endothelial cells by 60%. Using the experimental cerebral malaria model, treatment of infected mice for 6 consecutive days with 100 mg/kg/day 1,8-cineole reduced cerebral edema with a 50% reduction in parasitemia. Our data suggest a potential antimalarial effect of 1,8-cineole with an impact on the parasite erythrocytic cycle and severe disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although we have at our disposal relatively low-cost drugs that can be prescribed for the treatment of malaria, the prevalence of resistant strains of the causative parasite has required the development of new drugs. Also, malaria parasite infection is associated with different symptoms such as inflammation. Thus, the development of dual pharmaceuticals is a promising strategy for malaria treatment. In this work, we prepared and evaluated four dual hybrid 4-aminoquinoline compounds (GIQ, TOQ, DEQ, and IBUCEQ) with potential antimalarial and anti-inflammatory activities. All compounds are mono-N-substituted 4-aminoquinolines that have been easily synthesized. Most of the compounds are demonstrated to be active against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7, with DEQ being the most active hybrid (nanomolar range), exhibiting a selectivity index (SI) value higher than 3. By contrast, DEQ presented a high resistance index (RI) value when it was evaluated against the Dd2-multiresistant strain. Then, the compounds IBUCEQ and TOQ were found to be the most promising candidates, based on their RI values. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of these compounds were also analyzed and most of them present both properties, suggesting that these quinoline-hybrid compounds could also alleviate malaria infection symptoms by decreasing the inflammatory and oxidative overstimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant defensins and lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) constitute a large and evolutionarily diverse family of antimicrobial peptides. Defensins and LTPs are two pathogenesis-related proteins (PR proteins) whose characterization may help to uncover aspects about the sugarcane response to pathogens attack. LTPs have also been investigated for their participation in the response to different types of stress. Despite the important roles of defensins and LTPs in biotic and abiotic stresses, scarce knowledge is found about these proteins in sugarcane. By using bioinformatics approaches, we characterized defensins and LTPs in the sugarcane wild species and modern cultivar genomes. The identification of defensins and LTPs showed that all five defensins groups and eight of the nine LTPs have their respective genes loci, although some was only identified in the cultivar genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed that defensins appear to be more conserved among groups of plants than LTPs. Some defensins and LTPs showed opposite expression during pathogenic and benefic bacterial interactions. Interestingly, the expression of defensins and LTPs in shoots and roots was completely different in plants submitted to benefic bacteria or water depletion. Finally, the modeling and comparison of isoforms of LTPs and defensins in wild species and cultivars revealed a high conservation of tertiary structures, with variation of amino acids in different regions of proteins, which could impact their antimicrobial activity. Our data contributed to the characterization of defensins and LTPs in sugarcane and provided new elements for understanding the involvement of these proteins in sugarcane response to different types of stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First, the npx$np_x$‐type attribute control charts have been proposed to monitor the process mean. The main contribution of this paper is to show the good performances of the "pure npx$np_x$" (shortly npxσ2$np_{x}^{\sigma ^2}$) and "improved npx$np_x$" (shortly npx(I)σ2$np_{x(I)}^{\sigma ^2}$) attribute charts to monitor the variance. The results confirmed that they are also good alternatives to S2$S^2$ control chart. To have an equal performance (in terms of speed to detect abnormal cases), the sample size needed for these charts is slightly higher than those practiced for an S2$S^2$ control chart. This is an advantage since an attribute inspection is faster and cheaper as no measurements on the examined units are taken (mainly if we are dealing with destructive experiments). A numerical example illustrates our proposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Combined DFT and voltammetric studies for detection of Pb, Cd and Zn in Bi film. • Understanding a surface phenomenon allows to improve electroanalytical techniques. • Homogeneity of metal deposition on Bi films affects the electroanalytical response. Understanding electrode-analyte interactions at the atomic level is vital for improving analytical techniques, yet the complexity of these interactions poses a significant challenge for refinement. In this study, we investigate the detection of transition metals using Bi film electrodes, combining Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations with experimental Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV). Our experiments focus on the electrodeposition and detection of Zn2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ using Bi-modified carbon electrodes. The ASV experiments reveal a notably higher sensitivity for Pb2+ detection compared to Zn2+ and Cd2+, whether evaluated individually or simultaneously. DFT calculations demonstrate that the higher adsorption energy of Pb on the Bi surface promotes a uniform distribution of Pb atoms, resulting in a homogeneous phase. Conversely, Cd and Zn tend to present lower adsorption energies and form metallic clusters, leading to phase segregation. The correlation between theoretical and experimental data suggests that a more uniform deposition of Pb on the electrode surface facilitates a regular sweep in the redissolution step, achieving a detection limit as low as 0.062 nM for Pb. This synergistic approach not only enhances our understanding of electrode-analyte interactions but also provides valuable insights for optimizing electrode materials and detection methodologies in analytical chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is the fourth largest cement consumer in the world and the largest producer in Latin America, around 1.3% of global production. The main inputs in the manufacture of cement are limestone and clay. Few studies have been carried out in the country on the risk of these materials used in civil construction. Therefore, the objective of this present work is to evaluate the radiological danger that they can present to society. Gamma spectrometry analysis on 16 samples of different brands of cement used as construction material in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) was performed in this study, using an HPGe detector and the Genie 2000 data acquisition software. Samples were set to count for an accumulation time of 14,400 s (4 h) and all measurements were corrected to eliminate background and backscattering. Activity concentrations are determined for 226Ra was from (41.2 ± 1.6 to 174.9 ± 3.9) Bq kg−1, 232Th was from (15.7 ± 0.5 to 43.1 ± 0.7) Bq kg−1 and 40K was from (82.6 ± 7.2 to 254 ± 17) Bq kg−1. To assess radiological health risks: mean values of Radium Activity Equivalent 150.0 ± 3.4 Bq kg−1, Annual Gonadal Dose Equivalent 468 ± 11 μSv year−1 and Lifetime Excess Cancer Risk (ELCR) 2.42 ± 0.06 were calculated. Total Absorbed Dose Rates ranged from 72.2 ± 1.7 to 225.1 ± 5.2 nGy h−1. The damage to collective health was also estimated from the annual effective dose rates with an estimated total cost of damage to health of US$ 130 million. Values are generally within global limits reported by UNSCEAR. • Rio cement study: low radioactivity, minimal health risk from indoor gamma dose. • Gamma spectrometry on Rio cement brands for radiological assessment. • 226Ra, 232Th, 40K in Rio's cements within world averages for building materials. • Radiological hazard assessment of Rio cement shows safety within global norms. • Study on cement's radiological risk in Rio covers annual dose, cancer risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of naturally occurring radioactivity in sand and other building materials results in indoor and outdoor exposure to the public. Sand is one of the main components in civil construction alongside cement, crushed stone and bricks. Thus, this research was carried out in twenty sand samples with the objective of investigating the hazard indices of natural radiation, due to the presence of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in sand samples collected in some locations in the state of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), analyzing by gamma spectrometry and using an HPGe detector. The technique used for gamma analysis was gamma spectrometry, and the software used to analyze peaks and obtain counts was LabSOCS. In this context, the average activity concentration values of 226Ra (66.7 ± 1.2) and 40K (647 ± 31) Bq kg−1 are higher than the world mean activity concentration of 50, 50 and 500 Bq kg−1 for these three radionuclides. However, the value of 232Th (40.6 ± 0.7) Bq kg−1 and Raeq (175 ± 5) Bq kg−1 are less than the world average of 50 Bq kg−1 and 370 Bq kg−1, respectively. The estimation of the average values for Annual Effective Dose (0.51 ± 0.01) and Dutch Radiation Performance Index (0.52 ± 0.01) was carried out, with values below the maximum recommended limit for the public. Only one sample had a higher value and the other samples are within the levels required for environmental control. However, the mean values found in this present study, when compared to those of other authors mentioned here, showed higher values. Therefore, most samples have safe values to be used by people in building their homes. • Study on natural radioactivity in Rio's construction sand reveals public health risks. • Samples sand analyzed shows high 238U, 226Ra, 40K but low 232Th compared to global norms. • AR7 sand sample in Rio exceeds safe radiation limits, highlighting need for controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency and capacity of the probiotic composed of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens , in improving the zootechnical performance of broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria spp. and Clostridium perfringens. The broilers were distributed in a completely randomized design in poultry isolators (12 birds each), resulting in 3 treatments: T1 (control, no challenge and no Bacillus in diet), T2 (challenged with Eimeria spp., followed by Clostridium perfringens infection and no Bacillus in the diet), and T3 (challenged with Eimeria spp., Clostridium perfringens and treated with Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens). They were evaluated for a period of 29 d, divided into preinitial (1–7 d of age), initial (8–21 d), and growth (22–29 d) phases. Assessments of body weight, weight gain, feed consumption, and feed conversion were conducted, along with the classification of the scores and optical microscopy of the tract gastrointestinal. The animals challenged and treated with the probiotic containing Bacillus spp. showed improved indicators of zootechnical performance. Additionally, the animals challenged and treated (T3) had a better score for intestinal lesions compared to the other treatment groups. Therefore, the probiotic consisting of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens could be considered an effective option for disease prevention and improving the zootechnical performance of broiler chickens [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to analyze the levels of functional autonomy and balance among elderly individuals engaged in weight training and hydro gymnastics. The sample consisted of 20 elderly participants, both men, and women, divided into two groups: weight training practitioners (n=10) and hydro gymnastics practitioners (n=10), all aged over 60 years. The Functional Autonomy Assessment Protocol from the Latin American Development Group for Maturity was used to evaluate the level of functional autonomy. When comparing the groups, significant differences were found in the tests of dressing and undressing a shirt, getting up from a chair, and moving around the house, and the Berg Balance Test, with p-values of 0.04, 0.000106, and 0.000189, respectively. The weight training group achieved better results in terms of functional autonomy, specifically in mobility, compared to the hydro gymnastics group. Weight training demonstrated greater effectiveness in improving balance and preserving functional autonomy in elderly participants, compared to hydro gymnastics. Through weight training practice, elderly individuals attained better stability in balance and increased autonomy in performing their daily activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years star formation has been discovered in the Milky Way's warp. These stars formed in the warp (warp stars) must eventually settle into the plane of the disc. We use an N -body+smooth particle hydrodynamics model of a warped galaxy to study how warp stars settle into the disc. By following warp stars in angular momentum space, we show that they first tilt to partially align with the main disc in a time-scale of |${\sim} 1\mbox{$\, {\rm Gyr}$}$|⁠. Then, once differential precession halts this process, they phase mix into an axisymmetric distribution on a time-scale of |${\sim} 6 \mbox{$\, {\rm Gyr}$}$|⁠. The warp stars end up contaminating the geometric thick disc. Because the warp in our fiducial simulation is growing, the warp stars settle to a distribution with a negative vertical age gradient as younger stars settle further from the mid-plane. While vertically extended, warp star orbits are still nearly circular and they are therefore subject to radial migration, with a net movement inwards. As a result warp stars can be found throughout the disc. The density distribution of a given population of warp stars evolves from a torus to an increasingly centrally filled-in density distribution. Therefore we argue that, in the Milky Way, warp stars should be found in the Solar Neighbourhood. Moreover, settled warp stars may constitute part of the young flaring population seen in the Milky Way's outskirts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of mechanically separated meat (MSM) washing cycles (0, 1, or 2) of saramunete (Pseudupeneus maculatus) and percent inclusion of corn starch (0%, 1%, or 2%) on the chemical, physical, texture, microbiological and sensory characteristics, during fish sausage processing. The results showed that increased number of washing cycles increased moisture content and water holding capacity (WHC) and reduced fat levels and a* and b* color characteristics of the sausages. The inclusion of 2% corn starch increased WHC, and reduced moisture, fat, and a* and b* color. The microbial counts of all sausages were within the limits established by the Brazilian legislation. The products were well accepted by assessors, with sensory scores equivalent to "moderately liked". The factorial experiment suggested optimized processing by no (0) MSM washing cycle, to minimize nutrient losses, and 2% inclusion of corn starch in the sausage formulation. Practical applications: In the northeastern region of Brazil, artisanal fishing is the most commonly used method for the capture of fish, and saramunete (Pseudupeneus maculatus) stands out as the species with relevant production potential. This fish has a good sensory acceptance and is marketed in open markets, with an expressive demand in the foreign market. However, fish consumption per capita in Brazil is very modest when compared to other countries, with 10 kg per inhabitant per year, against 20 to 30 kg per inhabitant per year in developed countries. Due to its nutritional profile and market potential, fish sausages have been the object of research. The present study showed the great potential of saramunete, a fish species widely captured in Brazil, to be used in the manufacture of high value‐added emulsion‐type sausage products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In planar analytic vector fields, a monodromic singularity can be distinguished between a focus or a center by means of the Lyapunov coefficients, which are given in terms of the power series coefficients of the first-return map defined around the singularity. In this paper, we are interested in an analogous problem for monodromic tangential singularities of piecewise analytic vector fields Z = (Z + , Z −). First, we prove that the first-return map, defined in a neighborhood of a monodromic tangential singularity, is analytic, which allows the definition of the Lyapunov coefficients. Then, as a consequence of a general property for pair of involutions, we obtain that the index of the first non-vanishing Lyapunov coefficient is always even. In addition, a general recursive formula together with a Mathematica algorithm for computing the Lyapunov coefficients is obtained. We also provide results regarding limit cycles bifurcating from monodromic tangential singularities. Several examples are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the antibiotic-enhancing activity of the essential oils obtained from the leaves of Eugenia brasiliensis Lam (EOEb) and Piper mosenii C. DC. (EOPm) against multiresistant strains of Escherichia coli 06 and Staphylococcus aureus 10. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined through the broth microdilution method. The EOEb enhanced the activities of norfloxacin and erythromycin against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. At the same conditions, the EOPm was found to potentiate the effects of gentamicin and erythromycin against E. coli. Of note, this is the first study to date that has reported the ability of these extracts to enhance the antibacterial activity of conventional antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cyber‐physical system‐of‐systems (CPSoS) can be defined as a system‐of‐systems (SoS), composed of several operable and autonomous constituent systems (CSs) that are themselves cyber‐physical systems (CPSs). A main challenge in integrating CPSoS to function as a single integrated system is the autonomy of its components, which may result in undesirable, unsecure, or even unsafe situations. In this paper, we advocate that in order to facilitate the integration of CPSs within the overall context of their CPSoS, we may need to adjust their level of autonomy in a way that enables them to perform their activities and avoid undesirable, unsecure , and unsafe situations. Reducing such situations surely contributes to the dependability of the CPSoS. In particular, we propose a novel model‐based approach for modeling and analyzing the autonomy levels of CPSs based on their awareness concerning their operational environment as well as their capability to react in a timely, secure, and safe manner while performing their activities. The model is further described in a UML profile and applied to represent activities for autonomous driving scenarios. Using a driving simulator, we implement such models on a target vehicle, and we show the resulting safety improvement, especially in terms of reduced collisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows a theoretical model for reinforced concrete beams subjected to torsion and strengthened with composite of carbon fibers (CFRP). It is based on researches of Michael Collins and collaborators and approaches the theory of diagonal compressive field. This model was inserted in a mathematic software, due to the need of interactions to obtain the torsion and torsion angles. The validation of theoretical values was realized through the results of tests obtained from the literature and it was understood that the model is valid and conservative for the ultimate torsion in most of the studies carried out. However, the beams that had the geometric ratios width and height b/h < 0.5 and the ratio between the cover and the smaller dimension of the d/cob element ≤6 had not so accurate results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), caused by the Paracoccidioides species, is a systemic disease endemic in several Latin American countries, mainly in Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, and Venezuela. Current treatment approaches are challenging as they require prolonged durations of antifungal drugs that have potential toxicities, and despite antifungals, relapses are common. Hence, new therapeutic approaches, such as vaccines, are being investigated. The therapeutic vaccine consisting of peptide P10 associated with lipid cationic DODAB (P10+DODAB) is effective in murine models of PCM. However, the specific immune mechanisms required for the protective response has not been fully elucidated. The present work aims at evaluating the participation of neutrophils in the immune response induced by P10+DODAB. We found that the vaccine reduced both the influx of pulmonary neutrophils and the fungal load in comparison to infected animals that did not receive this treatment. The parenchymal architecture of the lungs of P10+DODAB-treated animals was largely preserved with only a few granulomas present, and tissue cytokine analysis showed a Th1 cytokine profile with augmented levels of IL-12, IFN-γ and TNF-α, and low levels of IL-4. When neutrophils were depleted 24 h prior to each treatment, the effectiveness of the P10+DODAB vaccine was completely lost as the fungal burdens remained high and histological examination showed a marked inflammation and fungal dissemination with a dysregulated cytokine response. In conclusion, these findings indicate that neutrophils are vital to ensure the triggering of an effective immune response to P10+DODAB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomedical signal acquisition devices (e.g., Electrocardiography—ECG) are relevant for diagnosing and monitoring persons who have developed a variety of diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases. These devices comply with regulatory requirements before being marketed to prevent misleading measures, and they should also pass through corrective and preventive maintenance to keep them working correctly. We designed and implemented a simulation-based system to support these needs and assist manufacturers and healthcare facilities. This article focuses on demonstrating the effectiveness of our system for validating ECG devices. Our system comprises software in a computing device and a biomedical signals transducer. The system relies on coloured Petri nets modeling language, a frequency-based filtering method, and publicly available databases. We validated the system using the PhysioNet database and comparison tests to verify the expected signal and outputs based on MATLAB filters and the commercial ECG device ENGC901448 from Instramed. The system was proven reliable, low-cost, and portable. Our proposal is relevant to providing evidence for certification and assisting healthcare facilities in conducting testing and corrective and preventive maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since thin disc stars are younger than thick disc stars on average, the thin disc is predicted by some models to start forming after the thick disc had formed, around 10 Gyr ago. Accordingly, no significant old thin disc population should exist. Using 6D coordinates from Gaia -DR2 and age estimates from Sanders & Das, we select ∼24 000 old stars (⁠|${\tau \gt 10\mbox{$\, \mathrm{Gyr}$}}$|⁠ , with uncertainties |$\lesssim 15{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$|⁠) within |$2\mbox{$\, \mathrm{kpc}$}$| from the Sun (full sample). A cross-match with APOGEE-DR16 (∼1000 stars) reveals comparable fractions of old chemically defined thin/thick disc stars. We show that the full sample pericentre radius (r per) distribution has three peaks, one associated with the stellar halo and the other two having contributions from the thin/thick discs. Using a high-resolution N -body + SPH simulation, we demonstrate that one peak, at |$\mbox{$r_\mathrm{per}$}\approx 7.1\mbox{$\, \mathrm{kpc}$}$|⁠ , is produced by stars from both discs that were born in the inner Galaxy and migrated to the Solar Neighbourhood. In the Solar Neighbourhood, ∼1/2 (∼1/3) of the old thin (thick) disc stars are classified as migrators. Our results suggest that thin/thick discs are affected differently by radial migration inasmuch as they have different eccentricity distributions, regardless of vertical scale heights. We interpret the existence of a significant old thin disc population as evidence for an early co-formation of thin/thick discs, arguing that clump instabilities in the early disc offer a compelling explanation for the observed trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the high accuracy of the K nearest neighbor algorithm in different problems, KNN is one of the most important classifiers used in data mining applications and is recognized in the literature as a benchmark algorithm. Despite its high accuracy, KNN has some weaknesses, such as the time taken by the classification process, which is a disadvantage in many problems, particularly in those that involve a large dataset. The literature presents some approaches to reduce the classification time of KNN by selecting only the most important dataset examples. One of these methods is called Prototype Generation (PG) and the idea is to represent the dataset examples in prototypes. Thus, the classification process occurs in two steps; the first is based on prototypes and the second on the examples represented by the nearest prototypes. The main problem of this approach is a lack of definition about the ideal number of prototypes. This study proposes a model that allows the best grid dimension of Self-Organizing Maps and the ideal number of prototypes to be estimated using the number of dataset examples as a parameter. The approach is contrasted with other PG methods from the literature based on artificial intelligence that propose to automatically define the number of prototypes. The main advantage of the proposed method tested here using eighteen public datasets is that it allows a better relationship between a reduced number of prototypes and accuracy, providing a sufficient number that does not degrade KNN classification performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rehydration and ensiling are methods to processing and preserving corn grains by which starch digestibility, nutrient availability, animal performance, and meat quality can be improved. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the substitution of ground corn by rehydrated ground corn silage (RGCS) in high-concentrate diets for feedlot lambs on performance, carcass traits, and meat quality. Forty Santa Inês non-castrated male lambs were used, with an initial average body weight of 21 ± 2.8 kg (mean ± standard error) and an age of approximately 4 months. Lambs were distributed in a completely randomized design, corresponding to five treatments and eight repetitions. The treatments consisted of substitute RGCS for ground corn at levels of 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 g/kg of dry matter (DM) in the concentrate. The sampling and data collection (experimental period) lasted 64 days. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were subjected to a solid fast, followed by slaughter. To evaluate meat quality, both longissimus lumborum muscle were collected. The substitution of ground corn by RGCS in high-concentrate diets did not alter (P > 0.05) the meat pH, cooking losses, tenderness, juiciness, aroma, and global acceptance of meat from feedlot lambs. However, the ground corn substitution by RGCS increased linearly lightness (P = 0.016), redness (P = 0.005), yellowness (P = 0.026), and flavor (P = 0.018) of the meat. On the other hand, the shear force was linearly reduced (P = 0.003). The ground corn substitution by RGCS had no effect (P > 0.05) on the fatty acid profile and the hypocholesterolemic to hypercholesterolemic fatty acid ratio of the lambs' meat. Therefore, considering the current results, ground corn can be completely replaced by rehydrated ground corn silage in high-concentrate diets for feedlot lambs. • Rehydrated Ground Corn Silage (RGCS) can replace 100% of the ground corn (GC) in lamb diet concentrate. • Performance and carcass traits are not affected by the GC substitution for RGCS. • The meat physicochemical traits were not affected by the substitution of GC by RGCS. • The fatty acid profile and meat quality were similar when RGCS substituted GC. • Meat sensory analysis revealed that the substitution of GC for RGCS increased its taste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typically, failure time is modeled using continuous distributions such as the Weibull or Gamma distributions. In many practical scenarios, data is recorded in terms of discrete counts, such as the number of days or cycles, therefore the Discrete Weibull distribution is employed to model such cases. In this paper, we propose the use of a Shewhart X ¯ control chart to monitor the mean of a Discrete Weibull process. While the distribution of the sum of Discrete Weibull random variables does not have a closed-form expression, it can be determined through a Markov Chain procedure, which enables the calculation of precise control limits. The Average Run Length (A R L) is the metric used to assess the performance of the control chart. Two numerical examples are provided to illustrate its practical application. • Discrete Weibull distribution is adequate to model discrete failure times. • Control limit of X ¯ chart can be set by simulation as the distribution of X ¯ is unknown. • Control limits obtained by the Central Limit Theorem yield imprecise results. • The sum distribution of Discrete Weibull is computed by Markov Chain approach. • ARL values are also calculated through a Markov chain approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]