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This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the ethanolic extract of Anadenanthera colubrina in modulating the immune response in the Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. The ethanolic extract of the dried bark was analyzed by ESI (+) Orbitrap-MS to obtain a metabolite profile, demonstrating a wide variety of polyphenols, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. Various parameters were evaluated, such as clinical signs, cytokines, cellular profile, and histopathology in the central nervous system (CNS). The ethanolic extract of A. colubrina demonstrated significant positive effects attenuating the clinical signs and pathological processes associated with EAE. The beneficial effects of the extract treatment were evidenced by reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL1β, IL-6, IL-12, TNF, IFN-γ, and a notable decrease in several cell profiles, including CD8+, CD4+, CD4+IFN-γ, CD4+IL-17+, CD11c+MHC-II+, CD11+CD80+, and CD11+CD86+ in the CNS. In addition, histological analysis revealed fewer inflammatory infiltrates and demyelination sites in the spinal cord of mice treated with the extract compared to the control model group. These results showed, for the first time, that the ethanolic extract of A. colubrina exerts a modulatory effect on inflammatory processes, improving clinical signs in EAE, in the acute phase of the disease, which could be further explored as a possible therapeutic alternative.

Abstract Background Sucrose accumulation in sugarcane is affected by several environmental and genetic factors, with plant moisture being of critical importance for its role in the synthesis and transport of sugars within the cane stalks, affecting the sucrose concentration. In general, rainfall and high soil humidity during the ripening stage promote plant growth, increasing the fresh weight and decreasing the sucrose yield in the humid region of Colombia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify markers associated with sucrose accumulation or production in the humid environment of Colombia through a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Results Sucrose concentration measurements were taken in 220 genotypes from the Cenicaña’s diverse panel at 10 (early maturity) and 13 (normal maturity) months after planting. For early maturity data was collected during plant cane and first ratoon, while at normal maturity it was during plant cane, first, and second ratoon. A total of 137,890 SNPs were selected after sequencing the 220 genotypes through GBS, RADSeq, and whole-genome sequencing. After GWAS analysis, a total of 77 markers were significantly associated with sucrose concentration at both ages, but only 39 were close to candidate genes previously reported for sucrose accumulation and/or production. Among the candidate genes, 18 were highlighted because they were involved in sucrose hydrolysis (SUS6, CIN3, CINV1, CINV2), sugar transport (i.e., MST1, MST2, PLT5, SUT4, ERD6 like), phosphorylation processes (TPS genes), glycolysis (PFP-ALPHA, HXK3, PHI1), and transcription factors (ERF12, ERF112). Similarly, 64 genes were associated with glycosyltransferases, glycosidases, and hormones. Conclusions These results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in sucrose accumulation in sugarcane and contribute with important genomic resources for future research in the humid environments of Colombia. Similarly, the markers identified will be validated for their potential application within Cenicaña’s breeding program to assist the development of breeding populations.

Abstract Background Lithium (Li) remains the treatment of choice for bipolar disorders (BP). Its mood-stabilizing effects help reduce the long-term burden of mania, depression and suicide risk in patients with BP. It also has been shown to have beneficial effects on disease-associated conditions, including sleep and cardiovascular disorders. However, the individual responses to Li treatment vary within and between diagnostic subtypes of BP (e.g. BP-I and BP-II) according to the clinical presentation. Moreover, long-term Li treatment has been linked to adverse side-effects that are a cause of concern and non-adherence, including the risk of developing chronic medical conditions such as thyroid and renal disease. In recent years, studies by the Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLiGen) have uncovered a number of genetic factors that contribute to the variability in Li treatment response in patients with BP. Here, we leveraged the ConLiGen cohort (N = 2064) to investigate the genetic basis of Li effects in BP. For this, we studied how Li response and linked genes associate with the psychiatric symptoms and polygenic load for medical comorbidities, placing particular emphasis on identifying differences between BP-I and BP-II. Results We found that clinical response to Li treatment, measured with the Alda scale, was associated with a diminished burden of mania, depression, substance and alcohol abuse, psychosis and suicidal ideation in patients with BP-I and, in patients with BP-II, of depression only. Our genetic analyses showed that a stronger clinical response to Li was modestly related to lower polygenic load for diabetes and hypertension in BP-I but not BP-II. Moreover, our results suggested that a number of genes that have been previously linked to Li response variability in BP differentially relate to the psychiatric symptomatology, particularly to the numbers of manic and depressive episodes, and to the polygenic load for comorbid conditions, including diabetes, hypertension and hypothyroidism. Conclusions Taken together, our findings suggest that the effects of Li on symptomatology and comorbidity in BP are partially modulated by common genetic factors, with differential effects between BP-I and BP-II.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to determine the frequency of anti-Neospora caninum antibody detection in three samples and sampling methods: A prevalence study, routine diagnostic laboratory samples, and fetal bovine serum samples. These samples were collected from cattle in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), southern Brazil, and analyzed using the indirect immunofluorescence reaction technique. For each sampling method, a historical study was used as a reference for comparison. In the prevalence study, 1,248 serum samples were collected from 2020 to 2022. The prevalence of N. caninum in the RS state was 22.8% (285/1248). This figure was statistically different compared to previous studies conducted in 2002, which reported a prevalence of 11.2% (p

Abstract Premise Detecting single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a cost‐effective way is fundamental in any plant breeding pipeline. Here, we compare three genotyping techniques for their ability to reproduce the allele dosage of SNPs of interest in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). Methods To identify a reproducible technique to estimate allele dosage for the validation of SNP markers, the correlation between Flex‐Seq, kompetitive allele‐specific PCR (KASP), and genotyping‐by‐sequencing and restriction site–associated DNA sequencing (GBS+RADseq) was determined for a set of 76 SNPs. To find alternative methodologies for allele dosage estimation, the KASP and Flex‐Seq techniques were compared for the same set of SNPs. For the three techniques, a population of 53 genotypes from the diverse sugarcane panel of the Centro de Investigación de la Caña de Azúcar (Cenicaña), Colombia, was selected. Results The average Pearson correlation coefficients between GBS+RADseq and Flex‐Seq, GBS+RADseq and KASP, and Flex‐Seq and KASP were 0.62 ± 0.27, 0.38 ± 0.27, and 0.38 ± 0.30, respectively. Discussion Flex‐Seq reproduced the allele dosages determined using GBS+RADseq with good levels of precision because of its depth of sequencing and ability to target specific positions in the genome. Additionally, Flex‐Seq outperformed KASP by allowing the conversion of a higher number of SNPs and a more accurate estimation of the allele dosage. Flex‐Seq has therefore become the genotyping methodology of choice for marker validation at Cenicaña.

Efficiency indices for inverters have been developed with the increasing adoption of photovoltaic (PV) systems. The European and Californian efficiencies are widely recognized, focusing on static inverter operation. Standards such as EN50530 and IEC 62891 introduced dynamic efficiency tests considering irradiance variations, but without a methodology to weigh the efficiencies within a single index. To address this gap, our study proposes a methodology to define an overall efficiency considering both static and dynamic inverter operation. Irradiance data with sub-minute sampling is classified into irradiance and irradiance derivative ranges. Then, weights for static and dynamic efficiency tests are obtained, and less significant ones are discarded. The results were applied to three PV inverters tested in the laboratory. By eliminating the less significant tests, the number of dynamic tests was reduced from 30 to 10. In two of the inverters, the inclusion of dynamic tests resulted in a 2\% reduction in overall efficiency compared to the static. An overall efficiency index is relevant for better comparing different PV inverters, especially when considering dynamic behaviors. This index may be significant for the PV market, governmental energy efficiency programs, and inverter manufacturers, providing guidelines to enhance the efficiency of their products.

Abstract The objective was to evaluate the chemical composition and in vitro fermentation of spineless cactus of the genus Nopalea, F-21 (Nopalea cochenillifera Dyck), IPA-Sertânia (Nopalea cochenillifera Dyck) and Miúda (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck), in different phenophases. There was no effect (P < 0.05) of the phenological phases of spineless cactus on DM, ash, OM, EE, and CP. Varieties F-21 and Miúda presented higher values of DM and OM, whereas the CP was higher for IPA-Sertânia. The contents of NDF, ADF, and ADL, as well as the fractions of carbohydrates B2 and C were higher in the mature stage, irrespective of the variety. The Miúda variety showed higher levels of NFC and fractions A + B1 and the lower levels of pectin compared to the F-21 and IPA-Sertânia varieties, but not differ of TC to F-21. The volume of gas produced via the degradation of NFC was higher for young phenological phases. The young and intermediate stages showed a higher in vitro digestibility of DM. Based on the results, varieties IPA-Sertânia and Miúda have a high potential for use in animal feed because of their high nutritional quality. Mature cladodes showed a higher fibrous fraction and lower digestibility in all varieties.

Abstract Lithium is the gold standard treatment for bipolar disorder (BD). However, its mechanism of action is incompletely understood, and prediction of treatment outcomes is limited. In our previous multi-omics study of the Pharmacogenomics of Bipolar Disorder (PGBD) sample combining transcriptomic and genomic data, we found that focal adhesion, the extracellular matrix (ECM), and PI3K-Akt signaling networks were associated with response to lithium. In this study, we replicated the results of our previous study using network propagation methods in a genome-wide association study of an independent sample of 2039 patients from the International Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLiGen) study. We identified functional enrichment in focal adhesion and PI3K-Akt pathways, but we did not find an association with the ECM pathway. Our results suggest that deficits in the neuronal growth cone and PI3K-Akt signaling, but not in ECM proteins, may influence response to lithium in BD.

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Deep learning (DL) models have shown promise for the accurate detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) from electrocardiogram/photoplethysmography (ECG/PPG) data, yet deploying these on resource-constrained wearable devices remains challenging. This study proposes integrating a customized channel attention mechanism to compress DL neural networks for AF detection, allowing the model to focus only on the most salient time-series features. The results demonstrate that applying compression through channel attention significantly reduces the total number of model parameters and file size while minimizing loss in detection accuracy. Notably, after compression, performance increases for certain model variants in key AF databases (ADB and C2017DB). Moreover, analyzing the learned channel attention distributions after training enhances the explainability of the AF detection models by highlighting the salient temporal ECG/PPG features most important for its diagnosis. Overall, this research establishes that integrating attention mechanisms is an effective strategy for compressing large DL models, making them deployable on low-power wearable devices. We show that this approach yields compressed, accurate, and explainable AF detectors ideal for wearables. Incorporating channel attention enables simpler yet more accurate algorithms that have the potential to provide clinicians with valuable insights into the salient temporal biomarkers of AF. Our findings highlight that the use of attention is an important direction for the future development of efficient, high-performing, and interpretable AF screening tools for wearable technology.

Abstract Documentary climate data describe evidence of past climate arising from predominantly written historical documents such as diaries, chronicles, newspapers, or logbooks. Over the past decades, historians and climatologists have generated numerous document-based time series of local and regional climates. However, a global dataset of documentary climate time series has never been compiled, and documentary data are rarely used in large-scale climate reconstructions. Here, we present the first global multi-variable collection of documentary climate records. The dataset DOCU-CLIM comprises 621 time series (both published and hitherto unpublished) providing information on historical variations in temperature, precipitation, and wind regime. The series are evaluated by formulating proxy forward models (i.e., predicting the documentary observations from climate fields) in an overlapping period. Results show strong correlations, particularly for the temperature-sensitive series. Correlations are somewhat lower for precipitation-sensitive series. Overall, we ascribe considerable potential to documentary records as climate data, especially in regions and seasons not well represented by early instrumental data and palaeoclimate proxies.

Los criterios diagnósticos, los tratamientos en el momento de la admisión y los fármacos utilizados en pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo están bien definidos en innumerables guías. Sin embargo, existe incertidumbre acerca de las medidas para recomendar durante la planificación del egreso de los pacientes. Este documento reúne las evidencias más recientes y el tratamiento estandarizado y óptimo para los pacientes al momento del egreso de una hospitalización por un síndrome coronario agudo, para un cuidado integral y seguro en la transición del paciente entre la atención del evento agudo y el cuidado ambulatorio, con el objetivo de optimizar la recuperación de miocardio viable, garantizar la prevención secundaria más adecuada, reducir el riesgo de un nuevo evento coronario y la mortalidad, así como la adecuada reinserción de los pacientes en la vida cotidiana.

Selection in the Iowa Stiff Stalk Synthetic (BSSS) maize population for high yield, grain moisture, and root and stalk lodging has indirectly modified plant architecture traits that are important for adaptation to high plant density. In this study, we developed doubled haploid (DH) lines from the BSSS maize population in the earliest cycle of recurrent selection (BSSS), cycle 17 of reciprocal recurrent selection, [BSSS(R)17] and the cross between the two cycles [BSSS/BSSS(R)C17]. We aimed to determine the phenotypic variation and changes in agronomic traits that have occurred through the recurrent selection program in this population and to identify genes or regions in the genome associated with the plant architecture changes observed in the different cycles of selection. We conducted a per se evaluation of DH lines focusing on high heritability traits important for adaptation to high planting density and grain yield. Trends for reducing flowering time, anthesis-silking interval, ear height, and the number of primary tassel branches in BSSS(R)17 DH lines compared to BSSS and BSSS/BSSS(R)C17 DH lines were observed. Additionally, the BSSS(R)C17 DH lines showed more upright flag leaf angles. Using the entire panel of DH lines increased the number of SNP markers identified within candidate genes associated with plant architecture traits. The genomic regions identified for plant architecture traits in this study may help to elucidate the genetic basis of these traits and facilitate future work about marker-assisted selection or map-based cloning in maize breeding programs.

BackgroundIn the burgeoning area of clinical digital phenotyping research, there is a dearth of literature that details methodology, including the key challenges and dilemmas in developing and implementing a successful architecture for technological infrastructure, patient engagement, longitudinal study participation, and successful reporting and analysis of diverse passive and active digital data streams. ObjectiveThis article provides a narrative rationale for our study design in the context of the current evidence base and best practices, with an emphasis on our initial lessons learned from the implementation challenges and successes of this digital phenotyping study. MethodsWe describe the design and implementation approach for a digital phenotyping pilot feasibility study with attention to synthesizing key literature and the reasoning for pragmatic adaptations in implementing a multisite study encompassing distinct geographic and population settings. This methodology was used to recruit patients as study participants with a clinician-validated diagnostic history of unipolar depression, bipolar I disorder, or bipolar II disorder, or healthy controls in 2 geographically distinct health care systems for a longitudinal digital phenotyping study of mood disorders. ResultsWe describe the feasibility of a multisite digital phenotyping pilot study for patients with mood disorders in terms of passively and actively collected phenotyping data quality and enrollment of patients. Overall data quality (assessed as the amount of sensor data obtained vs expected) was high compared to that in related studies. Results were reported on the relevant demographic features of study participants, revealing recruitment properties of age (mean subgroup age ranged from 31 years in the healthy control subgroup to 38 years in the bipolar I disorder subgroup), sex (predominance of female participants, with 7/11, 64% females in the bipolar II disorder subgroup), and smartphone operating system (iOS vs Android; iOS ranged from 7/11, 64% in the bipolar II disorder subgroup to 29/32, 91% in the healthy control subgroup). We also described implementation considerations around digital phenotyping research for mood disorders and other psychiatric conditions. ConclusionsDigital phenotyping in affective disorders is feasible on both Android and iOS smartphones, and the resulting data quality using an open-source platform is higher than that in comparable studies. While the digital phenotyping data quality was independent of gender and race, the reported demographic features of study participants revealed important information on possible selection biases that may result from naturalistic research in this domain. We believe that the methodology described will be readily reproducible and generalizable to other study settings and patient populations given our data on deployment at 2 unique sites.

Abstract Background Across clinical settings, black individuals are disproportionately less likely to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder compared to schizophrenia, a traditionally more severe and chronic disorder with lower expectations for remission. The causes of this disparity are likely multifactorial, ranging from the effects of implicit bias, to developmental and lifelong effects of structural racism, to differing cultural manifestations of psychiatric symptoms and distress. While prior studies examining differences have found a greater preponderance of specific psychotic symptoms (such as persecutory delusions and hallucinations) and a more dysphoric/mixed mania presentation in Black individuals, these studies have been limited by a lack of systematic phenotypic assessment and small sample sizes. In the current report, we have combined data from two large multi-ethnic studies of bipolar disorder with comparable semi-structured interviews to investigate differences in symptoms presentation across the major clinical symptom domains of bipolar disorder. Results In the combined meta-analysis, there were 4423 patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder type I, including 775 of self-reported as Black race. When symptom presentations were compared in Black versus White individuals, differences were found across all the major clinical symptom domains of bipolar disorder. Psychotic symptoms, particularly persecutory hallucinations and both persecutory and mood-incongruent delusions, were more prevalent in Black individuals with bipolar disorder type I (ORs = 1.26 to 2.45). In contrast, Black individuals endorsed fewer prototypical manic symptoms, with a notably decreased likelihood of endorsing abnormally elevated mood (OR = 0.44). Within depression associated symptoms, we found similar rates of mood or cognitive related mood symptoms but higher rates of decreased appetite (OR = 1.32) and weight loss (OR = 1.40), as well as increased endorsement of initial, middle, and early-morning insomnia (ORs = 1.73 to 1.82). Concurrently, we found that black individuals with BP-1 were much less likely to be treated with mood stabilizers, such as lithium (OR = 0.45), carbamazepine (OR = 0.37) and lamotrigine (OR = 0.34), and moderately more likely to be on antipsychotic medications (OR = 1.25). Conclusions In two large studies spanning over a decade, we found highly consistent and enduring differences in symptoms across the major clinical symptom domains of bipolar disorder. These differences were marked by a greater burden of mood-incongruent psychotic symptoms, insomnia and irritability, and fewer prototypical symptoms of mania. While such symptoms warrant better recognition to reduce diagnostic disparities, they may also represent potential targets of treatment that can be addressed to mitigate persistent disparities in outcome.

Bacteria of the sister genera Ehrlichia and Anaplasma (Anaplasmataceae) are obligate intracellular Alphaproteobacteria that are transmitted mostly through arthropod vectors. These agents can infect different vertebrate cells, depending on the species involved, and can cause diseases in animals and humans. In this study, we evaluated the presence of Anaplasmataceae bacteria in Amblyomma calcaratum ticks collected from a road-killed Tamandua tetradactyla in the Rainforest ecoregion in Argentina. All samples were screened for Anaplasmataceae DNA using a real-time PCR assay targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Evidence of Anaplasmataceae DNA was detected in three out of thirty-nine Am. calcaratum ticks. Phylogenetic analysis of a portion of 16S rRNA gene positioned one sample (Ehrlichia sp. strain Ac124) with Ehrlichia sequences and the other two samples with Anaplasma sequences; Anaplasma sp. strain Ac145 close to Anaplasma odocoilei and Anaplasma sp. strain Ac152 in an ancestral position to most Anaplasma species. The groEL sequence obtained showed that Ehrlichia sp. strain Ac124 was phylogenetically related to Ehrlichia sp. strain Iberá reported infecting Amblyomma tigrinum from Iberá wetlands in Argentina. Phylogenetic analysis using the rpoB sequence positioned Anaplasma sp. strain Ac145 close to the canine pathogen Anaplasma platys, while Anaplasma sp. strain Ac152 was positioned close to the bovine pathogen Anaplasma marginale.In this study, three Anaplasmataceae agents were detected in adults of Am. calcaratum associated with a T. tetradactyla. These results suggest that the number of Anaplasmataceae species, as well as their distribution, is largely unknown.

Vector-borne diseases remain a significant public health threat in many regions of the world. Traditional vector surveillance and control methods have relied on active and passive surveillance programs, which are often costly and time-consuming. New internet-based vector surveillance systems have shown promise in removing some of the cost and labor burden from health authorities. We developed and evaluated the effectiveness of a new internet-based surveillance system, "AlertaChirimacha", for detecting Triatoma infestans (known locally by its Quechua name, Chirimacha), the Chagas disease vector, in the city of Arequipa, Peru. In the first 26 months post-implementation, AlertaChirimacha received 206 reports of residents suspecting or fearing triatomines in their homes or neighborhoods, of which we confirmed, through pictures or inspections, 11 (5.3%) to be Triatoma infestans. After microscopic examination, none of the specimens collected were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. AlertaChirimacha received 57% more confirmed reports than the traditional surveillance system and detected 10% more infested houses than active and passive surveillance approaches combined. Through in-depth interviews we evaluate the reach, bilateral engagement, and response promptness and efficiency of AlertaChirimacha. Our study highlights the potential of internet-based vector surveillance systems, such as AlertaChirimacha, to improve vector surveillance and control efforts in resource-limited settings. This approach could decrease the cost and time horizon for the elimination of vector-mediated Chagas disease in the region.

O Brasil alcançou destaque mundial como um dos maiores produtores e exportadores de carne bovina. Entretanto, a bovinocultura brasileira apresenta diversos sistemas de produção e, devido às disparidades nestes métodos, os níveis de produtividade são heterogêneos entre as regiões do país. Essas divergências de produção são ocasionadas por uma série de fatores, como organização fundiária, estrutura do capital produtivo, fertilidade dos solos, clima e, principalmente, o tipo de tecnologia empregada. Nesse contexto, este artigo tem por objetivo realizar uma avaliação espacial da cadeia produtiva da carne bovina no Brasil. Para tal, constrói-se um indicador sintético que leva em consideração aspectos da cadeia produtiva bovina e realizase uma análise exploratória de dados espaciais. A partir dessa estratégia empírica, foi possível observar o padrão espacial da cadeia produtiva da carne bovina, bem como o deslocamento espacial entre 2006 e 2017 em termos das características dos estabelecimentos, o potencial de comercialização, o potencial de oferta e potencial de beneficiamento, bem como em termos do indicador síntese. Por fim, destaca-se o fortalecimento da cadeia na região Norte, principalmente no estado do Pará, e um enfraquecimento da cadeia produtiva na região Sul a partir da análise de exploratória espacial nos dois anos.

Autonomous mobile robots use computational techniques of great complexity so that to allow navigation in various types of dynamic environments, avoiding collisions with obstacles and always seeking to optimize the best route, ultimately enabling them to operate in a safe and precise manner. In order for navigation at this level to be possible, a variety of computer vision and intelligent sensing techniques are used. The potential of an intelligent computer vision system to detect and predict the actions of dynamic agents on the streets is applied to increase traffic safety with intelligent robotic vehicles. In this paper we present a systematic review of computer vision models for the detection and tracking of obstacles in traffic environments. Specifically, we cover works involving 2D and 3D (stereo vision) data fusion for both internal and external perception, as well as current trends regarding efficient model design and temporally-aware architectures. We provide a thorough discussion on the main positive and negative points of the state-of-the-art in Visual Robotic Attention, as well as share our experience and contributions in applying visual perception for external obstacle detection and tracking, and internal (driver) monitoring. The results presented should serve as a compilation of the history of visual perception for autonomous mobile robots (specifically, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Autonomous Vehicles), thus providing the reader with a comprehensive basis on both the main contributions and the state-of-the-art in the field.

Measurement(s) temperature of air Technology Type(s) weather stations Sample Characteristic - Environment Air - temperature, precipitation and pressre Sample Characteristic - Location Global Dataset

Abstract Because many vessels use the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to broadcast GPS positions, recent advances in satellite technology have enabled us to map global fishing activity. Understanding of human activity at sea, however, is limited because an unknown number of vessels do not broadcast AIS. Those vessels can be detected by satellite-based Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, but this technology has not yet been deployed at scale to estimate the size of fleets in the open ocean. Here we combine SAR and AIS for large-scale open ocean monitoring, developing methods to match vessels with AIS to vessels detected with SAR and estimate the number of non-broadcasting vessels. We reveal that, between September 2019 and January 2020, non-broadcasting vessels accounted for about 35% of the longline activity north of Madagascar and 10% of activity near French Polynesia and Kiribati’s Line Islands. We further demonstrate that this method could monitor half of the global longline activity with about 70 SAR images per week, allowing us to track human activity across the oceans.

O presente texto se trata de uma revisão bibliográfica dos conceitos, definições e desempenho das coberturas verdes, as quais são introduzidas com o intuito de promover benefícios econômicos e socioambientais no meio urbano. Tal tipo de cobertura permite um melhor aproveitamento do espaço, permitindo um melhor conforto ambiental e eficiência energética, que gera como consequência uma melhoria na qualidade de vida em sociedade. Juntamente ,é apresentado nessa revisão bibliográfica uma análise sobre a origem e a evolução dos telhados verdes , os tipos de vegetação adequados para a sua constituição, a sua aplicação, desempenhos comparativos em diferentes climas, além das dificuldades e barreiras que se encontram para a sua construção. Verifica-se então, que as coberturas verdes são soluções funcionais para se tornar o meio urbano um ambiente mais atrativo , proveitoso e benéfico para os seus cidadãos.

We investigate the transient dynamics of the Fisher equation under nonlinear diffusion and fractional operators. Firstly, we investigate the effects of the nonlinear diffusivity parameter in the integer-order Fisher equation, by considering a Gaussian distribution as the initial condition. Measuring the spread of the Gaussian distribution by u(0,t)−2, our results show that the solution reaches a steady state governed by the parameters present in the logistic function in Fisher’s equation. The initial transient is an anomalous diffusion process, but a power law cannot describe the whole transient. In this sense, the main novelty of this work is to show that a q-exponential function gives a better description of the transient dynamics. In addition to this result, we extend the Fisher equation via non-integer operators. As a fractional definition, we employ the Caputo fractional derivative and use a discretized system for the numerical approach according to finite difference schemes. We consider the numerical solutions in three scenarios: fractional differential operators acting in time, space, and in both variables. Our results show that the time to reach the steady solution strongly depends on the fractional order of the differential operator, with more influence by the time operator. Our main finding shows that a generalized q-exponential, present in the Tsallis formalism, describes the transient dynamics. The adjustment parameters of the q-exponential depend on the fractional order, connecting the generalized thermostatistics with the anomalous relaxation promoted by the fractional operators in time and space.

Spiral waves are spatial-temporal patterns that can emerge in different systems as heart tissues, chemical oscillators, ecological networks and the brain. These waves have been identified in the neocortex of turtles, rats, and humans, particularly during sleep-like states. Although their functions in cognitive activities remain until now poorly understood, these patterns are related to cortical activity modulation and contribute to cortical processing. In this work, ,we construct a neuronal network layer based on the spatial distribution of pyramidal neurons. Our main goal is to investigate how local connectivity and coupling strength are associated with the emergence of spiral waves. Therefore, we propose a trustworthy method capable of detecting different wave patterns, based on local and global phase order parameters. As a result, we find that the range of connection radius ( R ) plays a crucial role in the appearance of spiral waves. For R

Understanding the phenomena that cause jet oscillations inside funnel-type thin-slab molds is essential for ensuring continuous liquid steel delivery, improving flow pattern control, and increasing plant productivity and the quality of the final product. This research aims to study the effect of the nozzle’s internal design on the fluid dynamics of the nozzle-mold system, focusing on suppressing vorticity generation below the nozzle’s tip. The optimized design of the nozzle forms the basis of the results obtained through numerical simulation. Mathematical modeling involves fundamental equations, the Reynolds Stress Model for turbulence, and the Multiphase Volume of Fluid model. The governing equations are discretized and solved using the implicit iterative-segregated method implemented in FLUENT®. The main results demonstrate the possibility of controlling jet oscillations even at high casting speeds and deep dives. The proposed modification in the internal geometry of the nozzle is considered capable of modifying the flow pattern inside the mold. The geometric changes correspond with 106% more elongation than the original nozzle; the change is considered 17% of an inverted trapezoidal shape. Furthermore, there was a 2.5 mm increase in the lower part of both ports to compensate for the inverted trapezoidal shape. The newly designed SEN successfully eliminated the issue of jet oscillations inside the mold by effectively preventing the intertwining of the flow. This improvement is a significant upgrade over the original design. At the microscale, a delicate force balance occurs at the tip of the nozzle’s internal bifurcation, which is influenced by fluctuating speeds and ferrostatic pressure. Disrupting this force balance leads to increased oscillations, causing variations in the mass flow rate from one port to another. Consequently, the proposed nozzle optimization design effectively controls microscale fluctuations above this zone in conjunction with changes in flow speed, jet oscillation, and metal–slag interface instability.

Left congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) can lead to pulmonary arteries abnormalities in the contralateral and ipsilateral sides of the diaphragm. Nitric oxide (NO) is the main therapy used to attenuate the vascular effects of CDH, but it is not always effective. We hypothesized that the left and right pulmonary arteries do not respond similarly to NO donors during CDH. Therefore, vasorelaxant responses of the left and right pulmonary arteries to sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a NO donor) were determined in a rabbit experimental model of left CDH. CDH was surgically induced in the fetuses of rabbits on the 25th day of pregnancy. On the 30th day of pregnancy, a midline laparotomy was performed to access the fetuses. The fetuses’ left and right pulmonary arteries were isolated and mounted in myograph chambers. Vasodilation was evaluated by cumulative concentration-effect curves to SNP. Protein expression of guanylate cyclase isoforms (GCα, GCβ) and the α isoform of cGMP-dependent protein kinase 1 (PKG1α), and the concentration of NO and cGMP were determined in the pulmonary arteries. The left and right pulmonary arteries of newborns with CDH exhibited increased vasorelaxant responses to SNP (i.e. the potency of SNP was increased) compared to the control group. GCα, GCβ, and PKG1α expression were decreased, while NO and cGMP concentrations were increased in the pulmonary arteries of newborns with CDH compared to the control group. The increased cGMP mobilization may be responsible for the increased vasorelaxant responses to the SNP in the pulmonary arteries during left CDH.

Antecedentes: Los avances de la cirugía robótica, deben seguir progresando y ser adaptados pese a eventos inesperados como en la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2. Objetivo: Analizar el comportamiento y aceptación del sistema quirúrgico da Vinci con el cambio de locación a Campus Santa Fe durante la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2. Materials y métodos. El equipo de cirugía robótica de Centro Médico ABC durante el periodo analizado, fue el Da Vinci Si. Se incluyen las cirugías realizadas desde 2017 a junio del 2022, así como las especialidades y número de cirujano certificados dentro del Programa de Cirugía Robótica. Resultados: Desde el inicio del Programa de Cirugía Robótica hasta junio del 2022 se realizaron 1064 procedimientos; durante la pandemia y con el cambio de locación a campus Santa Fe, tuvimos un incremento en el número de procedimientos principalmente en la especialidad de cirugía general. Con la finalidad de mantener la cirugía electiva segura, se implementaron diferentes protocolos de admisión y programación de procedimientos quirúrgicos, incluyendo abastecimiento suficiente de pruebas diagnósticas para SARS-CoV-2 y personal capacitado para continuar con atención de calidad que caracteriza a la institución. Conclusiones: Derivado del éxito del programa de Cirugía Robótica en el Centro Médico ABC pese a la pandemia, la baja tasa de incidencias y los protocolos adaptados para SARS-CoV-2, se logró incrementar de volumen de procedimientos con este tipo de abordaje, resultando ser referencia nacional para la creación otros programas y comités de Cirugía Robótica.

Background: Antidepressants are a first-line treatment for depression. However, only a third of individuals experience remission after the first treatment. Common genetic variation, in part, likely regulates antidepressant response, yet the success of previous genome-wide association studies has been limited by sample size. This study performs the largest genetic analysis of prospectively assessed antidepressant response in major depressive disorder to gain insight into the underlying biology and enable out-of-sample prediction. Methods: Genome-wide analysis of remission (nremit = 1852, nnonremit = 3299) and percentage improvement (n = 5218) was performed. Single nucleotide polymorphism–based heritability was estimated using genome-wide complex trait analysis. Genetic covariance with eight mental health phenotypes was estimated using polygenic scores/AVENGEME. Out-of-sample prediction of antidepressant response polygenic scores was assessed. Gene-level association analysis was performed using MAGMA and transcriptome-wide association study. Tissue, pathway, and drug binding enrichment were estimated using MAGMA. Results: Neither genome-wide association study identified genome-wide significant associations. Single nucleotide polymorphism–based heritability was significantly different from zero for remission (h2 = 0.132, SE = 0.056) but not for percentage improvement (h2 = −0.018, SE = 0.032). Better antidepressant response was negatively associated with genetic risk for schizophrenia and positively associated with genetic propensity for educational attainment. Leave-one-out validation of antidepressant response polygenic scores demonstrated significant evidence of out-of-sample prediction, though results varied in external cohorts. Gene-based analyses identified ETV4 and DHX8 as significantly associated with antidepressant response. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that antidepressant response is influenced by common genetic variation, has a genetic overlap schizophrenia and educational attainment, and provides a useful resource for future research. Larger sample sizes are required to attain the potential of genetics for understanding and predicting antidepressant response.

Abstract Resident microbial populations have been detected across solid tumors of diverse origins. Sequencing of the airway microbiota represents an opportunity for establishing a novel omics approach to early detection of lung cancer, as well as risk prediction of cancer development. We hypothesize that bacterial shifts in the pre-malignant lung may be detected in non-cancerous airway liquid biopsies collected during bronchoscopy. We analyzed the airway microbiome profile of near 400 patients: epithelial brushing samples from those with lung cancer, those who developed an incident cancer, and those who do not develop cancer after 10-year follow-up. Using linear discriminate analysis, we define and validate a microbial-based classifier that is able to predict incident cancer in patients before diagnosis with no clinical signs of cancer. Our results demonstrate the potential of using lung microbiome profiling as a method for early detection of lung cancer.

We introduce a class of stochastic engines in which the regime of units operating synchronously can boost the performance. Our approach encompasses a minimal setup composed of N interacting units placed in contact with two thermal baths and subjected to a constant driving worksource. The interplay between unit synchronization and interaction leads to an efficiency at maximum power between the Carnot η_{c} and the Curzon-Ahlborn bound η_{CA}. Moreover, these limits can be respectively saturated maximizing the efficiency, and by simultaneous optimization of power and efficiency. We show that the interplay between Ising-like interactions and a collective ordered regime is crucial to operate as a heat engine. The main system features are investigated by means of a linear analysis near equilibrium, and developing an effective discrete-state model that captures the effects of the synchronous phase. The robustness of our findings extends beyond the all-to-all interactions and paves the way for the building of promising nonequilibrium thermal machines based on ordered structures.

The fractional reaction–diffusion equation has been used in many real-world applications in fields such as physics, biology, and chemistry. Motivated by the huge application of fractional reaction–diffusion, we propose a numerical scheme to solve the fractional reaction–diffusion equation under different kernels. Our method can be particularly employed for singular and non-singular kernels, such as the Riemann–Liouville, Caputo, Fabrizio–Caputo, and Atangana–Baleanu operators. Moreover, we obtained general inequalities that guarantee that the stability condition depends explicitly on the kernel. As an implementation of the method, we numerically solved the diffusion equation under the power-law and exponential kernels. For the power-law kernel, we solved by considering fractional time, space, and both operators. In another example, we considered the exponential kernel acting on the time derivative and compared the numerical results with the analytical ones. Our results showed that the numerical procedure developed in this work can be employed to solve fractional differential equations considering different kernels.

We present a synergistic investigation into ozone production dynamics within a high-voltage reaction chamber operating from 1.75 kV to 10 kV, at 60 Hz. The output ozone concentration dependence on a 60 Hz root mean square high-voltage for an air input pressure of 0.1 bar was measured using an ultraviolet-based sensor. A finite-element numerical model of the reaction chamber was developed and used for obtaining the reaction rate for the generated ozone for each level of input voltage and the internal distribution of the gas vector velocity field and ozone concentration. An expression to estimate the ozone reaction rates from the measured ozone concentrations was also derived. It was then compared and validated using the developed computational model. Therefore, in this work, a formula is proposed to estimate the ozone production by providing the experimental reaction rates. The other objective is to analyze the hysteresis phenomena observed in the partial discharges’ levels in the reaction chamber and in the output ozone concentration. Finally, we establish a connection between the total power of partial discharges and the consequent ozone production, clarifying the role of cumulative partial discharges’ power levels in governing the resultant output ozone concentration.

Healthy brains display a wide range of firing patterns, from synchronized oscillations during slow-wave sleep to desynchronized firing during movement. These physiological activities coexist with periods of pathological hyperactivity in the epileptic brain, where neurons can fire in synchronized bursts. Most cortical neurons are pyramidal regular spiking (RS) cells with frequency adaptation and do not exhibit bursts in current-clamp experiments (in vitro). In this work, we investigate the transition mechanism of spike-to-burst patterns due to slow potassium and calcium currents, considering a conductance-based model of a cortical RS cell. The joint influence of potassium and calcium ion channels on high synchronous patterns is investigated for different synaptic couplings (gsyn) and external current inputs (I). Our results suggest that slow potassium currents play an important role in the emergence of high-synchronous activities, as well as in the spike-to-burst firing pattern transitions. This transition is related to the bistable dynamics of the neuronal network, where physiological asynchronous states coexist with pathological burst synchronization. The hysteresis curve of the coefficient of variation of the inter-spike interval demonstrates that a burst can be initiated by firing states with neuronal synchronization. Furthermore, we notice that high-threshold (IL) and low-threshold (IT) ion channels play a role in increasing and decreasing the parameter conditions (gsyn and I) in which bistable dynamics occur, respectively. For high values of IL conductance, a synchronous burst appears when neurons are weakly coupled and receive more external input. On the other hand, when the conductance IT increases, higher coupling and lower I are necessary to produce burst synchronization. In light of our results, we suggest that channel subtype-specific pharmacological interactions can be useful to induce transitions from pathological high bursting states to healthy states.

The authors wish to add two authors to the original paper [...]

Abstract Corn stover is a global resource used in many industrial sectors including bioenergy, fuel, and livestock operations. However, stover removal can negatively impact soil nutrient availability, especially nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), biological activity, and soil health. We evaluated the effects of corn stover management combined with N and P fertilization on soil quality, using soil chemical (nitrate, ammonium and Bray-1 P) and biological parameters (β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase activities and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis—FDA). The experiment was performed on a Mollisol (Typic Endoaquoll) in a continuous corn system from 2013 to 2015 in Minnesota, USA. The treatments tested included six N rates (0 to 200 kg N ha−1), five P rates (0 to 100 kg P2O5 ha−1), and two residue management strategies (residue removed or incorporated) totalling 60 treatments. Corn stover management significantly impacted soil mineral-N forms and enzyme activity. In general, plots where residue was incorporated were found to have high NH4 + and enzyme activity compared to plots where residue was removed. In contrast, fields where residue was removed showed higher NO3 − than plots where residue was incorporated. Residue management had little effect on soil available P. Soil enzyme activity was affected by both nutrient and residue management. In most cases, activity of the enzymes measured in plots where residue was removed frequently showed a positive response to added N and P. In contrast, soil enzyme responses to applied N and P in plots where residue was incorporated were less evident. Soil available nutrients tended to decrease in plots where residue was removed compared with plots where residue was incorporated. In conclusion, stover removal was found to have significant potential to change soil chemical and biological properties and caution should be taken when significant amounts of stover are removed from continuous corn fields. The residue removal could decrease different enzymes related to C-cycle (β-glucosidase) and soil microbial activity (FDA) over continuous cropping seasons, impairing soil health.

Introduction: Faced with lockdowns, it was mandatory the development of supervised home-based RT protocols to keep patients with chronic kidney disease engaged in programs. Nonetheless, there is a lack of scientific literature regarding its effects on patients. Purpose: To investigate the effects of a supervised home-based progressive resistance training program on functional performance, bone mineral density, renal function, endothelial health, inflammation, glycemic homeostasis, metabolism, redox balance, and the modulation of exerkines in patients with CKD in stage 2. Methods: Patients (n = 31) were randomized and allocated into the control group (CTL; n = 15; 58.07 ± 5.22 yrs) or resistance training group (RT; n = 16; 57.94 ± 2.74 yrs). RT group performed 22 weeks of supervised progressive home-based resistance exercises. Bone mineral density, anthropometric measurements, and functional performance were assessed. Venous blood samples were collected at baseline and after the intervention for the analysis of markers of renal function, endothelial health, inflammation, glycemic homeostasis, metabolism, and redox balance. Results: Twenty-two weeks of home-based RT were effective in improving (P

PURPOSETo present a summary of the treatment and follow-up recommendations for the biochemical recurrence in castration-sensitive prostate cancer (PCa) acquired through a questionnaire administered to 99 PCa experts from developing countries during the Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference for Developing Countries.METHODSA total of 27 questions were identified as related to this topic from more than 300 questions. The clinician's responses were tallied and presented in a percentage format. Topics included the use of imaging for staging biochemical recurrence, treatment recommendations for three different clinical scenarios, the field of radiation recommended, and follow-up. Each question had 5-7 relevant response options, including “abstain” and/or “unqualified to answer,” and investigated not only recommendations but also if a limitation in resources would change the recommendation.RESULTSFor most questions, a clear majority (> 50%) of clinicians agreed on a recommended treatment for imaging, treatment scenarios, and follow-up, although only a few topics reached a consensus > 75%. Limited resources did affect several areas of treatment, although in many cases, they reinforced more stringent criteria for treatment such as prostate-specific antigen values > 0.2 ng/mL and STAMPEDE inclusion criteria as a basis for recommending treatment.CONCLUSIONA majority of clinicians working in developing countries with limited resources use similar cutoff points and selection criteria to manage patients treated for biochemically recurrent castration-sensitive PCa.

Abstract Lithium is the gold standard therapy for Bipolar Disorder (BD) but its effectiveness differs widely between individuals. The molecular mechanisms underlying treatment response heterogeneity are not well understood, and personalized treatment in BD remains elusive. Genetic analyses of the lithium treatment response phenotype may generate novel molecular insights into lithium’s therapeutic mechanisms and lead to testable hypotheses to improve BD management and outcomes. We used fixed effect meta-analysis techniques to develop meta-analytic polygenic risk scores (MET-PRS) from combinations of highly correlated psychiatric traits, namely schizophrenia (SCZ), major depression (MD) and bipolar disorder (BD). We compared the effects of cross-disorder MET-PRS and single genetic trait PRS on lithium response. For the PRS analyses, we included clinical data on lithium treatment response and genetic information for n = 2283 BD cases from the International Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLi+Gen; www.ConLiGen.org ). Higher SCZ and MD PRSs were associated with poorer lithium treatment response whereas BD-PRS had no association with treatment outcome. The combined MET2-PRS comprising of SCZ and MD variants (MET2-PRS) and a model using SCZ and MD-PRS sequentially improved response prediction, compared to single-disorder PRS or to a combined score using all three traits (MET3-PRS). Patients in the highest decile for MET2-PRS loading had 2.5 times higher odds of being classified as poor responders than patients with the lowest decile MET2-PRS scores. An exploratory functional pathway analysis of top MET2-PRS variants was conducted. Findings may inform the development of future testing strategies for personalized lithium prescribing in BD.

Abstract Bipolar affective disorder (BD) is a severe psychiatric illness, for which lithium (Li) is the gold standard for acute and maintenance therapies. The therapeutic response to Li in BD is heterogeneous and reliable biomarkers allowing patients stratification are still needed. A GWAS performed by the International Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLiGen) has recently identified genetic markers associated with treatment responses to Li in the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) region. To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this association, we have genetically imputed the classical alleles of the HLA region in the European patients of the ConLiGen cohort. We found our best signal for amino-acid variants belonging to the HLA-DRB1*11:01 classical allele, associated with a better response to Li (p

CO2 REDUCTION TO HYDROCARBONS AND OXYGENATES: FUNDAMENTALS, STRATEGIES AND CHALLENGES. The development of renewable energy sources (e.g., solar and wind) moves foward, the tendance for replacing fossil fuels increases. However, these technologies have as primary barriers to industrial processes’ efficiency and especially storage. Thus, CO2 reduction routes using these energy sources could chemically store part of the energy as fuels or chemicals, offering alternatives to current oil and gas industry. This process is inspired by photosynthesis, e.g., photochemical or electrochemical processes, using homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts. Nevertheless, this reaction is thermodynamically unfavorable and has very slow kinetics, given the high stability of the CO2 molecule and the complexity of the redox reactions involved. Therefore, this review addresses this process’s kinetic and thermodynamic challenges, and the fundamental concepts of the photo(electro)chemical processes for CO2 reduction, besides presenting and discussing the materials with the potential to act as catalysts. The main reaction mechanisms and advances in the understanding of such processes are discussed, as well as future perspectives

Category: Bunion Introduction/Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of 1st MTP motion preserving hallux valgus surgery using Patient Reported Outcomes (PROMs) in the literature since 2001. This paper also tries to eliminate some of the heterogeneity in reporting by using the effect size of the treatment using Minimally Important Clinical Differences (MCIDs). Methods: For this systematic review, we searched for peer-reviewed English-language articles published in 2001 or later, using the electronic databases Medline, Embase, SCOPUS, PEDro, CINAHL, Global Index Medicus, Web of Science, and World Wide Science. There were a total of 5,544 articles published on bunions. We reviewed all the abstracts and 1,200 papers were selected for full text evaluation. Finally, we analyzed 310 of the articles for this review. In total, there were 21,109 patients in 401 cohorts that underwent surgery on a total of 24,231 feet. Results: Our primary endpoint was patient reported outcomes measures (PROMs) and was stratified based on location of the osteotomy on the metatarsal shaft as well as follow up time. AOFAS was the most common PROM used and was included in 83.5% of the articles. We found that double osteotomies had the greatest overall change score in PROMs with an overall mean improvement of 1.69 MCIDs (CI +/- 0.7), compared to 1.23 (CI +/-0.46) for distal osteotomies; shaft and proximal osteotomies were similar to the distal subgroup. Although it had the highest positive change, double osteotomies were associated with the highest complication rates of recurrence (11.2%), malunion (4.8%), and avascular necrosis (3.2%). Minimally invasive vs open techniques had similar changes in HVA, IMA, and PROMs. There was a slightly higher satisfaction rate in the Open group at 91.6% vs 89.6% in the MIS group. Conclusion: Bony correction of bunions demonstrated a clinically significant improvement in patient reported outcomes with an aggregate MCID between 1.26-1.69. They performed significantly better than soft tissue procedures +/- proximal phalanx osteotomy. Although double osteotomy did perform better than the other bony osteotomies it did have a higher complication rate and the group was a much smaller cohort which makes it more susceptible to bias. MIS vs Open bunion correction demonstrated similar correction and AOFAS scores, the satisfaction rate was about 2% higher in open which was statistically significant but may not have clinical significance

Objetivo: Identificar la asociación entre empatía general y empatía médica. Detectar predictores del nivel de empatía médica a partir de la empatía general. Determinar el perfil psicosocial que describa la relación entre empatía general, empatía médica y características demográficas y académicas en estudiantes de medicina. Método: Estudio transversal descriptivo. Estudiantes de medicina completaron el Índice de Reactividad Interpersonal (IRI) y la Escala de Empatía Médica de Jefferson versión estudiantil (EEMJ-E). Resultados: Se detectaron niveles relativamente altos de empatía general y médica. El puntaje total del IRI y la EEMJ-E y sus dimensiones se correlacionaron positivamente (r = 0.14-0.52), excepto para la dimensión malestar personal del IRI. El puntaje en la dimensión preocupación empática del IRI fue el mejor predictor del puntaje de la EEMJ-E y sus dimensiones (β = 0.27-0.54). Se detectaron cuatro perfiles: 1) hombres, preferencia por especialidad orientada a la tecnología, menor empatía; 2) estudiantes del periodo preclínico, menor empatía; 3) estudiantes del periodo clínico, mayor empatía; y 4) mujeres, preferencia por especialidad orientada al paciente, mayor empatía. Conclusiones: La empatía general y la empatía médica se encuentran asociadas. Unos perfiles empáticos diferenciados permitirán el diseño de estrategias de instrucción en empatía acordes con las necesidades específicas de cada uno.

The primary somatosensory cortex (S1) of mammals is critically important in the perception of touch and related sensorimotor behaviors. In 2015, the Blue Brain Project (BBP) developed a groundbreaking rat S1 microcircuit simulation with over 31,000 neurons with 207 morpho-electrical neuron types, and 37 million synapses, incorporating anatomical and physiological information from a wide range of experimental studies. We have implemented this highly detailed and complex S1 model in NetPyNE, using the data available in the Neocortical Microcircuit Collaboration Portal. NetPyNE provides a Python high-level interface to NEURON and allows defining complicated multiscale models using an intuitive declarative standardized language. It also facilitates running parallel simulations, automates the optimization and exploration of parameters using supercomputers, and provides a wide range of built-in analysis functions. This will make the S1 model more accessible and simpler to scale, modify and extend in order to explore research questions or interconnect to other existing models. Despite some implementation differences, the NetPyNE model preserved the original cell morphologies, electrophysiological responses and spatial distribution for all 207 cell types; and the connectivity properties of all 1941 pathways, including synaptic dynamics and short-term plasticity (STP). The NetPyNE S1 simulations produced reasonable physiological firing rates and activity patterns across all populations. When STP was included, the network generated a 1 Hz oscillation comparable to the original model in vitro-like state. By then reducing the extracellular calcium concentration, the model reproduced the original S1 in vivo-like states with asynchronous activity. These results validate the original study using a new modeling tool. Simulated local field potentials (LFPs) exhibited realistic oscillatory patterns and features, including distance- and frequency-dependent attenuation. The model was extended by adding thalamic circuits, including 6 distinct thalamic populations with intrathalamic, thalamocortical (TC) and corticothalamic connectivity derived from experimental data. The thalamic model reproduced single known cell and circuit-level dynamics, including burst and tonic firing modes and oscillatory patterns, providing a more realistic input to cortex and enabling study of TC interactions. Overall, our work provides a widely accessible, data-driven and biophysically-detailed model of the somatosensory TC circuits that can be employed as a community tool for researchers to study neural dynamics, function and disease.

BackgroundThe global burden of persistent COVID-19 in hemodialysis (HD) patients is a worrisome scenario worth of investigation for the critical care of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We performed an exploratory post-hoc study from the trial U1111-1237-8231 with two specific aims: i) to investigate the prevalence of COVID-19 infection and long COVID symptoms from our Cohort of 178 Brazilians HD patients. ii) to identify whether baseline characteristics should predict long COVID in this sample.Methods247 community-dwelling older (>60 years) patients (Men and women) undergoing HD (glomerular filtration rate < 15 mL/min/1.73m2) with arteriovenous fistula volunteered for this study. All patients presented hypertension and diabetes. Patients were divided in two groups: without long-COVID and with long-COVID. Body composition, handgrip strength, functional performance, iron metabolism, phosphate, and inflammatory profile were assessed. Patients were screened for 11-months after COVID-19 infection. Results were considered significant at P < 0.05.ResultsWe found that more than 85% of the COVID-19 infected patients presented a severe condition during the infection. In our sample, the mortality rate over 11-month follow was relatively low (8.4%) when compared to worldwide (approximately 36%). Long COVID was highly prevalent in COVID-19 survivors representing more than 80% of all cases. Phosphate and IL-10 were higher in the long COVID group, but only phosphate higher than 5.35 mg/dL appears to present an increased prevalence of long COVID, dyspnea, and fatigue.ConclusionThere was a high prevalence of COVID-19 infection and long COVID in HD patients from the Brazilian trial ‘U1111-1237-8231’. HD clinics should be aware with phosphate range in HD patients as a possible target for adverse post-COVID events.

Purpose: Several studies have emphasised the significance of high dominant frequency (HDF) and rotors in the perpetuation of AF. However, the co-localisation relationship between both attributes is not completely understood yet. In this study, we aim to evaluate the spatial distributions of HDF regions and rotor sites within the left atrium (LA) pre and post HDF-guided ablation in PersAF.Methods: This study involved 10 PersAF patients undergoing catheter ablation targeting HDF regions in the LA. 2048-channels of atrial electrograms (AEG) were collected pre- and post-ablation using a non-contact array (EnSite, Abbott). The dominant frequency (DF, 4–10 Hz) areas with DF within 0.25 Hz of the maximum out of the 2048 points were defined as “high” DF (HDF). Rotors were defined as PSs that last more than 100 ms and at a similar location through subsequent phase frames over time.Results: The results indicated an extremely poor spatial correlation between the HDF regions and sites of the rotors in pre-versus post-ablation cases for the non-terminated (pre: CORR; 0.05 ± 0.17. vs. post: CORR; −0.030 ± 0.19, and with terminated patients (pre: CORR; −0.016 ± 0.03. post: CORR; −0.022 ± 0.04). Rotors associated with AF terminations had a long-lasting life-span post-ablation (non-terminated vs. terminated 120.7 ± 6.5 ms vs. 139.9 ± 39.8 ms), high core velocity (1.35 ± 1.3 mm/ms vs. 1.32 ± 0.9 mm/ms), and were less meandering (3.4 ± 3.04 mm vs. 1.5 ± 1.2 mm). Although the results suggest a poor spatial overlapping between rotors’ sites and sites of AFCL changes in terminated and non-terminated patients, a higher correlation was determined in terminated patients (spatial overlapping percentage pre: 25 ± 4.2% vs. 17 ± 3.8% vs. post: 8 ± 4.2% vs. 3.7 ± 1.7% p < 0.05, respectively).Conclusion: Using non-contact AEG, it was noted that the correlation is poor between the spatial distribution of HDF regions and sites of rotors. Rotors were longer-lasting, faster and more stationary in patients with AF termination post-ablation. Rotors sites demonstrated poor spatial overlapping with sites of AFCL changes that lead to AF termination.

OBJETIVOS: A depressão é uma condição prevalente e apresenta um impacto importante na evolução de pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica em estágio terminal. O presente estudo tem como objetivo primário estabelecer a prevalência de depressão maior nos pacientes em hemodiálise do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA). Como objetivos secundários estão verificar a prevalência de alguns outros transtornos que compõem o chamado "espectro depressivo" e caracterizar os grupos de pacientes encontrados. PACIENTES E MÉTODOS: Os dados foram coletados através de entrevista única com os pacientes e consulta ao prontuário. RESULTADOS: De um total de 41 pacientes avaliados, 22 (53,66%) não preenchiam critérios para quaisquer dos transtornos pesquisados, 10 (24,39%) receberam diagnóstico de depressão maior de acordo com o instrumento utilizado, o PRIME-MD, 5 (12,19%) apresentavam remissão parcial de transtorno depressivo maior, 4 (9,76%) apresentavam transtorno depressivo menor e 5 (12,19%) apresentavam distimia (essa última ocorrendo em todos os casos concomitante com depressão maior). Considerando o "espectro depressivo", têm-se 19 pacientes (46,34%) nesse grupo. CONCLUSÃO: Assim como na literatura, também em nosso meio constatamos a relevante associação entre depressão e insuficiência renal crônica em estágio terminal nos pacientes em hemodiálise e depressão. A equipe de saúde deve estar alerta para essa situação e preparada para um manejo que propicie a melhor qualidade de vida possível para esses pacientes.

Infecção urinária é uma das doenças mais comuns, sendo uma importante causa de morbidade em todas as idades. Estudos recentes têm ajudado a definir melhor as populações de risco para estas infecções, assim como as estratégias de manejo mais efetivas e de menor custo. A infecção urinária pode ser caracterizada como simples ou complicada. A apresentação da síndrome clínica e o tipo de hospedeiro ajudam o médico a determinar o diagnóstico e o manejo mais apropriado. Infecção urinária nãocomplicada pode ser tratada empiricamente, sem necessidade de urocultura. Já bacteriúria assintomática raramente requer tratamento medicamentoso. Casos de infecção complicada são diagnosticados por urocultura e necessitam uma terapia mais prolongada. Infecções urinárias em homens ocorrem com maior freqüência após os 40 anos de idade e, muitas vezes, estão associados com obstrução prostática.