Search

While source localization and seabed classification are often approached separately, the convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in this paper simultaneously predict seabed type, source depth and speed, and the closest point of approach. Different CNN architectures are applied to mid-frequency tonal levels from a moving source recorded on a 16-channel vertical line array (VLA). After training each CNN on synthetic data, a statistical representation of predictions on test cases is presented. The performance of a single regression-based CNN is compared to a multitask CNN in which regression is used for the source parameters and classification for the seabed type. The impact of water sound speed profile and seabed variations on the predictions is evaluated using simulated test cases. Environmental mismatch between the training and testing data has a negative impact on source depth estimates, while the remaining labels are estimated tolerably well but with a bias towards shorter ranges. Similar results are found for data measured on two VLAs during Seabed Characterization Experiment 2017. This work shows the superiority of multitask learning and the potential for using a CNN to localize an acoustic source and detect the surficial seabed properties from mid-frequency sounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this work is to evaluate the chemical composition and the larvicidal activity of an extract from the nutshell (Anacardium occidentale L.) against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. A Hydro-ethanolic extract was prepared by maceration using 1 g of cashew nutshell in 3 mL of ethanol 70 %. The larvicidal effect and the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of the extract were evaluated. The extract content includes phenolic compounds, coumarins, quinones, anthocyanidins, triterpenes, steroids, flavonoids, saponins, lipid compounds, aliphatic acids, and terpenoids. The larvicidal activity of the extract (LC50) for A.aegypti was 35,81 ppm and 40,21 ppm for A. aegypti (Macapá and Rockefeller strains), and 21,47 ppm for C.quinquefasciatus. The IC50 for the AChE inhibitory test was 43,27 ± 2,22 ppm. The evaluated extract presents a good AChE inhibitory activity and a potent larvicidal activity. The larvicidal effect could be associated with the AChE inhibitory activity of the extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistical experimental design techniques were used to study the strength of ‘T’-Joints representative of various connections used to fabricate marine composite structures via a large test program. The effects of different surface preparations and cleaning methods, and adhesives were investigated. An analysis of variance was conducted, giving an extremely good fit to the experimental data. Importantly, the statistical methods identified significant interaction effects; the effect of each parameter varied considerably between the different levels of the other parameters. Interaction plots were found to be indispensable both in clearly presenting and understanding the complex relationships seen in the data, and in interpreting the results in terms of a number of practical engineering conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large statistical design of experiments (DOE) based investigation has been completed into the effects of surface preparation, cleaning method and adhesive choice on the strength of marine composite T-joints. Using a new extended experimental data set guidelines for the best adhesive, surface-preparation and cleaning combinations were verified. Statistical analyses were developed that showed that fabrication methods were robust, both in terms of achieving joint fillet radii tolerances that did not compromise the joint strength, and in terms of repeatability. All parameters were found to be significant in a complex, interacting manner, and so interaction plots were invaluable to clearly represent results and allow practical engineering interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Age is a major risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE), yet patients aged ≥90 years are under‐represented in clinical trials of anticoagulant therapy. The objectives were to describe and compare patient clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes (VTE recurrence, bleeding, and mortality) during the first 3 months of anticoagulation between VTE patients aged ≥90 years and those aged <90 years. Methods: We analyzed data from the Registro Informatizado Enfermedad TromboEmbὀlica (RIETE), an ongoing global observational registry of patients with objectively confirmed acute VTE. Results: From January 2001 to October 2022, 96,701 patients were registered in RIETE, of whom 3262 (3.4%) were aged ≥90 years. Patients aged ≥90 years were less likely to be men, and to have experienced cancer or recent surgery, but more likely to manifest immobility, chronic heart failure, anemia, renal insufficiency, or dementia than those aged <90 years. Most (99.6%) patients aged ≥90 years were receiving anticoagulant therapy. During the first 3 months, 26 patients aged ≥90 years developed VTE recurrences, 116 experienced major bleeding, and 564 died. Among patients initially presenting with pulmonary embolism (PE), deaths due to PE exceeded those due to fatal bleeding (76 vs. 19). Among those initially presenting with isolated deep‐vein thrombosis (DVT), it was the reverse (2 vs. 11 deaths). Conclusions: In patients aged ≥90 years, the difference in the outcome of anticoagulant treatment depending on the initial presentation of VTE could suggest a need for different management approaches. Clinical trials evaluating the optimal duration of anticoagulation according to initial VTE presentation are warranted to limit excess deaths in this particular population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Predictive tools for major bleeding (MB) using machine learning (ML) might be advantageous over traditional methods. We used data from the Registro Informatizado de Enfermedad TromboEmbólica (RIETE) to develop ML algorithms to identify patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) at increased risk of MB during the first 3 months of anticoagulation. A total of 55 baseline variables were used as predictors. New data prospectively collected from the RIETE were used for further validation. The RIETE and VTE‐BLEED scores were used for comparisons. External validation was performed with the COMMAND‐VTE database. Learning was carried out with data from 49 587 patients, of whom 873 (1.8%) had MB. The best performing ML method was XGBoost. In the prospective validation cohort the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and F1 score were: 33.2%, 93%, 10%, and 15.4% respectively. F1 value for the RIETE and VTE‐BLEED scores were 8.6% and 6.4% respectively. In the external validation cohort the metrics were 10.3%, 87.6%, 3.5% and 5.2% respectively. In that cohort, the F1 value for the RIETE score was 17.3% and for the VTE‐BLEED score 9.75%. The performance of the XGBoost algorithm was better than that from the RIETE and VTE‐BLEED scores only in the prospective validation cohort, but not in the external validation cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change has caused observable effects across Earth, including glacial detachment, sea-level rise, and more intense heat waves. Those changes in the environmental conditions yield on the occurrence of fires in areas with a great abundance of Flora and Fauna, causing erosion and shifting in the plant and animal ranges. Even though multiple strategies have been adopted to mitigate climate change by means of international treaties such as the Paris agreement, this problem is still out of control in many places around the world and needs to be addressed using innovative technologies. In this work, we implement a forest fire monitoring and early warning system. This system is based on a wireless sensor network (WSN) whose nodes measure the environment to early-detect and prevent forest fires in rural areas. The WSN is built using open-access technologies and utilizes the Zigbee standard for radio-frequency communication between nodes. Measured data collected by the WSN are sent to a web server using the general packet radio service (GPRS) through TCP/IP protocol. Two metrics are used to evaluate the WSN performance, the data transmission rate, and the time delay, both measured from the moment data are collected to their reception in the web server. The WSN presents an average percentage of success for data transmission greater than 86%, alongside an average time delay below 500 milliseconds in all the tests performed, showing the potential of WSNs as nearly real-time forest fire detection systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Introgression of awns do not seem to produce any advantages in NILs wheat yield. • The effect of awns seemed to not improve source strength during grain filling. • Responses of grain weight to defoliation/degraining in NILs were inconsistent and small. • Awns seemed to not increase photosynthetic capacity of the ear during grain filling. • Awns increased the size of the largest grains in NILs and decreased grains per spike. The introgression of awns as a source of photoassimilates during grain filling has received has long been of particular attention in wheat. Although the benefits for average grain weight (AGW) seem consistent, those for yield still remain unclear, and the causes for the improved AGW have not been examined. In this study we carried out three field experiments. In two of them, one in CIMMYT (Mexico) and the other in Lleida (Spain), we compared awned-awnless near isogenic lines (NILs) subjected to defoliation and degraining during the effective period of grain filling, whilst in another experiment we analysed the responses of modern cultivars to awn detachment 10 days after anthesis under two nitrogen levels. There were not consistent differences in yield between the awned-awnless NILs neither across the locations nor across genetic backgrounds. This lack of effect on yield was associated with a compensatory effect of the presence of awns on decreasing grain number while increasing AGW. The manipulation treatments did not consistently affect AGW neither in the NILs nor in the modern cultivars. Focusing on the responses of the NILs, firstly there were some statistically significant responses in AGW but they were both mostly very small and inconsistent between defoliation and degraining treatments as well as between genetic backgrounds. Secondly these responses failed to be consistently more noticeable in the awnless than in the awned lines (as expected if the presence of awns increases AGW through increasing photosynthetic capacity during grain filling). The increase on AGW due to the presence of awns seemed ascribed to both an indirect and a direct effect. The former would simply reflect the consequence of awns reducing grain number: this would naturally be the consequence of an increased failure of distal florets to become fertile which would have reduced the proportion of grains constitutively smaller as well. A direct true effect on the capacity of the grains to grow also emerged with the analysis of individual size of each particular grain for the awned-awnless NILs revealing a constitutively higher potential size in the awned NILs, even for the largest grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) secondary to transient risk factors may develop VTE recurrences after discontinuing anticoagulation. Identifying at-risk patients could help to guide the duration of therapy.Methods: We used the RIETE database to assess the prognostic value of d-dimer testing after discontinuing anticoagulation to identify patients at increased risk for recurrences. Transient risk factors were classified as major (postoperative) or minor (pregnancy, oestrogen use, immobilization or recent travel).Results: In December 2018, 1655 VTE patients with transient risk factors (major 460, minor 1195) underwent d-dimer measurements after discontinuing anticoagulation. Amongst patients with major risk factors, the recurrence rate was 5.74 (95% CI: 3.19-9.57) events per 100 patient-years in those with raised d-dimer levels and 2.68 (95% CI: 1.45-4.56) in those with normal levels. Amongst patients with minor risk factors, the rates were 7.79 (95% CI: 5.71-10.4) and 3.34 (95% CI: 2.39-4.53), respectively. Patients with major risk factors and raised d-dimer levels (n = 171) had a nonsignificantly higher rate of recurrences (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.14; 95% CI: 0.96-4.79) than those with normal levels. Patients with minor risk factors and raised d-dimer levels (n = 382) had a higher rate of recurrences (HR: 2.34; 95% CI: 1.51-3.63) than those with normal levels. On multivariate analysis, raised d-dimers (HR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.09-2.77) were associated with an increased risk for recurrences in patients with minor risk factors, not in those with major risk factors.Conclusions: Patients with raised d-dimer levels after discontinuing anticoagulant therapy for VTE provoked by a minor transient risk factor were at an increased risk for recurrences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 5% of the world's population has varying degrees of hearing loss. Mutations in GJB2 are the most common cause of autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss ( ARNHL) in many populations. The frequency and type of mutations are influenced by ethnicity. Guatemala is a multi-ethnic country with four major populations: Maya, Ladino, Xinca, and Garifuna. To determine the mutation profile of GJB2 in a ARNHL population from Guatemala, we sequenced both exons of GJB2 in 133 unrelated families. A total of six pathogenic variants were detected. The most frequent pathogenic variant is c. 131G>A (p.Trp44*) detected in 21 of 266 alleles. We show that c. 131G>A is associated with a conserved haplotype in Guatemala suggesting a single founder. The majority of Mayan population lives in the west region of the country from where all c. 131G>A carriers originated. Further analysis of genome-wide variation of individuals carrying the c. 131G>A mutation compared with those of Native American, European, and African populations shows a close match with the Mayan population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Click here for the corresponding questions to this CME article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acinetobacter baumannii is a major cause of healthcare-associated infection, often affecting critically ill patients. The purpose of the study was to examine the associations of carbapenem resistance with mortality, length of hospital stay and hospital costs among patients infected with A. baumannii in intensive-care units ( ICUs) in Colombia. A prospective, multicentre cohort study was conducted among 165 patients with A. baumannii infection admitted to ICUs between April 2006 and April 2010. Patients with carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii had higher risk of 30-day mortality than patients with carbapenem-susceptible A. baumannii in the univariate analysis (unadjusted hazard ratio = 2.12; 95% CI 1.14-3.95; p 0.018). However, carbapenem resistance was not significantly associated with risk of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.45; 95% CI 0.74-2.87; p 0.28) after adjusting for APACHE II score and other confounding factors. We did not find a significant difference in length of stay in ICU after the onset of infection between the two groups in the multivariate analysis (adjusted mean = 13.1 days versus 10.5 days; p 0.14). The average total cost of hospitalization among patients with carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii was significantly higher than that among patients with carbapenem-susceptible A. baumannii in the multivariate analysis (adjusted cost; US$ 11 359 versus US$ 7049; p <0.001). Carbapenem resistance was not significantly associated with mortality, though we are unable to rule out an increased risk due to the limited sample size. Carbapenem resistance was associated with an additional cost of hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of summer fish assemblages was examined along longitudinal gradients in 31 Mediterranean-type rivers of the middle Guadiana basin (south-west Iberian Peninsula), using data from 157 sites including small streams to deep rivers. An ordination analysis, based on 16 variables, was applied to species presence, using principal component and canonical correspondence analysis. The results for the habitat data were compared with those for the biological data using a Mantel analysis, and the agreement was highly significant. Spatial structure was considered by partitioning the total variability among the environmental and geographical variables. The fish assemblages showed longitudinal zoning during the summer, with species distributed over gradients of habitat size (depth), water quality (current and physico-chemical variables), and cover (substratum and vegetation), according to their adult size and life history. The size of the habitat that remained available in summer had the greatest biological effect, being the most important factor explaining fish species distribution and assemblage structure during this stressing season. Strictly spatial variation was low, but there was still a high residual variation. Habitat associations and life-history strategies are discussed for native and exotic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the in vivo and in vitro activity of Canova in experimental infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Materials and Methods: Mice infected with P. brasiliensis were treated with Canova for 17 weeks. Follow-up measures included the determination of total antibodies, global and differential leukocyte counts. Further, nitric oxide production was determined by adding macrophage cultures to different concentrations of Canova in the presence or absence of P. brasiliensis. Results: The data revealed the protective effect of Canova in P. brasiliensis-infected animals. A higher nitric oxide production was found in the Canova-treated cultures. Conclusion: These data suggest that Canova activates the macrophages by a way that depends, at least in part, on nitric oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluates the effects of methotrexate (MTX) and chloroquine (CQ), and of combined MTX + CQ treatment, on the inflammatory response and on plasma and liver phosphatase and transaminase activities, employing an adjuvant-induced arthritis model in rats. Arthritis was induced by the intradermal injection of a suspension of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mineral oil into the plantar surface of the hind paws. Development of the inflammatory response was assessed over a 21-day period. Animal groups received either: (i) MTX, administered i.p., weekly, in 0.15, 1.5, 3, 6 or 12 mg/kg doses; (ii) CQ, given intragastrically, in daily 25 or 50 mg/kg doses; or (iii) MTX + CQ, administered in two combinations (MTX1.5 mg/kg + CQ50 mg/kg, or MTX6 mg/kg + CQ50 mg/kg). At the end of the experimental period, the animals were anesthetized and killed, blood and liver samples were collected and prepared for measurement of acid and alkaline phosphatase (AP, ALP), and aspartate (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities. MTX at 6 and 12 mg/kg reduced the inflammatory response while CQ had no effect. MTX6 mg/kg + CQ50 mg/kg reduced the inflammatory response similar to MTX12 mg/kg, without affecting the bone marrow. Plasma AP and liver ALP activities were very elevated in the arthritic rats. While MTX treatment partially reduced both plasma AP and liver ALP activities at all doses used in the arthritic rats, CQ treatment reduced plasma AP, but increased liver AP activity. MTX + CQ treatment decreased plasma AP and liver ALP activities in the arthritic rats to control values. Plasma and liver AST activities were unaltered in the arthritic rats, and were unaffected by treatment. However, plasma and liver ALT activities were significantly reduced in the arthritic rats. While MTX or CQ treatment did not alter plasma transaminase activity in the arthritic rats, after MTX + CQ treatment, plasma ALT activity returned to normal values. In conclusion, the present data suggest that MTX + CQ treatment provides more effective anti-inflammatory protection against adjuvant-induced arthritis than does MTX alone, reverting the alterations in enzyme activities induced by this inflammatory disease in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis was made of the associations with local habitat features of barbels ( Barbus sp.) of a Mediterranean river basin. The analysis was based on the presence data from sampling the upper, middle, and lower reaches of 31 rivers in the middle Guadiana River basin (south-west Spain). Numerous local habitat variables were determined, including the river's size and substratum, physicochemical variables of water, and the aquatic and riparian vegetation. For each species, a univariate analysis was performed using preference indices, and logistic regression was used to construct a parsimonious multivariate model and Gaussian response models with the most influential variables, quantifying the species’ limits of tolerance. Distinct habitat associations for every species were obtained, mainly relating Barbus comiza to the larger habitats and higher water levels, Barbus microcephalus to the maintenance of lotic conditions and Barbus sclateri to more fluctuating rivers. Barbus steindachneri showed a different habitat relationship from that of the genetically almost identical B. comiza. Cover played a significant role in all but B. comiza. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article studies the antinflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Zingiber officinale Roscoe essential oil in experimental animal models. Ginger essential oil (GEO) was found to contain monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes as principal compounds. This indicate that the antiinflammatory and analgesic effects of GEO could be correlated to these essential oil constituents.