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Abstract Anti-PD(L)-1 inhibition combined with platinum doublet chemotherapy (Chemo-IO) has become the most frequently used standard of care regimen in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The negative impact of antibiotics on clinical outcomes prior to anti-PD(L)-1 inhibition monotherapy (IO) has been demonstrated in multiple studies, but the impact of antibiotic exposure prior to initiation of Chemo-IO is controversial. We assessed antibiotic exposures at two time windows: within 60 days prior to therapy (-60 d window) and within 60 days prior to therapy and 42 days after therapy (-60 + 42d window) in 2028 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with Chemo-IO and IO monotherapy focusing on objective response rate (ORR: rate of partial response and complete response), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). We also assessed impact of antibiotic exposure in an independent cohort of 53 patients. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted along with a meta-analysis from similar studies. For the -60 d window, in the Chemo-IO group (N = 769), 183 (24%) patients received antibiotics. Antibiotic exposure was associated with worse ORR (27% vs 40%, p = 0.001), shorter PFS (3.9 months vs. 5.9 months, hazard ratio [HR] 1.35, 95%CI 1.1,1.6, p = 0.0012), as well as shorter OS (10 months vs. 15 months, HR 1.50, 95%CI 1.2,1.8, p = 0.00014). After adjusting for known prognostic factors in NSCLC, antibiotic exposure was independently associated with worse PFS (HR 1.39, 95%CI 1.35,1.7, p = 0.002) and OS (HR 1.61, 95%CI 1.28,2.03, p

Real-time effects achieved by path tracing are essential for creating highly accurate illumination effects in interactive environments. However, due to its computational complexity, it is essential to explore optimization techniques like Foveated Rendering when considering Head Mounted Displays. In this paper we combine traditional Foveated Rendering approaches with recent advancements in the field of radiance fields, extending a previous work and including recent advancements based on Gaussian Splatting. The present paper proposes the usage of mixing real time path tracing at the fovea region of an HMD while replacing the images at the peripheral by pre-computed radiance fields, inferred by neural networks or rendered in real time due to Gaussian splats. We name our approach as Foveated Path Culling (FPC) due to the process of culling raycasts, diminishing the workload by replacing most of the screen raytracing tasks by a less costly approach. FPC allowed us for better frame rates when compared to purely path tracing while rendering scenes in real time, increasing the frame rate speedup proportionally to the display resolution. Our work contributes to the development of rendering techniques for XR experiences that demand low latency, high resolution and high visual quality through global illumination effects.

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la incorporación de los estudiantes venezolanos al sistema educativo colombiano en Cúcuta, municipio fronterizo del Norte de Santander, en el periodo 2015-2020. El estudio se basa en metodología mixta que incluye una encuesta en cinco colegios de educación secundaria, entrevistas a rectores de colegios y a familias con hijos venezolanos, así como grupos de discusión con docentes. La encuesta mostró que los estudiantes venezolanos entrevistados tuvieron un acceso más lento y difícil al colegio que los estudiantes colombianos, aunque con cierta mejoría a partir del despliegue de políticas migratorias para los venezolanos en Colombia. Los datos cualitativos muestran algunas barreras específicas enfrentadas durante la incorporación escolar entre las que destacan la falta de documentación o apostillas, la burocracia, la inexistencia de redes sociales, los prejuicios sociales y la discrecionalidad en los procesos de admisión.

Abstract Equipment replacement is a definitive and relevant engineering decision. The aim of this work was to identify and organize the mathematical optimization proposals and solution search techniques that have contributed toward solving this problem. As a result, we classified the bibliographic materials we identified into seven distinct types of approaches. The work also provides an integrative overview of the level of complementarity of the categories we identified. The network visualization approach represented about 57% of the selected works and is still in use today. Nonetheless, since 2000 other approaches, such as fuzzy logic, real options, and machine learning have increased by 40% and become relevant current trends.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiome in gout patients with and without tophi formation, and predict bacterial functions that might have an impact on urate metabolism. Methods Hypervariable V3–V4 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene from fecal samples of gout patients with and without tophi (n = 33 and n = 25, respectively) were sequenced and compared to fecal samples from 53 healthy controls. We explored predictive functional profiles using bioinformatics in order to identify differences in taxonomy and metabolic pathways. Results We identified a microbiome characterized by the lowest richness and a higher abundance of Phascolarctobacterium, Bacteroides, Akkermansia, and Ruminococcus_gnavus_group genera in patients with gout without tophi when compared to controls. The Proteobacteria phylum and the Escherichia-Shigella genus were more abundant in patients with tophaceous gout than in controls. Fold change analysis detected nine genera enriched in healthy controls compared to gout groups (Bifidobacterium, Butyricicoccus, Oscillobacter, Ruminococcaceae_UCG_010, Lachnospiraceae_ND2007_group, Haemophilus, Ruminococcus_1, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, and Ruminococcaceae_UGC_013). We found that the core microbiota of both gout groups shared Bacteroides caccae, Bacteroides stercoris ATCC 43183, and Bacteroides coprocola DSM 17136. These bacteria might perform functions linked to one-carbon metabolism, nucleotide binding, amino acid biosynthesis, and purine biosynthesis. Finally, we observed differences in key bacterial enzymes involved in urate synthesis, degradation, and elimination. Conclusion Our findings revealed that taxonomic variations in the gut microbiome of gout patients with and without tophi might have a functional impact on urate metabolism.

In this paper, a dynamic scaling methodology is introduced to devise reduced scaled models of aircraft with the objectives of minimizing the development cost and exploring the design space. A promising way to accomplish this is using Topology Optimization (TO) for Additive Manufacturing (AM). Here, TO is employed to design a reduce scale model by matching its natural frequencies and mode shapes to those of a full scale model. Different TO strategies based on density approach are tested with the goal of achieving a dynamically scaled structure that can be manufactured. To achieve this goal, the TO solution should be free from intermediate densities, which is observed for some TO strategies but not all. When no penalization factor is applied: (i) the relative difference between natural frequencies is less than 1% and (ii) the estimated Modal Assurance Criteria (MAC) metric to evaluate the correlation between mode shapes is close to the ideal identity matrix. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the dynamic scaling methodology. However, when using a penalization factor to avoid intermediate densities, the dynamic behavior correlation between full and scaled models degrades. This trend is more visible in the MAC metric, where off-diagonal terms above 20% and diagonal terms below 90% appear.

Introduction: Although multiple clinical evidence is being generated about COVID-19, it is also critical to address the strategies and actions that people have adopted to face stressful situations during the mandatory quarantine due to the pandemic. Objective: To determine the factors associated with psychological coping to COVID-19 in the general population. Method: Analytical cross-sectional study. Participants were recruited through an online survey during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The level of passive and active coping was evaluated, using the coping scale against extreme risks. Additionally, using the mean of the passive and active coping scores, the association with sociodemographic variables, group membership, compliance with social isolation and the report of knowing someone diagnosed with COVID-19 was evaluated. Prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated using generalized linear models. Results: Of 463 participants, the majority was Peruvian (67,4 %), fully complying with social isolation measures (78,4 %). The mean active and passive coping scores were 54,1 and 30,3, respectively. 57,2 % and 54 % of the participants presented a level of active and passive coping above the mean, respectively. The factors associated with a high level of active coping were a high educational level (RP = 1,23) and complete compliance with social isolation measures (RP = 1,35). Conclusion: Having a high educational level and compliance with social isolation were positively associated with a high level of active coping.

O objetivo do trabalho foi determinar a época de colheita, os principais componentes de rendimento e atributos de qualidade físico-química de cultivares de pessegueiro produzidos em Dois Vizinhos, PR. O trabalho foi realizado no setor de Fruticultura da Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Campus Dois Vizinhos. Obteve-se em duas safras agrícolas, 2016 e 2017, as datas de início de colheita, os principais componentes de rendimento e a produtividade estimada, cor de fundo da epiderme, firmeza de polpa, teores de sólidos solúveis (SS) e acidez titulável (AT), bem como a relação SS/AT (ratio) de 17 cultivares de pessegueiros. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições de uma planta por unidade experimental, num esquema bifatorial 17 x 2 (cultivares x anos de cultivo). Os frutos das cultivares Aurora-1, Bonão, Douradão, Leonense, Ouromel, Rubimel e Zilli amadureceram mais cedo, enquanto os de Eldorado e BR-1 foram os últimos a amadurecer. As cultivares Bonão, Charme e Eldorado foram as mais produtivas. Eldorado produziu o maior calibre de frutos e Bonão produziu o maior número de frutos por planta. As cultivares BR-1 e Eldorado produziram os frutos mais doces e Leonense, os mais ácidos. A safra de 2016 proporcionou maior produtividade, com frutos de maior calibre e firmeza da polpa.

Facility location problems under conditions of uncertainty involve various situations, such as industrial plants, warehouses, distribution centers, and emergency services (ambulances, police cars). Because of this relevant matter, researchers have developed many mathematical optimization models that aim to establish a balance between costs and the quality of the services provided over recent decades. By and large, these proposals consider stochastic characteristics associated with demand uncertainty and the facilities’ availability. Since there is a lack of studies examining emergency financial services, we think of managing this kind of service in a competitive situation combining Game Theory and computer simulation. In addition to the usual stochastic conditions, this study introduces the use of a Nash equilibrium model that also incorporates uncertainties related to the actions of competitors applied to a dispute between two insurers as to where to locate their home insurance assistance bases. The focal point concept combined the results of a non-zero-sum game with those of the stochastic location model to define an unconventional strategy for the analyzed situation. The developed mathematical model provided more realistic location strategies compared to those obtained using traditional location models.

Mexico is experiencing an epidemiological and nutritional transition period, and Mexican children are often affected by the double burden of malnutrition, which includes undernutrition (13.6% of children) and obesity (15.3%). The gut microbiome is a complex and metabolically active community of organisms that influences the host phenotype. Although previous studies have shown alterations in the gut microbiota in undernourished children, the affected bacterial communities remain unknown. The present study investigated and compared the bacterial richness and diversity of the fecal microbiota in groups of undernourished (n = 12), obese (n = 12), and normalweight (control) (n = 12) Mexican school-age children. We used next-generation sequencing to analyze the V3–V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, and we also investigated whether there were correlations between diet and relevant bacteria. The undernourished and obese groups showed lower bacterial richness and diversity than the normalweight group. Enterotype 1 correlated positively with dietary fat intake in the obese group and with carbohydrate intake in the undernourished group. The results showed that undernourished children had significantly higher levels of bacteria in the Firmicutes phylum and in the Lachnospiraceae family than obese children, while the Proteobacteria phylum was overrepresented in the obese group. The level of Lachnospiraceae correlated negatively with energy consumption and positively with leptin level. This is the first study to examine the gut microbial community structure in undernourished and obese Mexican children living in low-income neighborhoods. Our analysis revealed distinct taxonomic profiles for undernourished and obese children.

ResumoA substituição de bens de capital é um evento comum a todas as empresas. A decisão do momento ótimo de substituição de máquinas e equipamentos representa um evento crítico e irreversível que ocorre com grande frequência nas indústrias. Essas decisões de investimento são um dos campos tradicionais de aplicação da Engenharia Econômica. Em geral, tais decisões são tomadas por engenheiros ou por outros profissionais atuando com base nos dados levantados por engenheiros. Este trabalho desenvolveu um modelo matemático de otimização flexível e abrangente para suporte desse tipo de decisão. Paralelamente, foi feita uma análise e organização dos principais conceitos e procedimentos utilizados pelas diferentes técnicas propostas para esse tipo de decisão pelas referências adotadas por uma amostra qualitativa e relevante dos cursos de engenharia de produção brasileiros. O modelo apresentado foi denominado de RVPSE. Os testes foram feitos sobre dados reais do mercado automobilístico brasileiro, com resultados gerenciais promissores.

Objective: To analyze the social representations of occupational risks involving students in the area of health. Method: Exploratory research with 160 students from nursing, medicine and dentistry, through interviews. The data were processed in ALCESTE 4.8 and lexical analysis done by descending hierarchical classification. Results: In four semantic classes, namely: occupational risks involving students in the area of health, the work environment and occupational risks, exposure to accidents with sharps and adoption of standard precautions as biosecurity measures. Conclusion: Students healthcare represent occupational risks, such as a concern for the prevention of cross infection in the workplace, should both professionals and students of health, adopt standard precautions and biosecurity measures in the environment work.

A gestão de orçamento de capital compreende a organização, análise e escolha de projetos de investimentos criados pelas empresas. Estes projetos podem incluir a atualização da infraestrutura física, renovação do parque de informática ou o desenvolvimento de novos produtos, portanto, caracteriza-se como uma atividade essencial para a sobrevivência e competitividade empresarial. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: (i) propor um modelo matemático num caso especial em que os gestores podem estabelecer a sequência de execução de projetos, previamente selecionados, que minimiza a necessidade de investimento e (ii) desenvolver uma ferramenta computacional de busca das soluções baseada na integração da Teoria de Opções Reais e em método heurístico com uma nova proposta de busca local denominada de DOP. Apesar da relevância do assunto, verificou-se uma escassez de trabalhos sobre sequenciação de projetos de investimento na literatura. Os testes realizados sobre várias amostras de projetos mostram que o modelo proposto apresentou resultados relevantes de redução de custos quando comparados a procedimentos convencionais de orçamento de capital.

La temática ambiental en el siglo XXI ha tenido diversidad de posturas sobre todo por la interdisciplinariedad y multidisciplinariedad de los factores que permiten su abordaje, comprensión y explicación sobre la realidad socionatural a escala global y local, convirtiéndose en un factor indispensable para la construcción de la epistemología ambiental en este tiempo postmoderno. De ahí que, en este ensayo se enfoquen algunas ideas en cuanto a los fundamentos históricos que incorporan el tema de la globalización, modernidad, racionalidad ambiental de Leff y el desarrollo sustentable del informe Brundtland como un importante apartado internacional ante una diversidad de acciones antrópicas generadas durante el siglo XX que han contribuido con alterar el equilibrio en la dinámica de los ecosistemas. A su vez, reconocer algunos problemas que plantea Boff en el apartado “La carta de la tierra” relacionados con la sobreexplotación de los recursos, ecología, pensamiento mercantilista, economicista y el modelo capitalista depredador que no sólo ha afectado el sistema natural sino también el sistema social. Por esa razón, es que estas reflexiones se llevan a cabo para tener una visión holística entre el ser humano- sociedad- naturaleza y sus implicaciones en la dinámica de este nuevo siglo con compromiso ético basado en la responsabilidad ciudadana, la participación y la toma de decisiones en el campo de la política, cultura, economía, bajo los esquemas de la racionalidad que apunten hacia una sustentabilidad del planeta en todas sus dimensiones. Finalmente, con este texto reconocer el papel que tiene la educación para la construcción de la epistemología ambiental, el estudio del pensamiento complejo y el escenario en que se encuentran los nuevos retos para lograr la transformación de un modelo civilizatorio comprometido con la naturaleza, el planeta tierra “nuestra casa común” y el desarrollo humano.

O processo de orçamento de capital envolve a análise e seleção de projetos de longo prazo de maturação. Essas decisões de investimento são tradicionalmente feitas pela aplicação simultânea de vários métodos financeiros com uso de fluxo de caixa descontado como, por exemplo, o Valor Presente Líquido (VPL) e a Taxa Interna de Retorno (TIR). Apesar da longa e ampla disseminação dessas técnicas, são notórios os problemas de avaliação especialmente quando consideradas funções mono-objetivas e projetos mutuamente excludentes. Em se tratando de decisões financeiras, parece ilusório falar em otimização sem considerar múltiplos objetivos e atributos. O objetivo deste trabalho é propor um modelo matemático multiobjetivo prático que auxilie na seleção de projetos de investimento submetidos simultaneamente a vários indicadores de desempenho que incorpora uma nova medida de risco (GAFT). Os testes foram feitos sobre uma amostra de quarenta e cinco projetos e os resultados demonstram que o modelo proposto é uma ferramenta gerencial prática e promissora.The capital budgeting process involves the analysis and selection of projects committed over long periods of time. These investment decisions are traditionally made by the simultaneous application of various financial techniques using discounted cash flow, such as the Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). Despite the long-term and wide dissemination of these techniques, there are major problems of inconsistency especially in mono-criterion functions and mutually exclusive projects. When dealing with financial decisions, it seems illusory to address optimization without taking multiple objectives and attributes into account. The objective of this paper is to present a mathematical model that allows the multi-criteria selection of investment projects submitted to various financial indicators; the mathematical model incorporates a new measure of risk (GAFT). Forty five projects were tested and the results show that the proposed model is a practical and promising decision-making tool.

New Product Development (NPD) is recognized as a fundamental activity that has a relevant impact on the performance of companies. Despite the relevance of the financial market there is a lack of work on new financial product development. The aim of this research is to propose the use of Genetic Algorithms (GA) as an alternative procedure for evaluating the most favorable combination of variables for the product launch. The paper focuses on: (i) determining the essential variables of the financial product studied (investment fund); (ii) determining how to evaluate the success of a new investment fund launch and (iii) how GA can be applied to the financial product development problem. The proposed framework was tested using 4 years of real data from the Brazilian financial market and the results suggest that this is an innovative development methodology and useful for designing complex financial products with many attributes.

Dentre as pragas prejudiciais à cultura do morangueiro, destaca-se o ácaro-rajado (Tetranychus urticae Koch, 1836), principal praga da cultura, cujo controle é, comumente, feito por meio do método químico. Neoseiulus californicus é um eficiente predador no controle desta praga. No presente estudo objetivou-se avaliar a seletividade de alguns produtos fitossanitários, utilizados na cultura do morangueiro em sistemas de produção integrada (PIMo) sobre o predador N. californicus em condições de laboratório, à exposição máxima, e semi-campo. O bioensaio foi conduzido no Laboratório de Entomologia do Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia do Sul de Minas Gerais (IFSULDEMINAS), Campus Inconfidentes. Os produtos testados para os indivíduos de N. californicus, em g de i.a. L-1 de água, foram: abamectina (0,072), enxofre (2,400), fempropatrina (0,195), propargito (0,195), milbemectina (0,009), cihexatina (0,250), iprodiona (0,750) e água. No presente bioensaio experimental foi realizada a aplicação direta das caldas dos produtos, por meio de pulverizadores calibrados, diretamente sobre predadores, sendo avaliada a mortalidade dos indivíduos. Abamectina foi considerada nociva, milbemectina e iprodiona apresentaram efeito prejudicial após 48 horas, porém com baixa toxicidade, enxofre, fempropatrina e propargito apresentaram baixa toxicidade, e Cihexatina não diferiu da testemunha ao predador N. californicus. Em termos de semi-campo, o composto Abamectina foi considerado seletivo.