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Harmony can be defined in a musical way as art that combines several musical notes reproduced simultaneously to create sounds that are coherent to human ears and serve as accompaniment and filling. However, working out harmony is not a simple task. It requires knowledge, experience, and an intense study of music theory, which takes time to reach good skills. Thus, systems capable of automatically harmonizing melodies are beneficial for experienced and novice musicians. In this paper, a comparative study between distinct architectures and ensembles of Artificial Neural Networks was proposed to solve the problem of musical harmonization, seeking consistent results with rules of music theory: Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Radial Basis Function network (RBF), Echo State Network (ESN), Extreme Learning Machines (ELM), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). For this, a processed and defined melody with symbolic musical data serves as input to the system, having been trained from a musical database that contains melody and harmony. The output is the chord sequence to be applied to the melody. The results were analyzed with quantitative measures and the ability to melody adaptation. The performances were favorable to the MLP, which could generate harmonies according to the objectives.

Randi T Jayasinghe,1 Rasa Ruseckaite,1 Pragya Gartoulla,1 Elisabeth Elder,2 Ingrid Hopper1 1Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; 2Westmead Breast Cancer Institute and Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand, Westmead, NSW, AustraliaCorrespondence: Ingrid HopperDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, AustraliaTel +61 3 9903 0569Email ingrid.hopper@monash.eduPurpose: Cosmetic breast augmentation procedures are commonly performed breast device surgeries. The Australian Breast Device Registry (ABDR) administers a five-question patient reported outcome measure (PROM), the BREAST-Q Implant Surveillance module (BREAST-Q IS), to patients 1, 2 and 5 years after breast device surgery. The measure includes an open-ended question to add any comments. This study aimed to use the responses to this open-ended question to assess participants’ experiences of breast devices 1 and 2 years after breast augmentation. The secondary objective was to identify emerging and important issues relating to breast augmentation and devices.Patients and Methods: This qualitative descriptive study was conducted using a randomly selected sample of 268 responses to the open-ended question in the BREAST-Q IS, from the ABDR database. These responses were from patients who underwent breast augmentation between 2015 and 2018. Comments were analyzed using conventional content analysis in NVivo 12.Results: Four major themes were identified: satisfaction following breast augmentation, dissatisfaction following breast augmentation, complications and breast symptoms following breast augmentation and other comments. Two dominant themes were regarding satisfaction (n = 112) with overall surgical outcome, medical team, and post-operative appearance and complications and breast symptoms (n = 177) following breast augmentation. Emerging issues identified were rippling of breast implants and breast implant illness (BII).Conclusion: PROMs can be used to understand patients’ perspectives on various aspects of their own surgical experiences. Participants provided responses regarding complications and breast symptoms experienced, and rippling of the breast implants and BII are emerging issues after breast augmentation.Keywords: patient reported outcome measures, breast augmentation, Breast-Q Implant Surveillance, breast device surgery, Australian Breast Device Registry

Abstract This paper presents the characterization of dielectric properties (dielectric permittivity and dielectric loss factor) of Tommy Atkins mango (Mangifera indica L), a fruit produced in several regions of Brazil, of great economic importance. The fruits were characterized according to their maturation index, by probe method, and identified by the yellowish tone in their bark. The results allowed correlating the dielectric characteristics of the fruit with the physicochemical transformations that occurred in the maturation process of the mango Tommy. It was also verified a greater variation in the frequencies below 1 GHz, with the maturation indicated by the dielectric signature on the fifth day after the harvest. From these results, we can observe the use of electromagnetic materials and techniques in the solution and optimization of processes in agriculture can improve the quality of products consumed or suggesting best practices to the productive sector.

ABSTRACT Precision Agriculture (PA) uses technologies with the aim of increasing productivity and reducing the environmental impact by means of site-specific application of agricultural inputs. In order to make it economically feasible, it is essential to improve the current methodologies as well as proposing new ones, in which data regarding productivity, soil, and compound indicators are used to determine Management Areas (MAs). These units are heterogeneous areas within the same region. With these methodologies, data mining (DM) techniques and algorithms may be used. In order to integrate DM techniques to PA, the aim of this study was to associate MAs created for soy productivity using the Fuzzy C-means algorithm by SDUM software over a 9.9-ha plot as the reference method. It was in opposition to the grouping of 2, 3, and 4 clusters obtained by the K-means classification algorithms, with and without the Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and the EM algorithm using chemical and physical data of the soil samples collected in the same area during the same period. The EM algorithm with PCA modeling had a superior performance than K-means based on hit rates. It is noteworthy that the greater the number of analyzed MAs, the lower the percentage of hits, in agreement with the result shown by SDUM, which shows that two MAs compose the best configuration for this studied area.

Durante el proceso de maduración in vitro de oocitos, las gonadotropinas FSH y LH inducen la producción de AMPc. El AMPc tiene efecto dual, donde los altos niveles de AMPc intraoocitario mantienen su bloqueo meiótico, mientras que en las células de la granulosa inducen la maduración del oocito. Los niveles de AMPc son regulados por hidrólisis mediada por fosfodiesterasas (PDE), las cuales presentan expresión específica en el folículo, el oocito expresa la PDE 3, mientras que las células de la granulosa PDE 4. Con el objetivo de evaluar el efecto del rolipram, un inhibidor específico de PDE 4, sobre el porcentaje de maduración nuclear in vitro (MNIV) de oocitos bovinos, 629 complejos cúmulo oocito (CCO) fueron cultivados a 38.5 °C/5% CO2/24 h, en medio TCM-199 con la adición de pFSH y hrLH, o rolipram. Los grupos experimentales fueron: adición de gonadotropinas, rolipram (25, 50 ó 75 µM), rolipram 50 µM + gonadotropinas, o control sin estímulo. Los oocitos fueron teñidos con DAPI y evaluados bajo fluorescencia para determinar el porcentaje de maduración nuclear por la expulsión del primer cuerpo polar. El rolipram 50µM estimuló la maduración nuclear de oocitos bovinos de una manera similar a la obtenida con las gonadotropinas (76.83 vs 79.46%, p>0.05), pero en mayor medida que la observada con rolipram 25 y 75 µM (31.25, y 28.61%, respectivamente). Los CCOs cultivados en presencia de rolipram 50 µM+Gonadotropinas maduraron en menor proporción (63.74%) comparada con gonadotropinas (pDurante o processo de maturação in vitro de oocitos, as gonadotrofinas FSH e LH induzem a produção de AMPc. O AMPc tem duplo efeito, pois os altos níveis de AMPc intraoocitario mantém o bloqueio meiótico, enquanto que nas células da granulosa induzem a maturação do oocito. Os níveis de AMPc são regulados pela hidrólise mediada das fosfodiesterasas (PDE), as quais apresentam expressão específica no folículo, o oocito expressa a PDE 3, enquanto que as células da granulosa PDE 4. Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do rolipram, um inibidor específico de PDE 4, sobre a percentagem de maturação nuclear in vitro (MNIV) de oocitos bovinos, 629 complexos cúmulo oocito (CCO) foram cultivados a 38.5 °C/5% CO2/24 h, em meio TCM-199 com a adição de pFSH e hrLH, o rolipram. Os grupos experimentais foram: adição de gonadotrofinas, rolipram (25, 50 ó 75 µM), rolipram 50 µM + gonadotrofinas, ou controle sem estímulo. Os oocitos foram tingidos com DAPI e avaliados sob fluorescência para determinar a percentagem de maturação nuclear pela expulsão do primeiro corpo polar. O rolipram 50µM estimulou a maturação nuclear de oocitos bovinos de maneira similar a obtida com as gonadotrofinas (76.83 vs 79.46%, p>0.05), porém em maior medida que a observada com rolipram 25 y 75 µM (31.25, y 28.61%, respectivamente). Os CCOs cultivados na presença de rolipram 50 µM+Gonadotrofinas maturaram em menor proporção (63.74%) quando comparado com gonadotrofinas (pGonadotropic follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutenizing hormone (LH) induce intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) production during the in vitro maturation (IVM) of bovine oocytes. Cyclic AMP exerts a dual effect, where high intraoocyte cAMP levels are responsible for oocyte meiotic blockage, while high cAMP levels into the granulose cells induce oocyte maturation. Intracellular cAMP levels are regulated by phosphodiesterases (PDE)-mediated hydrolysis, enzymes having a specific follicle expression pattern. Oocyte expresses typo 3 PDE (PDE 3), while granulose cells expresses type 4 PDE (PDE 4). With the aim to test the effect of the specific PDE 4 inhibitor rolliprom on percentage in vitro nuclear maturation (IVNM) of bovine oocytes, 629 cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were cultured at 38.5 °C/CO2 5%/24 h on TCM-199 medium with pFSH and hrLH with or without rolipram. Experimental groups were: gonadotrophins alone, gonadotropins + rolipram (25, 50, or 75 µM), rolipram 50 µM + gonadotrophins, and control (media without stimulus). In order to determinate the nuclear maturation percentage by the first polar body expulsion, oocytes were dyed with DAPI and evaluated by fluorescence. Rolipram 50 µM stimulated bovine oocyte nuclear maturation in a similar way to gonadotrophins stimulus (76.83 vs. 79.46%, p>0.05) did, but in a higher way than rolipram 25 µM (31.25%) or 75 µM (28.61%). The COC cultured with rolipram 50 µM+gonadotrophins maturated in a lower proportion (63.74%) than did with gonadotropins (p

Harmony can be defined in a musical way as art that combines several musical notes reproduced simultaneously to create sounds that are coherent to human ears and serve as accompaniment and filling. However, working out harmony is not a simple task. It requires knowledge, experience, and an intense study of music theory, which takes time to reach good skills. Thus, systems capable of automatically harmonizing melodies are beneficial for experienced and novice musicians. In this paper, a comparative study between distinct architectures and ensembles of Artificial Neural Networks was proposed to solve the problem of musical harmonization, seeking consistent results with rules of music theory: Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Radial Basis Function network (RBF), Echo State Network (ESN), Extreme Learning Machines (ELM), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). For this, a processed and defined melody with symbolic musical data serves as input to the system, having been trained from a musical database that contains melody and harmony. The output is the chord sequence to be applied to the melody. The results were analyzed with quantitative measures and the ability to melody adaptation. The performances were favorable to the MLP, which could generate harmonies according to the objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation Oncology (RO) residents are required to pass American Board of Radiology (ABR) qualifying exams covering medical physics, radiation and cancer biology, and clinical radiation oncology prior to completion of residency and board certification. Medical physics material is commonly delivered in didactic format covering material based on recommendations from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and ABR. While multiple studies highlight the benefits of active learning (AL) techniques in a classroom setting (e.g. quizzes, open discussions, and case-based review), AL strategies have not been readily implemented into the RO medical physics curriculum. This project's scope is to incorporate AL into residents' medical physics curriculum to help augment resident learning and retention. An AL workgroup comprised of a team of medical physicists and a RO resident was created to transform the current traditional lecture-based medical physics curriculum into a "flipped classroom" model using AL techniques. The flipped classroom model required RO residents to review lecturer curated physics materials as well as self-guided questions pertinent to the covered topic(s) prior to weekly lectures. ABR exam styled multiple choice questions were imbedded into lecture slides with answer choices linked to polling software (polleverywhere.com) used to engage learners. After each question, polled resident responses were assessed, and a content slide was reviewed to explain and discuss the tested concept. After the first block of 6 medical physics lectures (6 out of 32), a 5-point Likert scale and free-form content feedback survey was given to current residents to assess the flipped-classroom format and implementation. Additional survey assessments included the efficient and effective coverage of course content, alignment of out-of-class material with topics covered in class, and resident comprehension. Based on resident Likert scale responses (n = 10 out of 10), after the initial AL lectures, residents felt more confident in the medical physics material (3.9/5). Additionally, by reviewing content prior to lectures, and then actively participating in the AL lectures, residents felt they better understood and retained the lecture material (3.7/5). Based on the initial survey results, the implementation of an AL learning environment (e.g. flipped classroom with interactive polling) was an overall positive experience. Residents' perceived comprehension of medical physics lecture material, in-class engagement, and retention was improved. The AL format for teaching high-level curriculum to residents could effectively be expanded to other subjects pertaining to RO resident training. Beyond the use of in-class polling software, other AL methods such as open discussions, workshops, and case-based review could be implemented by educators to expand upon in-class engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT When the premise is the best final use of wood, evaluation of anatomical variables is recommended, bearing in mind that they are correlated with the properties of this material. The present study aimed to evaluate the correlation between anatomy and the physical properties of wood from Parapiptadenia rigida (Benth.) Brenan, Peltophorum dubium (Spreng.) Taub., Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill × Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake (hybrid) and Schizolobium parahyba (Vell.) Blake, from an agroforestry system. For this purpose, five trees of each species, aged 9 years old, were selected, and samples were collected from the diameter at 1.30 m height from the ground for analysis of the anatomical characteristics and physical properties of the wood. Anatomical variables, with the exception of fiber length and cell wall thickness, correlated with the physical properties of wood and influenced their values. The higher the cell wall fraction (0.79), vessel frequency (0.44) and ray frequency (0.92), the greater the basic density of the wood. The greater the fiber diameter (0.94), lumen diameter (0.88), vessel diameter (0.88), ray height (0.86) and ray width (0.84), the higher the moisture content of the wood.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar as dimensões das fibras de Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden em diferentes estratos e posição radial. A dissociação do tecido lenhoso foi realizada pelo método de peróxido de hidrogênio e ácido acético. Houve acréscimo no sentido medula-casca para todos os parâmetros anatômicos estudados, sendo que as árvores do extrato dominante apresentaram médias maiores e as centrais, valores inferiores. As dimensões dos caracteres anatômicos sentido medula-casca apresentaram variações, mas as árvores dos diferentes estratos não apresentaram distinções nítidas dos parâmetros de dimensões das fibras avaliados.