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Multi-trait best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) is, generally, the most appropriate method to genetic evaluation because it considers the genetic and residual correlations among traits and conduct to higher selection accuracy. Thus, the present study aimed to identify traits correlated to the fiber length via path analysis under multi-trait BLUP for the cotton breeding. To this end, thirty-six elite lines were evaluated in three environments and phenotyped for many traits related to fiber quality and agronomic traits. Variance components were estimated via residual maximum likelihood (REML). The genetic correlation coefficients among traits were obtained through mixed model output, and to graphically express these results a correlation network was built. Subsequently, we performed path analysis considering fiber length as a principal dependent variable. Genetic parameters obtained by multi-trait BLUP model indicate that the phenotypic variance for most traits is mostly composed of residual effects, which reinforces the need for using more accurate statistical methods such as multi-trait BLUP. The results found for genetic correlations and path analysis under multi-trait BLUP reveal the difficulty of selection based on important fiber quality traits, especially fiber length, since most traits show very low cause-and-effect relationship, and other important traits present undesirable cause-and-effect relationship. Highlights Multiple-trait BLUP is the most appropriate method to predict genetic values. This is the first study in cotton to perform path analysis under multiple-trait BLUP. The findings of this study indicate that there is no genotype presenting all desirable traits.

Despite advances in the field of male reproductive health, idiopathic male infertility, in which a man has altered semen characteristics without an identifiable cause and there is no female factor infertility, remains a challenging condition to diagnose and manage. Increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress (OS) plays an independent role in the etiology of male infertility, with 30% to 80% of infertile men having elevated seminal reactive oxygen species levels. OS can negatively affect fertility via a number of pathways, including interference with capacitation and possible damage to sperm membrane and DNA, which may impair the sperm’s potential to fertilize an egg and develop into a healthy embryo. Adequate evaluation of male reproductive potential should therefore include an assessment of sperm OS. We propose the term Male Oxidative Stress Infertility, or MOSI, as a novel descriptor for infertile men with abnormal semen characteristics and OS, including many patients who were previously classified as having idiopathic male infertility. Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) can be a useful clinical biomarker for the classification of MOSI, as it takes into account the levels of both oxidants and reductants (antioxidants). Current treatment protocols for OS, including the use of antioxidants, are not evidence-based and have the potential for complications and increased healthcare-related expenditures. Utilizing an easy, reproducible, and cost-effective test to measure ORP may provide a more targeted, reliable approach for administering antioxidant therapy while minimizing the risk of antioxidant overdose. With the increasing awareness and understanding of MOSI as a distinct male infertility diagnosis, future research endeavors can facilitate the development of evidence-based treatments that target its underlying cause.

Reinforcement learning is a crucial area of machine learning, with a wide range of applications. To conduct experiments in this research field, it is necessary to define the algorithms and parameters to be applied. However, this task can be complex because of the variety of possible configurations. In this sense, the adoption of AutoRL systems can automate the selection of these configurations, simplifying the experimental process. In this context, this work aims to propose a simulation environment for combinatorial optimization problems using AutoRL. The AutoRL-Sim includes several experimentation modules that cover studies on the symmetric traveling salesman problem, the asymmetric traveling salesman problem, and the sequential ordering problem. Furthermore, parameter optimization is performed using response surface models. The AutoRL-Sim simulator allows users to conduct experiments in a more practical way, without the need to worry about implementation. Additionally, they have the ability to analyze post-experiment data or save them for future analysis.

The Global Program for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) aims to eliminate this disease by the year 2020. However, the development of more specific and sensitive tests is important for the success of the GPELF. The present study aimed to standardise polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based systems for the diagnosis of filariasis in serum and urine. Twenty paired biological urine and serum samples from individuals already known to be positive for Wuchereria bancrofti were collected during the day. Conventional PCR and semi-nested PCR assays were optimised. The detection limit of the technique for purified W. bancrofti DNA extracted from adult worms was 10 fg for the internal systems (WbF/Wb2) and 0.1 fg by using semi-nested PCR. The specificity of the primers was confirmed experimentally by amplification of 1 ng of purified genomic DNA from other species of parasites. Evaluation of the paired urine and serum samples by the semi-nested PCR technique indicated only two of the 20 tested individuals were positive, whereas the simple internal PCR system (WbF/Wb2), which has highly promising performance, revealed that all the patients were positive using both samples. This study successfully demonstrated the possibility of using the PCR technique on urine for the diagnosis of W. bancrofti infection.

Este artigo trata sobre a Extensão Universitária como fundamento epistemológico, conceitual da prática universitária e aplicação profissional. Define como problemática a seguinte questão: Como podem ser compreendidos os fundamentos da Extensão Universitária? Objetiva abordar os fundamentos da Extensão Universitária a partir de uma perspectiva histórico-conceitual, de política pública, de inclusão e de atividade interdisciplinar. Utiliza, nos aspectos metodológicos, a finalidade exploratória respaldada no método bibliográfico, levando em conta artigos mapeados em canais de informação supraformais, tais como os periódicos eletrônicos e os anais de eventos em meio digital, o que caracteriza o estudo qualitativo. Conclui que o desiderato epistemológico da Extensão Universitária a partir dos fenômenos atribuídos e discutidos, fortalece a concepção científica e legislativa desse importante eixo universitário, tornando-a mais consistente, sólida, respaldada, pensada como uma política de ação propriamente dita. Palavras-chave: Aplicação profissional; Ensino Superior; Engajamento social; Epistemologia An approach on the foundations of university extension: Historical-conceptual, public policy, inclusion and interdisciplinarity Abstract: This article deals with University Extension as an epistemological, conceptual foundation of university practice and professional application. It defines as problematic the following question: How can the fundamentals of University Extension be understood? It aims to approach the fundamentals of University Extension from a historical-conceptual perspective, public policy, inclusion and interdisciplinary activity. It uses, in the methodological aspects, the exploratory purpose supported by the bibliographic method, taking into account articles mapped in supraformal information channels, such as electronic journals and the annals of events in digital media, which characterizes the qualitative study. It concludes that the epistemological desideratum of University Extension from the phenomena attributed and discussed, strengthens the scientific and legislative conception of this important university axis, making it more consistent, solid, supported, thought of as a policy of action itself. Keywords: Professional Application; Higher Education; Social Engagement; Epistemology

Introduction: Postoperative nausea and vomiting is still a common complication. Serotonin receptor antagonists are commonly used in clinical practice for antiemetic prophylaxis. Interindividual variations in drug response, including single nucleotide polymorphisms, are related to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes in these drugs and may lead to a poor therapeutic response. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of CYP2D6 isoenzyme and ABCB1 gene polymorphisms on the frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting with the use of ondansetron or palonosetron. Methods: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial including 82 women aged 60 years or over undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy was conducted. Patients were randomized to receive either ondansetron or palonosetron for postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis. DNA was extracted from saliva. Genetic polymorphisms were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The following polymorphisms were analyzed: rs3892097 C/T, rs1128503 A/G, rs16947 A/G, rs1065852 A/G, rs1045642 A/G, rs2032582 C/A, and rs20325821 C/A. Results: Overall, vomiting, and severe nausea occurred in 22.5% and 57.5% of patients, respectively. In the palonosetron group, patients with the GG genotype (rs16947 A/G) experienced more severe nausea (p = 0.043). In the ondansetron group, patients with the AA genotype (rs16947 A/G) presented mild nausea (p = 0.034), and those with the AA genotype (rs1065852 A/G) experienced more vomiting (p = 0.034). Conclusion: A low antiemetic response was observed with ondansetron in the presence of the AA genotype (rs16947 A/G) and the AA genotype (rs1065852 A/G), and a low therapeutic response was found with palonosetron in the presence of the GG genotype (rs16947 A/G) in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Register: ClinicalTrials.gov.

This study aimed to evaluate the nutritive value of three feeds (Cecropia sp., Pterodon sp., and Inga sp.) for sloths (Bradypus variegatus), based on nutritional composition and in vitro gas production. After a 14-day adaptation period to these feeds, approximately 500 g of gastric contents were collected from three female sloths, processed, and incubated with the food samples to evaluate digestibility and in vitro degradation kinetics. Regarding the nutritional composition, the neutral detergent fiber (NDFcp) content was higher with 404 g kg−1 DM (p = 0.001) in the leaves of Cecropia sp. The non-fibrous carbohydrate contents were greater with 499 g kg−1 DM in Pterodon sp. (p = 0.002). The greatest cellulose content (211 g kg−1 DM) was found in the leaves of C. pachystachya, as well as the lowest value of 143 g kg−1 DM for hemicellulose. Significant differences in the in vitro digestibility of crude protein (p = 0.041) were observed, with Inga sp. showing the highest value at 547 g kg−1 DM. In terms of kinetic parameters, Pterodon sp. exhibited higher total gas production (Vt) at 99 mL (p = 0.023) and digestion rates of fibrous carbohydrates (kdFC) at 0.0223%/h (p = 0.020) (p < 0.05). The leaves of Pterodon sp. and Inga sp. showed potential as suitable feeds for B. variegatus, while Cecropia sp. may have negative effects on dry matter intake due to its high NDF content, because of possible repletion effects on the stomach.

PurposeTo determine the effect of tetanic stimulation on the time to achieve stabilization of the T1 height, by acceleromyography train-of-four (TOF) ratio monitoring, in patients aged 60 to 80 years.MethodsRandomized, prospective, single-blind, controlled trial in patients aged 60 to 80 years undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia in two university hospitals in Brazil between December 2019 and March 2022. This trial was performed in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration and the guidelines for good clinical research practice in pharmacodynamic studies of neuromuscular blocking agents II. Participants were randomly allocated by computer-generated numbers to receive tetanic stimulation (intervention group, n = 25) or not receive tetanic stimulation (control group, n = 25) to achieve T1 height stabilization on TOF ratio monitoring. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the effect of tetanic stimulation on the time to achieve stabilization of the T1 height. We also evaluated the effect on the onset time of rocuronium and time to recover from neuromuscular blockade with a single dose of rocuronium 0.6 mg.kg-1 with spontaneous recovery.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the time to T1 height stabilization (intervention: 4.3 [2.0-8.0] min; control: 5.8 [2.0-10.5] min; p = 0.202), onset time of the neuromuscular blocking agent (intervention: 1.9 [±0.7] min; control: 2.2 [±1.0] min; p = 0.219), or neuromuscular blockade recovery times to normalized TOF values of 0.7 (intervention: 106.1 [±37.2] min; control: 91.7 [±27.5] min; p = 0.295), 0.8 (intervention: 114.3 [±40.1] min; control: 97.8 [±28.9] min; p = 0.225), 0.9 (intervention: 126.5 [±44.0] min; control: 106.9 [±30.6] min; p = 0.153), and 1.0 (intervention: 138.3 [±43.4] min; control: 123.8 [±43.5] min; p = 0.425).ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that the recommendation to use tetanic stimulation to shorten the time to T1 height stabilization in neuromuscular monitoring did not alter the stabilization time of the T1 twitch or the pharmacodynamics of neuromuscular blockade with rocuronium in patients aged 60 to 80 years.

Reinforcement learning is an important technique in various fields, particularly in automated machine learning for reinforcement learning (AutoRL). The integration of transfer learning (TL) with AutoRL in combinatorial optimization is an area that requires further research. This paper employs both AutoRL and TL to effectively tackle combinatorial optimization challenges, specifically the asymmetric traveling salesman problem (ATSP) and the sequential ordering problem (SOP). A statistical analysis was conducted to assess the impact of TL on the aforementioned problems. Furthermore, the Auto_TL_RL algorithm was introduced as a novel contribution, combining the AutoRL and TL methodologies. Empirical findings strongly support the effectiveness of this integration, resulting in solutions that were significantly more efficient than conventional techniques, with an 85.7% improvement in the preliminary analysis results. Additionally, the computational time was reduced in 13 instances (i.e., in 92.8% of the simulated problems). The TL-integrated model outperformed the optimal benchmarks, demonstrating its superior convergence. The Auto_TL_RL algorithm design allows for smooth transitions between the ATSP and SOP domains. In a comprehensive evaluation, Auto_TL_RL significantly outperformed traditional methodologies in 78% of the instances analyzed.

Abstract Background The VI Brazilian Consensus on Autoantibodies against HEp-2 cells for determination of autoantibodies against cellular constituents on HEp-2 cells was held on September, 2019, in Fortaleza (CE, Brazil). The guidelines in this edition were formulated by the group of Brazilian experts discussing the classification of complex patterns, the classification of the nuclear discrete dots (few and multiple), the identification of the discrete fine speckled pattern (AC-4a) and improvements on the ANA report. Mainbody Sixteen Brazilian researchers and experts from universities and clinical laboratories representing the various geographical regions of Brazil participated in the meeting. Four main topics were discussed: (1) How to classify patterns with fluorescence in more than one cell compartment considering three relevant categoris: composite patterns, mixed patterns and multiple patterns; (2) The splitting of the discrete nuclear dots pattern into the multiple discrete nuclear dots (AC-6) and few discrete nuclear dots (AC-7) patterns, respectively; (3) Inclusion of a novel nuclear pattern characterized by discrete fine speckled pattern highly associated with antibodies to SS-A/Ro60, classified as AC-4a. In addition, adjustments on the Brazilian Consensus nomenclature were implemented aiming to harmonize the designation of some patterns with the International Consensus on ANA Patterns (ICAP). Furthermore, the designations of the PCNA-like pattern (AC-13), CENP-F-like pattern (AC-14) and Topo I-like pattern (AC-29) were adjusted in accordance to ICAP. Finally, there was a recommendation for adjustment in the test report in order to address the status of nuclear envelope staining. For all topics, the aim was to establish specific guidelines for laboratories and clinicians. All recommendations were based on consensus among participants. All recommendations from the V Consensus were maintained and there was relevant progress in the BCA/HEp-2 guidelines and further harmonization with ICAP. Conclusion The VI BCA/HEp-2 edition was successful in establishing important recommendations regarding the classification of complex patterns, in supporting the identification of a novel pattern within the AC-4 group and in the harmonization process with the ICAP terminology.

Simple Summary: Feeding sloths (Bradypus sp.) in captivity can be extremely challenging due to their individually selective folivorous diet and preferences for specific plant species. This selectivity complicates nutritional management and can lead to diseases associated with an unbalanced diet. By using an in vitro fermentation technique, we evaluated the nutritional characteristics of three feeds for captive sloths by incubating samples of these feeds with the stomach contents of sloths. Our findings indicate that the leaves of plants from the genera Pterodon sp. and Inga sp. show potential for feeding Bradypus variegatus sloths in captivity, with particular emphasis on the former, which demonstrated the best results for protein digestibility, fiber digestion rates, and total fermentation gas volume. We recommend careful attention to the fiber content of Cecropia sp. plants due to possible negative effects on dry matter intake. It is suggested that this plant be fed in combination with other feeds containing less fiber to allow for selection by the animals. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritive value of three feeds (Cecropia sp., Pterodon sp., and Inga sp.) for sloths (Bradypus variegatus), based on nutritional composition and in vitro gas production. After a 14-day adaptation period to these feeds, approximately 500 g of gastric contents were collected from three female sloths, processed, and incubated with the food samples to evaluate digestibility and in vitro degradation kinetics. Regarding the nutritional composition, the neutral detergent fiber (NDFcp) content was higher with 404 g kg−1 DM (p = 0.001) in the leaves of Cecropia sp. The non-fibrous carbohydrate contents were greater with 499 g kg−1 DM in Pterodon sp. (p = 0.002). The greatest cellulose content (211 g kg−1 DM) was found in the leaves of C. pachystachya, as well as the lowest value of 143 g kg−1 DM for hemicellulose. Significant differences in the in vitro digestibility of crude protein (p = 0.041) were observed, with Inga sp. showing the highest value at 547 g kg−1 DM. In terms of kinetic parameters, Pterodon sp. exhibited higher total gas production (Vt) at 99 mL (p = 0.023) and digestion rates of fibrous carbohydrates (kdFC) at 0.0223%/h (p = 0.020) (p < 0.05). The leaves of Pterodon sp. and Inga sp. showed potential as suitable feeds for B. variegatus, while Cecropia sp. may have negative effects on dry matter intake due to its high NDF content, because of possible repletion effects on the stomach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforcement learning is a crucial area of machine learning, with a wide range of applications. To conduct experiments in this research field, it is necessary to define the algorithms and parameters to be applied. However, this task can be complex because of the variety of possible configurations. In this sense, the adoption of AutoRL systems can automate the selection of these configurations, simplifying the experimental process. In this context, this work aims to propose a simulation environment for combinatorial optimization problems using AutoRL. The AutoRL-Sim includes several experimentation modules that cover studies on the symmetric traveling salesman problem, the asymmetric traveling salesman problem, and the sequential ordering problem. Furthermore, parameter optimization is performed using response surface models. The AutoRL-Sim simulator allows users to conduct experiments in a more practical way, without the need to worry about implementation. Additionally, they have the ability to analyze post-experiment data or save them for future analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]