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This paper introduces an innovative strategy for the construction of multi-leaf walls utilizing raw stones, a significant step forward in sustainable building practices. Our approach leverages advanced computational algorithms and image processing techniques to automatically build walls with irregular stones. By focusing on the physical assembly of these materials, the objective is to optimize their use in creating structurally robust walls. The core of our methodology lies in the efficient arrangement of irregular objects based on image-convolution techniques. The proposed packing algorithm is proven to be efficient and versatile in stacking stones without restriction in the shape and size of units. Evaluations of constructed walls based on geometric indices show that the stone layout meets masons’ rules-of-art. This work presents a scalable wall construction solution that could revolutionize the use of natural stones in construction.

Individuos con manifestaciones alérgicas similares puede tener subtipos de la enfermedad como consecuencia de la activación de diferentes vías moleculares. En este contexto surge la medicina de precisión, un campo de la ciência que integra big data a través de algoritmos de inteligencia artificial. Aquí repasamos las principales estrategias y limitaciones de la Medicina de Precisión para lograr manejo personalizado del paciente alérgico. En este contexto, se destaca la importancia de caracterizar los endotipos de las alergias, mediante el análisis ómicos (Genómica, proteómica, metabolómica, etc.) integrados con datos de exposición ambiental, como polución, dieta y el estrés. Se espera que esta ciencia pueda contribuir a un diagnóstico más preciso, al desarrollo de nuevos fármacos e individualización efectiva del tratamiento.

Rebeca Cecília Souza,1 Emerson Tavares de Sousa,2 David Sousa,3 Marcelo Sales,4 Rudyard dos Santos Oliveira,5 Maria Helena Mariano,6 Eliézer Rushansky,7 Ana Cláudia Amorim Gomes,8 Emanuel Silva8 1Department of Oral Surgery, Dental School, Pernambuco University, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; 2Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; 3Center of Medical Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil; 4Department of Clinical and Community Dentistry, Dental School, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil; 5Department of Orthodontics, Sao Leopoldo Mandic School, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; 6Department of Rheumatology, Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital, Medical School, Pernambuco University, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; 7Brazilian Society of Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital, Medical School, Pernambuco University, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; 8Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital, Dental School, Pernambuco University, Recife, Pernambuco, BrazilCorrespondence: Emanuel SilvaUniversity of Pernambuco, School of Dentistry, Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 310 Arnóbio Marquês Street, Recife, PE, 50100-130, BrazilTel +55 81-3184-1468Email residenciactbmf@upe.brBackground: This study sought to investigate which temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can be expected in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to determine the combined impact of these conditions on the psychological status, chronic pain, and functional disability.Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study composed of 30 patients between 18 and 65 years with ankylosing spondylitis was performed. The research protocol considered the evaluation of outcomes related to the ankylosing spondylitis (HLA-B27 antigen, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and Health Assessment Questionnaire – Spondylitis (HAQ-S)) and temporomandibular disorders (axis I and II of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders – RDC/TMD). Descriptive analyses were applied to express the results.Results: The sample presented both AS and TMD, most of them (24) were diagnosed with conventional AS (HLA-B27 positive). The BASDAI was scored as 7.70 (2.30) (high activity of AS disease). Functional disability represented by high scores of BASFI [7.00 (2.63)] and HAQ-S [1.79 (0.62)] demonstrates the severe impact of the disease on the daily routine and quality of life. According to RDC/TMD diagnostic criteria, 17 (57%) share the three groups of TMD, and 9 (30%) share two groups of TMD (Group I and III). Over 73% of the volunteers scored high levels of chronic pain (Grade III and IV) associated with a high depression scale score. The sample scored the somatization scale (with and without pain) as severe.Conclusion: Patients with ankylosing spondylitis presented a high prevalence of temporomandibular disorder, most of them having the degenerative forms of TMJ disease. AS and TMD cause moderate to severe chronic pain and a negative impact on psychological status and functional capacities.Keywords: spondyloarthritis, temporomandibular disorders, quality of life, chronic pain

The Pain and Interoception Imaging Network (PAIN) repository (painrepository.org) is a newly created NIH (NIDA/NCCAM) funded neuroimaging data repository that aims to accelerate scientific discovery regarding brain mechanisms in pain and to provide more rapid benefits to pain patients through the harmonization of efforts and data sharing. The PAIN Repository consists of two components, an Archived Repository and a Standardized Repository. Similar to other 'open' imaging repositories, neuroimaging researchers can deposit any dataset of chronic pain patients and healthy controls into the Archived Repository. Scans in the Archived Repository can be very diverse in terms of scanning procedures and clinical metadata, complicating the merging of datasets for analyses. The Standardized Repository overcomes these limitations through the use of standardized scanning protocols along with a standardized set of clinical metadata, allowing an unprecedented ability to perform pooled analyses. The Archived Repository currently includes 741 scans and is rapidly growing. The Standardized Repository currently includes 433 scans. Pain conditions currently represented in the PAIN repository include: irritable bowel syndrome, vulvodynia, migraine, chronic back pain, and inflammatory bowel disease. Both the PAIN Archived and Standardized Repositories promise to be important resources in the field of chronic pain research. The enhanced ability of the Standardized Repository to combine imaging, clinical and other biological datasets from multiple sites in particular make it a unique resource for significant scientific discoveries.

To investigate whether mixed circuit training (MCT) elicits the recommended exercise intensity and energy expenditure in people after stroke, and to establish the between-day reproducibility for the percentages of heart rate reserve (%HRR), oxygen uptake reserve (%VO2R), and energy expenditure elicited during two bouts of MCT. Seven people aged 58 (12) yr, who previously had a stroke, performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test, a non-exercise control session, and two bouts of MCT. The MCT included 3 circuits of 10 resistance exercises at 15-repetition maximum intensity, with each set of resistance exercise interspersed with 45-s of walking. Expired gases were collected during the MCT and control session and for 40 min afterward. Control session was necessary to calculate the net energy expenditure associated with each bout of MCT. Mean %VO2R (1st MCT: 51.1%, P =.037; 2nd MCT: 54.0%, P =.009) and %HRR (1st MCT: 66.4%, P =.007; 2nd MCT: 67.9%, P =.010) exceeded the recommended minimum intensity of 40%. Both %VO2R (P =.586 and 0.987, respectively) and %HRR (P =.681 and 0.237, respectively) during the 1st and 2nd bouts of MCT were not significantly different to their corresponding gas exchange threshold values derived from cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Mean net total energy expenditure significantly exceeded the minimum recommend energy expenditure in the 1st (P =.048) and 2nd (P =.023) bouts of MCT. Between-day reproducibility for %HRR, %VO2R, and energy expenditure was excellent (ICC: 0.92–0.97). MCT elicited physiological strain recommended for improving health-related fitness in people after stroke and these responses demonstrated excellent between-day reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]