| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
- Kehoe, Laura, et al.
(author)
-
Make EU trade with Brazil sustainable
- 2019
-
In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 364:6438, s. 341-
-
Journal article (other academic/artistic)
|
|
| 3. |
- Marto, João Pedro, et al.
(author)
-
Safety and Outcome of Revascularization Treatment in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke and COVID-19: The Global COVID-19 Stroke Registry.
- 2023
-
In: Neurology. - 1526-632X. ; 100:7
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- COVID-19-related inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and coagulopathy may increase the bleeding risk and lower the efficacy of revascularization treatments in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to evaluate the safety and outcomes of revascularization treatments in patients with AIS and COVID-19.This was a retrospective multicenter cohort study of consecutive patients with AIS receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and/or endovascular treatment (EVT) between March 2020 and June 2021 tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. With a doubly robust model combining propensity score weighting and multivariate regression, we studied the association of COVID-19 with intracranial bleeding complications and clinical outcomes. Subgroup analyses were performed according to treatment groups (IVT-only and EVT).Of a total of 15,128 included patients from 105 centers, 853 (5.6%) were diagnosed with COVID-19; of those, 5,848 (38.7%) patients received IVT-only and 9,280 (61.3%) EVT (with or without IVT). Patients with COVID-19 had a higher rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) (adjusted OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.16-2.01), symptomatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SSAH) (OR 1.80; 95% CI 1.20-2.69), SICH and/or SSAH combined (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.23-1.99), 24-hour mortality (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.58-3.86), and 3-month mortality (OR 1.88; 95% CI 1.52-2.33). Patients with COVID-19 also had an unfavorable shift in the distribution of the modified Rankin score at 3 months (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.26-1.60).Patients with AIS and COVID-19 showed higher rates of intracranial bleeding complications and worse clinical outcomes after revascularization treatments than contemporaneous non-COVID-19 patients receiving treatment. Current available data do not allow direct conclusions to be drawn on the effectiveness of revascularization treatments in patients with COVID-19 or to establish different treatment recommendations in this subgroup of patients with ischemic stroke. Our findings can be taken into consideration for treatment decisions, patient monitoring, and establishing prognosis.The study was registered under ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04895462.
|
|
| 4. |
- Abreu, Barbara, et al.
(author)
-
Gemini surfactants as efficient dispersants of multiwalled carbon nanotubes : Interplay of molecular parameters on nanotube dispersibility and debundling
- 2019
-
In: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. - : ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. - 0021-9797 .- 1095-7103. ; 547, s. 69-77
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Surfactants have been widely employed to debundle, disperse and stabilize carbon nanotubes in aqueous solvents. Yet, a thorough understanding of the dispersing mechanisms at molecular level is still warranted. Herein, we investigated the influence of the molecular structure of gemini surfactants on the dispersibility of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). We used dicationic n-s-n gemini surfactants, varying n and s, the number of alkyl tail and alkyl spacer carbons, respectively; for comparisons, single-tailed surfactant homologues were also studied. Detailed curves of dispersed MWNT concentration vs. surfactant concentration were obtained through a stringently controlled experimental procedure, allowing for molecular insight. The gemini are found to be much more efficient dispersants than their single-tailed homologues, i.e. lower surfactant concentration is needed to attain the maximum dispersed MWNT concentration. In general, the spacer length has a comparatively higher influence on the dispersing efficiency than the tail length. Further, scanning electron microscopy imaging shows a sizeable degree of MWNT debundling by the gemini surfactants in the obtained dispersions. Our observations also point to an adsorption process that does not entail the formation of micelle-like aggregates on the nanotube surface, but rather coverage by individual molecules, among which the ones that seem to be able to adapt best to the nanotube surface provide the highest efficiency. These studies are relevant for the rational design and choice of optimal dispersants for carbon nanomaterials and other similarly water-insoluble materials.
|
|
| 5. |
- Becheleni, Emily Mayer Andrade, et al.
(author)
-
Removal of mineral scaling precursors from electrodialysis concentrate by alkaline precipitation
- 2023
-
In: International Journal of Environment and Waste Management. - : Inderscience Publishers. - 1478-9876 .- 1478-9868. ; 31:1, s. 19-41
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Evaporative crystallisation has been used to recover water for industrial reuse but it presents serious problems related to incrustation. In this perspective, alkaline precipitation is studied in the present work, aiming to remove scale-forming salts prior to evaporative crystallisation of a reverse electrodialysis concentrate (EDC). The concentration of inorganic species in the feed and filtrate streams were determined by ICP-OES. The total organic carbon and inorganic carbon were analysed by thermo-catalytic oxidation with high temperature to assess the removal of organic compounds from EDC. The software PHREEQC was used to model the systems and a comparison with experimental results confirmed the credibility of the experiments. The technique proved to be a favourable method for removal of almost 100% of Ca and Mg by adding 0.04 wt. % of caustic soda. Furthermore, this would improve the downstream evaporative crystallisation efficiency due to reduced incrustation potential.
|
|
| 6. |
- Carneiro de Freitas, Rui, et al.
(author)
-
Prevalence of Visual Impairment in Portugal : study design and initial results
- 2015
-
In: Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. - 0146-0404 .- 1552-5783. ; 56:7
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose Information about the prevalence of visual impairment is fundamental to define policies that deal with vision loss. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of visual impairment (VI) in the population looking for eye care in public hospitals in Portugal.Methods We designed an observation, cross-sectional prospective study (Prevalence and Costs of Visual Impairment in Portugal: PC-VIP study) to investigate the prevalence of VI in patients attending outpatient appointments in four public hospitals in Portugal. Hospital selected provide from general eye care (3-6 ophthalmologists) to high-specialized eye care (40+ ophthalmologists) that in total have between 120-140K hospital appointments per year. Files of patients are analysed weekly to detect patients with VI. Inclusion criteria were: visual acuity equal or worse than 0.5 (USA definition 20/40) in the better eye and/or a visual field of less than 20deg. Cases are selected by trained hospital staff and inserted in a database. Data collected included demographic information, acuity from both eyes, qualitative information about visual field (good, reduced, requires investigation), main diagnosis, secondary diagnosis and comorbidities. Diagnoses were classified according with ICD9.Results We have now detected 2462 cases of VI that correspond to 4 to 33 weeks of data collection. The number of weeks is variable because collection did not start simultaneously in all sites. From the number of cases detected, 58% were female, 1.9% were under 20y, 8.2% were between 20y and 50y and 89.9% were ≥50y. The mean prevalence of visual impairment was 13.6% (SD=5.6) using the USA definition and it was 7.0%(SD=4.1) using the WHO definition (acuity equal or worse than 0.3 or ~20/63). With a methodology that controls for demographics the lowest and highest estimates were calculated. Considering the USA definition, the prevalence in the general population would be in the range 0.4 -0.4% (age<40y) and 0.8-2.4% (age>=40y). Considering WHO definition, it would be 0.2-0.5% (age<40y) and 0.4-1.0% (age>=40y).Conclusions A hospital-based study can provide effective estimates of the prevalence of visual impairment in a population. Estimates for the country are in agreement with the expected results that can be deducted from neighbour countries and self-reported visual impairment in census 2001.
|
|
| 7. |
- Covey, Kristofer, et al.
(author)
-
Carbon and Beyond : The Biogeochemistry of Climate in a Rapidly Changing Amazon
- 2021
-
In: Frontiers in Forests and Gobal Change. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2624-893X. ; 4
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Amazon Basin is at the center of an intensifying discourse about deforestation, land-use, and global change. To date, climate research in the Basin has overwhelmingly focused on the cycling and storage of carbon (C) and its implications for global climate. Missing, however, is a more comprehensive consideration of other significant biophysical climate feedbacks [i.e., CH4, N2O, black carbon, biogenic volatile organic compounds (BV0Cs), aerosols, evapotranspiration, and albedo] and their dynamic responses to both localized (fire, land-use change, infrastructure development, and storms) and global (warming, drying, and some related to El Nino or to warming in the tropical Atlantic) changes. Here, we synthesize the current understanding of (1) sources and fluxes of all major forcing agents, (2) the demonstrated or expected impact of global and local changes on each agent, and (3) the nature, extent, and drivers of anthropogenic change in the Basin. We highlight the large uncertainty in flux magnitude and responses, and their corresponding direct and indirect effects on the regional and global climate system. Despite uncertainty in their responses to change, we conclude that current warming from non-CO2 agents (especially CH4 and N2O) in the Amazon Basin largely offsets- and most likely exceeds-the climate service provided by atmospheric CO2 uptake. We also find that the majority of anthropogenic impacts act to increase the radiative forcing potential of the Basin. Given the large contribution of less-recognized agents (e.g., Amazonian trees alone emit similar to 3.5% of all global CH4), a continuing focus on a single metric (i.e., C uptake and storage) is incompatible with genuine efforts to understand and manage the biogeochemistry of climate in a rapidly changing Amazon Basin.
|
|
| 8. |
- de Oliveira, Juan Campos, et al.
(author)
-
Bacteria isolated from Aedes aegypti with potential vector control applications
- 2024
-
In: Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. - : Elsevier. - 0022-2011 .- 1096-0805. ; 204
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Highly anthropophilic and adapted to urban environments, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the main vectors of arboviruses that cause human diseases such as dengue, zika, and chikungunya fever, especially in countries with tropical and subtropical climates. Microorganisms with mosquitocidal and larvicidal activities have been suggested as environmentally safe alternatives to chemical or mechanical mosquito control methods. Here, we analyzed cultivable bacteria isolated from all stages of the mosquito life cycle for their larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti . A total of 424 bacterial strains isolated from eggs, larvae, pupae, or adult Ae. aegypti were analyzed for the pathogenic potential of their crude cultures against larvae of this same mosquito species. Nine strains displayed larvicidal activity comparable to the strain AM65-52, reisolated from commercial BTi-based product VectoBac (R) WG. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the set of larvicidal strains contains two representatives of the genus Bacillus , five Enterobacter , and two Stenotrophomonas . This study demonstrates that some bacteria isolated from Ae. aegypti are pathogenic for the mosquito from which they were isolated. The data are promising for developing novel bioinsecticides for the control of these medically important mosquitoes.
|
|
| 9. |
- Downey, Harriet, et al.
(author)
-
Training future generations to deliver evidence-based conservation and ecosystem management
- 2021
-
In: Ecological Solutions and Evidence. - : Wiley. - 2688-8319. ; 2:1
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- 1. To be effective, the next generation of conservation practitioners and managers need to be critical thinkers with a deep understanding of how to make evidence-based decisions and of the value of evidence synthesis.2. If, as educators, we do not make these priorities a core part of what we teach, we are failing to prepare our students to make an effective contribution to conservation practice.3. To help overcome this problem we have created open access online teaching materials in multiple languages that are stored in Applied Ecology Resources. So far, 117 educators from 23 countries have acknowledged the importance of this and are already teaching or about to teach skills in appraising or using evidence in conservation decision-making. This includes 145 undergraduate, postgraduate or professional development courses.4. We call for wider teaching of the tools and skills that facilitate evidence-based conservation and also suggest that providing online teaching materials in multiple languages could be beneficial for improving global understanding of other subject areas.
|
|
| 10. |
- Fernandes, Juliana Folloni, et al.
(author)
-
Transplantation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells for Primary Immunodeficiencies in Brazil: Challenges in Treating Rare Diseases in Developing Countries.
- 2018
-
In: Journal of clinical immunology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1573-2592 .- 0271-9142. ; 38:8, s. 917-926
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The results of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) for primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) have been improving over time. Unfortunately, developing countries do not experience the same results. This first report of Brazilian experience of HSCT for PID describes the development and results in the field. We included data from transplants in 221 patients, performed at 11 centers which participated in the Brazilian collaborative group, from July 1990 to December 2015. The majority of transplants were concentrated in one center (n=123). The median age at HSCT was 22months, and the most common diseases were severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) (n=67) and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) (n=67). Only 15 patients received unconditioned transplants. Cumulative incidence of GVHD grades II to IV was 23%, and GVHD grades III to IV was 10%. The 5-year overall survival was 71.6%. WAS patients had better survival compared to other diseases. Most deaths (n=53) occurred in the first year after transplantation mainly due to infection (55%) and GVHD (13%). Although transplant for PID patients in Brazil has evolved since its beginning, we still face some challenges like delayed diagnosis and referral, severe infections before transplant, a limited number of transplant centers with expertise, and resources for more advanced techniques. Measures like newborn screening for SCID may hasten the diagnosis and ameliorate patients' conditions at the moment of transplant.
|
|
| 11. |
- Filho, Juarez, et al.
(author)
-
Preventing erosion in exception handling design using static-architecture conformance checking
- 2017
-
In: Lecture Notes Computer Science. - Cham : Springer Verlag. - 9783319658308 ; , s. 67-83
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Exception handling is a common error recovery technique employed to improve software robustness. However, studies have reported that exception handling is commonly neglected by developers and is the least understood and documented part of a software project. The lack of documentation and difficulty in understanding the exception handling design can lead developers to violate important design decisions, triggering an erosion process in the exception handling design. Architectural conformance checking provides means to control the architectural erosion by periodically checking if the actual architecture is consistent with the planned one. Nevertheless, available approaches do not provide a proper support for exception handling conformance checking. To fulfill this gap, we propose ArCatch: an architectural conformance checking solution to deal with the exception handling design erosion. ArCatch provides: (i) a declarative language for expressing design constraints regarding exception handling; and (ii) a design rule checker to automatically verify the exception handling conformance. To evaluate the usefulness and effectiveness of our approach, we conducted a case study, in which we evaluated an evolution scenario composed by 10 versions of an existing web-based Java system. Each version was checked against the same set of exception handling design rules. Based on the results and the feedback given by the system’s architect, the ArCatch proved useful and effective in the identification of existing exception handling erosion problems and locating its causes in the source code. © 2017, Springer International Publishing AG.
|
|
| 12. |
- Householder, John Ethan, et al.
(author)
-
One sixth of Amazonian tree diversity is dependent on river floodplains
- 2024
-
In: NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION. - 2397-334X.
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Amazonia's floodplain system is the largest and most biodiverse on Earth. Although forests are crucial to the ecological integrity of floodplains, our understanding of their species composition and how this may differ from surrounding forest types is still far too limited, particularly as changing inundation regimes begin to reshape floodplain tree communities and the critical ecosystem functions they underpin. Here we address this gap by taking a spatially explicit look at Amazonia-wide patterns of tree-species turnover and ecological specialization of the region's floodplain forests. We show that the majority of Amazonian tree species can inhabit floodplains, and about a sixth of Amazonian tree diversity is ecologically specialized on floodplains. The degree of specialization in floodplain communities is driven by regional flood patterns, with the most compositionally differentiated floodplain forests located centrally within the fluvial network and contingent on the most extraordinary flood magnitudes regionally. Our results provide a spatially explicit view of ecological specialization of floodplain forest communities and expose the need for whole-basin hydrological integrity to protect the Amazon's tree diversity and its function.
|
|
| 13. |
- Katak, Ricardo M., et al.
(author)
-
Larvicidal Activities against Aedes aegypti of Supernatant and Pellet Fractions from Cultured Bacillus spp. Isolated from Amazonian Microenvironments
- 2021
-
In: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. - : MDPI. - 2414-6366. ; 6:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the primary vector of Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika causing major problems for public health, which requires new strategies for its control, like the use of entomopathogenic microorganisms. In this study, bacteria from various Amazonian environments were isolated and tested for their pathogenicity to A. aegypti larvae. Following thermal shock to select sporulated Bacillus spp., 77 bacterial strains were isolated. Molecular identification per 16S RNA sequences revealed that the assembled strains contained several species of the genus Bacillus and one species each of Brevibacillus, Klebsiella, Serratia, Achromobacter and Brevundimonas. Among the isolated Bacillus sp. strains, 19 showed larvicidal activity against A. aegypti. Two strains of Brevibacillus halotolerans also displayed larvicidal activity. For the first time, larvicidal activity against A. aegypti was identified for a strain of Brevibacillus halotolerans. Supernatant and pellet fractions of bacterial cultures were tested separately for larvicidal activities. Eight strains contained isolated fractions resulting in at least 50% mortality when tested at a concentration of 5 mg/mL. Further studies are needed to characterize the active larvicidal metabolites produced by these microorganisms and define their mechanisms of action.
|
|
| 14. |
- Lopes, Tomas S., et al.
(author)
-
Rear Optical Reflection and Passivation Using a Nanopatterned Metal/Dielectric Structure in Thin-Film Solar Cells
- 2019
-
In: IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics. - : IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC. - 2156-3381 .- 2156-3403. ; 9:5, s. 1421-1427
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Currently, one of the main limitations in ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 (CIGS) solar cells are the optical losses, since the absorber layer is thinner than the light optical path. Hence, light management, including rear optical reflection, and light trapping is needed. In this paper, we focus on increasing the rear optical reflection. For this, a novel structure based on having a metal interlayer in between the Mo rear contact and the rear passivation layer is presented. In total, eight different metallic interlayers are compared. For the whole series, the passivation layer is aluminum oxide (Al2O3). The interlayers are used to enhance the reflectivity of the rear contact and thereby increasing the amount of light reflected back into the absorber. In order to understand the effects of the interlayer in the solar cell performance both from optical and/or electrical point of view, optical simulations were performed together with fabrication and electrical measurements. Optical simulations results are compared with current density-voltage (J-V) behavior and external quantum efficiency measurements. A detailed comparison between all the interlayers is done, in order to identify the material with the greatest potential to he used as a rear reflective layer for ultrathin CIGS solar cells and to establish fabrication challenges. The Ti-W alloy is a promising a rear reflective layer since it provides solar cells with light to power conversion efficiency values of 9.9%, which is 2.2% (abs) higher than the passivated ultrathin sample and 3.7% (abs) higher than the unpassivated ultrathin reference sample.
|
|
| 15. |
- Luize, Bruno Garcia, et al.
(author)
-
Geography and ecology shape the phylogenetic composition of Amazonian tree communities
- 2024
-
In: JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY. - 0305-0270 .- 1365-2699.
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: Amazonia hosts more tree species from numerous evolutionary lineages, both young and ancient, than any other biogeographic region. Previous studies have shown that tree lineages colonized multiple edaphic environments and dispersed widely across Amazonia, leading to a hypothesis, which we test, that lineages should not be strongly associated with either geographic regions or edaphic forest types. Location: Amazonia. Taxon: Angiosperms (Magnoliids; Monocots; Eudicots). Methods: Data for the abundance of 5082 tree species in 1989 plots were combined with a mega-phylogeny. We applied evolutionary ordination to assess how phylogenetic composition varies across Amazonia. We used variation partitioning and Moran's eigenvector maps (MEM) to test and quantify the separate and joint contributions of spatial and environmental variables to explain the phylogenetic composition of plots. We tested the indicator value of lineages for geographic regions and edaphic forest types and mapped associations onto the phylogeny. Results: In the terra firme and v & aacute;rzea forest types, the phylogenetic composition varies by geographic region, but the igap & oacute; and white-sand forest types retain a unique evolutionary signature regardless of region. Overall, we find that soil chemistry, climate and topography explain 24% of the variation in phylogenetic composition, with 79% of that variation being spatially structured (R-2 = 19% overall for combined spatial/environmental effects). The phylogenetic composition also shows substantial spatial patterns not related to the environmental variables we quantified (R-2 = 28%). A greater number of lineages were significant indicators of geographic regions than forest types. Main Conclusion: Numerous tree lineages, including some ancient ones (>66 Ma), show strong associations with geographic regions and edaphic forest types of Amazonia. This shows that specialization in specific edaphic environments has played a long-standing role in the evolutionary assembly of Amazonian forests. Furthermore, many lineages, even those that have dispersed across Amazonia, dominate within a specific region, likely because of phylogenetically conserved niches for environmental conditions that are prevalent within regions.
|
|
| 16. |
- Orfao, Ines, et al.
(author)
-
Searching for the critically endangered European eel in oceanic islands : A pioneer study in the freshwater systems of Madeira, Macaronesia
- 2024
-
In: Aquatic conservation. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1052-7613 .- 1099-0755. ; 34:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The globally threatened European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is the only freshwater fish native to Macaronesia. Despite being a keystone species to freshwater habitats, little is known about its population, environmental associations and conservation requirements in oceanic islands. The density and geographical-related factors influencing the distribution of A. anguilla in the subtropical Archipelago of Madeira (Portugal) were examined. Data on the species occurrence was initially collected using an online survey addressed to citizens. Eels were then sampled through electrofishing in 31 sampling sites along 11 streams on Madeira Island, and eel-habitat associations were investigated using LMMs and GLMMs. One stream was also sampled in Porto Santo Island. The presence of A. anguilla was confirmed in the two islands of the archipelago with streams (Madeira and Porto Santo). Eels are distributed throughout Madeira Island, being more abundant - particularly small size individual- at lower altitudes (mostly below 150 m). The number of weirs was an important predictor of eel density, suggesting that these flood-control structures limit their upstream migration. This study represents a pioneer sampling effort of the European eel in Madeira and results provide much-needed baseline information on the species distribution and related environmental factors in oceanic islands. While most eel research has historically focused on mainland habitats where dams pose a significant threat to eel habitats, our study underscores the critical importance of addressing smaller, often overlooked barriers that may also cause habitat fragmentation. The European eel is a panmictic species, thus, the conservation of the Macaronesian subpopulations can have substantial benefits for its global recovery. A comprehensive investigation of the impact of man-made obstacles on eel habitat is still needed. Similarly, other common threats such as interactions with non-indigenous species and infection by Anguillicola crassus should be a research priority in future studies.
|
|
| 17. |
- Perfecto-Avalos, Yocanxóchitl, et al.
(author)
-
Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography and principal component analysis for identification of DNA point mutations in breast cancer and lymphoma samples
- 2018
-
In: Journal of Chemometrics. - : Wiley. - 0886-9383. ; 32:10
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Abstract DNA mutations are identified by techniques that use the knowledge of the wild-type DNA sequence and its mutated variant. The involved analytic methods must be accurate, rapid, and sustainable, if a clinical application is pursued. High-performance liquid chromatography under denaturing conditions is a useful technique to screen mutations. Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography resultant chromatograms are suitable for feature extraction analysis with multivariate methods such as principal component analysis. In this work, principal component analysis was applied to analyze the chromatograms from 3 different genes. Fragments with verified wild-type sequence were used as reference and samples with sequence unknown were tested. A statistical characterization based on Tukey’s boxplot equation of principal component scores allowed us to analyze the distance distribution between reference and sample clusters to establish a classification criterion: an outlier could represent a mutated sample, and a typical value could be a wild-type sample. Identified outliers were further analyzed by sequencing and proved to carry a mutation. From 72 datasets with a total of 4258 injections, we successfully assessed the classification criterion, identifying mutated samples in lymphoma and breast cancer patients with ratio of prediction Gmean = [0.89, 1.00]. Compared with sequencing analysis, this procedure reduced time and costs.
|
|
| 18. |
- Rocha David, Mariana, et al.
(author)
-
Influence of Larval Habitat Environmental Characteristics on Culicidae Immature Abundance and Body Size of Adult Aedes aegypti
- 2021
-
In: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2296-701X. ; 9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aedes aegypti is adapted to live in close association with human dwellings, where it lays eggs in several man-made container types with a broad range of size, shape, and material. Biotic and abiotic conditions of larval habitats determine the abundance and body size of emerging adult mosquitoes. Here, we estimated the predictive potential of physicochemical water variables for Culicidae immature abundance and Ae. aegypti adult body size in four neighborhoods with distinct urban landscapes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Domestic water holding containers (N = 240) were inspected for the presence of Culicidae immatures and had several physiochemical parameters measured. Larvae and pupae were counted, and pupae were reared to the adult stage for taxonomic identification. Dry weight and wing size were measured for Ae. aegypti adult mosquitoes (N = 981). The association between larval habitat parameters with Culicidae abundance and Ae. aegypti body size data was estimated through linear mixed models and generalized linear mixed models, respectively, with the neighborhood as random effect. The abundance of immature Culicidae in larval habitats (from which >90% of adults emerging from field collected pupae were Ae. aegypti) was positively associated with container volume and the dissolved organic carbon concentration (DOC). Female average dry weight and male and female wing lengths were positively associated with larval habitat temperature whereas male average dry weight was positively related to water conductivity. Aedes aegypti originating from larval habitats with Ae. albopictus exhibited no differences in median wing length and dry body weight when compared with specimens collected in containers exclusively colonized by Ae. aegypti. These results demonstrate that container water volume (characteristic easily observed in the field) and DOC (often higher in unmanaged water holding recipients) is related to higher Ae. aegypti immature density. Estimating the effects of physicochemical water variables on immature abundance and adult body size can provide valuable information for predicting arbovirus transmission risk in endemic settings.
|
|
| 19. |
- Rocha, Elerson Matos, et al.
(author)
-
Culturable bacteria associated with Anopheles darlingi and their paratransgenesis potential
- 2021
-
In: Malaria Journal. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1475-2875. ; 20
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Malaria remains a major public health problem in South America, mostly in the Amazon region. Among newly proposed ways of controlling malaria transmission to humans, paratransgenesis is a promising alternative. Paratransgenesis aims to inhibit the development of parasites within the vector through the action of genetically modified bacteria. The first step towards successful paratransgenesis in the Amazon is the identification of Anopheles darlingi symbiotic bacteria, which are transmitted vertically among mosquitoes, and are not pathogenic to humans.Methods: Culturable bacteria associated with An. darlingi and their breeding sites were isolated by conventional microbiological techniques. Isolated strains were transformed with a GFP expressing plasmid, pSPT-1-GFP, and reintroduced in mosquitoes by feeding. Their survival and persistence in the next generation was assessed by the isolation of fluorescent bacteria from eggs, larvae, pupae and adult homogenates.Results: A total of 179 bacterial strains were isolated from samples from two locations, Coari and Manaus. The predominant genera identified in this study were Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Serratia, Bacillus, Elizabethkingia, Stenotrophomonas and Pantoea. Two isolated strains, Serratia-Adu40 and Pantoea-Ovo3, were successfully transformed with the pSPT-1-GFP plasmid and expressed GFP. The fluorescent bacteria fed to adult females were transferred to their eggs, which persisted in larvae and throughout metamorphosis, and were detected in adult mosquitoes of the next generation.Conclusion: Serratia-Adu40 and Pantoea-Ovo3 are promising candidates for paratransgenesis in An. darlingi. Further research is needed to determine if these bacteria are vertically transferred in nature.
|
|
| 20. |
- Rocha, Jessica, et al.
(author)
-
Gemini Surfactants as Dispersants of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes : a Systematic Study on the Role of Molecular Structure
- 2015
-
Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Surfactants have been widely used as non-covalent dispersants of carbon nanotubes and yet a deeper and systematic understanding of the role of their molecular properties on dispersibility still awaits consensus. Herein, we report on the dispersibility of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) using a set of dicationic gemini surfactants of the n-s-n type, where both the length of the covalent spacer (s) that bridges the two cationic headgroups and the length of the tails (n) are systematically varied. Thus, 12-s-12 gemini with s = 2, 6, and 12 are studied together with 16-s-16 (s = 2 and 12). In addition, the single-tailed homologues dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, DTAB (n = 12), and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB (n = 16), are employed for comparisons. High precision dispersion curves (dispersed NT vs. surfactant concentration) are presented, obtained through a well-controlled sonication/centrifugation procedure combined with an accurate determination of MWNT concentration. The gemini amphiphiles, despite being double-tailed and double-charged, are found to be less effective dispersants than CTAB and roughly as effective as DTAB. Among the gemini, the following pattern emerges as concerning dispersion behavior. (i) The tail length, n, is less influential than spacer length, s, in dispersing ability, implying that the spacer hydrophobicity rather than that of the tail may govern the affinity for the nanotube surface. (ii) In the 12-s-12 series, the surfactant concentration needed for maximum MWNT dispersibility depends linearly on s, while it is known that the neat cmc depends non-monotonically on s. (iii) Similarly to single-tailed ionic surfactants, the presence of micelles has no direct effect on the dispersion behavior. In combination, these observations also point to an adsorption mechanism that does not involve the formation of micelle-like aggregates on the nanotube surface but rather coverage by individual dispersant molecules.
|
|
| 21. |
- Sousa, Armando, et al.
(author)
-
Technical Debt in Large-Scale Distributed Projects : An Industrial Case Study
- 2021
-
In: Proceedings - 2021 IEEE International Conference on Software Analysis, Evolution and Reengineering, SANER 2021. - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. - 9781728196305 ; , s. 590-594
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Technical debt (TD) is a metaphor that reflects the technical compromises that sacrifice the long-term health of a software product to achieve short term benefit. It is important to manage TD to avoid software degradation. In large-scale distributed projects, technical debt management (TDM) becomes more complex and challenging. There is a lack of empirical studies on the TD accumulation in large-scale distributed projects. Then, to address this gap, we conducted a case study in Ericsson (a European Telecom Company) to identify the relationship between TD accumulation and factors such as task complexity, lead time, total of developers, and task scaling. We used data from 33 projects extracted from managerial documents to conduct a regression analysis. We also conducted interviews with seniors developers of the team to interpret the results. We found out that Task Complexity has a strong relationship (p-value = 5.69 × 10-5) with Technical Debt, while Global Distance was mentioned by the interviewees as a relevant factor for TD accumulation (although not statistically significant in our regression analysis). Practitioners should consider avoiding complex/big tasks, breaking down big tasks into small ones (if possible). We also plan to analyze other projects in this company to confirm our findings further. © 2021 IEEE.
|
|
| 22. |
- Teede, Helena J, et al.
(author)
-
Recommendations from the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
- 2023
-
In: Fertility and sterility. - 1556-5653. ; 120:4, s. 767-793
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- What is the recommended assessment and management of those with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), based on the best available evidence, clinical expertise, and consumer preference?International evidence-based guidelines address prioritized questions and outcomes and include 254 recommendations and practice points, to promote consistent, evidence-based care and improve the experience and health outcomes in PCOS.The 2018 International PCOS Guideline was independently evaluated as high quality and integrated multidisciplinary and consumer perspectives from six continents; it is now used in 196 countries and is widely cited. It was based on best available, but generally very low to low quality, evidence. It applied robust methodological processes and addressed shared priorities. The guideline transitioned from consensus based to evidence-based diagnostic criteria and enhanced accuracy of diagnosis, whilst promoting consistency of care. However, diagnosis is still delayed, the needs of those with PCOS are not being adequately met, evidence quality was low and evidence-practice gaps persist.The 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline update reengaged the 2018 network across professional societies and consumer organizations with multidisciplinary experts and women with PCOS directly involved at all stages. Extensive evidence synthesis was completed. Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation-II (AGREEII)-compliant processes were followed. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework was applied across evidence quality, feasibility, acceptability, cost, implementation and ultimately recommendation strength and diversity and inclusion were considered throughout.This summary should be read in conjunction with the full Guideline for detailed participants and methods. Governance included a six-continent international advisory and management committee, five guideline development groups, and paediatric, consumer, and translation committees. Extensive consumer engagement and guideline experts informed the update scope and priorities. Engaged international society-nominated panels included paediatrics, endocrinology, gynaecology, primary care, reproductive endocrinology, obstetrics, psychiatry, psychology, dietetics, exercise physiology, obesity care, public health and other experts, alongside consumers, project management, evidence synthesis, statisticians and translation experts. Thirty-nine professional and consumer organizations covering 71 countries engaged in the process. Twenty meetings and five face-to-face forums over 12 months addressed 58 prioritized clinical questions involving 52 systematic and 3 narrative reviews. Evidence-based recommendations were developed and approved via consensus across five guideline panels, modified based on international feedback and peer review, independently reviewed for methodological rigour, and approved by the Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).The evidence in the assessment and management of PCOS has generally improved in the past five years, but remains of low to moderate quality. The technical evidence report and analyses (∼6000 pages) underpins 77 evidence-based and 54 consensus recommendations, with 123 practice points. Key updates include: i) further refinement of individual diagnostic criteria, a simplified diagnostic algorithm and inclusion of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels as an alternative to ultrasound in adults only; ii) strengthening recognition of broader features of PCOS including metabolic risk factors, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, very high prevalence of psychological features, and high risk status for adverse outcomes during pregnancy; iii) emphasizing the poorly recognized, diverse burden of disease and the need for greater healthcare professional education, evidence-based patient information, improved models of care and shared decision making to improve patient experience, alongside greater research; iv) maintained emphasis on healthy lifestyle, emotional wellbeing and quality of life, with awareness and consideration of weight stigma; and v) emphasizing evidence-based medical therapy and cheaper and safer fertility management.Overall, recommendations are strengthened and evidence is improved, but remain generally low to moderate quality. Significantly greater research is now needed in this neglected, yet common condition. Regional health system variation was considered and acknowledged, with a further process for guideline and translation resource adaptation provided.The 2023 International Guideline for the Assessment and Management of PCOS provides clinicians and patients with clear advice on best practice, based on the best available evidence, expert multidisciplinary input and consumer preferences. Research recommendations have been generated and a comprehensive multifaceted dissemination and translation programme supports the Guideline with an integrated evaluation program.This effort was primarily funded by the Australian Government via the National Health Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (APP1171592), supported by a partnership with American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Endocrine Society, European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology, and the Society for Endocrinology. The Commonwealth Government of Australia also supported Guideline translation through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFCRI000266). HJT and AM are funded by NHMRC fellowships. JT is funded by a Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) fellowship. Guideline development group members were volunteers. Travel expenses were covered by the sponsoring organizations. Disclosures of interest were strictly managed according to NHMRC policy and are available with the full guideline, technical evidence report, peer review and responses (www.monash.edu/medicine/mchri/pcos). Of named authors HJT, CTT, AD, LM, LR, JBoyle, AM have no conflicts of interest to declare. JL declares grant from Ferring and Merck; consulting fees from Ferring and Titus Health Care; speaker's fees from Ferring; unpaid consultancy for Ferring, Roche Diagnostics and Ansh Labs; and sits on advisory boards for Ferring, Roche Diagnostics, Ansh Labs, and Gedeon Richter. TP declares a grant from Roche; consulting fees from Gedeon Richter and Organon; speaker's fees from Gedeon Richter and Exeltis; travel support from Gedeon Richter and Exeltis; unpaid consultancy for Roche Diagnostics; and sits on advisory boards for Roche Diagnostics. MC declares travels support from Merck; and sits on an advisory board for Merck. JBoivin declares grants from Merck Serono Ltd.; consulting fees from Ferring B.V; speaker's fees from Ferring Arzneimittell GmbH; travel support from Organon; and sits on an advisory board for the Office of Health Economics. RJN has received speaker's fees from Merck and sits on an advisory board for Ferring. AJoham has received speaker's fees from Novo Nordisk and Boehringer Ingelheim. The guideline was peer reviewed by special interest groups across our 39 partner and collaborating organizations, was independently methodologically assessed against AGREEII criteria and was approved by all members of the guideline development groups and by the NHMRC.
|
|
| 23. |
- Teede, Helena J., et al.
(author)
-
Recommendations from the 2023 international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome
- 2023
-
In: European Journal of Endocrinology. - 0804-4643 .- 1479-683X. ; 189
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Study question: What is the recommended assessment and management of those with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), based on the best available evidence, clinical expertise, and consumer preference? Summary answer: International evidence-based guidelines address prioritized questions and outcomes and include 254 recommendations and practice points, to promote consistent, evidence-based care and improve the experience and health outcomes in PCOS. What is known already: The 2018 International PCOS Guideline was independently evaluated as high quality and integrated multidisciplinary and consumer perspectives from 6 continents; it is now used in 196 countries and is widely cited. It was based on best available, but generally very low-to low-quality, evidence. It applied robust methodological processes and addressed shared priorities. The guideline transitioned from consensus-based to evidence-based diagnostic criteria and enhanced accuracy of diagnosis, whilst promoting consistency of care. However, diagnosis is still delayed, the needs of those with PCOS are not being adequately met, the evidence quality was low, and evidence-practice gaps persist. Study design, size, and duration: The 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline update re-engaged the 2018 network across professional societies and consumer organizations with multidisciplinary experts and women with PCOS directly involved at all stages. Extensive evidence synthesis was completed. Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREEII)-compliant processes were followed. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework was applied across evidence quality, feasibility, acceptability, cost, implementation, and ultimately recommendation strength, and diversity and inclusion were considered throughout. Participants/materials, setting, and methods: This summary should be read in conjunction with the full guideline for detailed participants and methods. Governance included a 6-continent international advisory and management committee, 5 guideline development groups, and paediatric, consumer, and translation committees. Extensive consumer engagement and guideline experts informed the update scope and priorities. Engaged international society-nominated panels included paediatrics, endocrinology, gynaecology, primary care, reproductive endocrinology, obstetrics, psychiatry, psychology, dietetics, exercise physiology, obesity care, public health, and other experts, alongside consumers, project management, evidence synthesis, statisticians, and translation experts. Thirty-nine professional and consumer organizations covering 71 countries engaged in the process. Twenty meetings and 5 face-to-face forums over 12 months addressed 58 prioritized clinical questions involving 52 systematic and 3 narrative reviews. Evidence-based recommendations were developed and approved via consensus across 5 guideline panels, modified based on international feedback and peer review, independently reviewed for methodological rigour, and approved by the Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council. Main results and the role of chance: The evidence in the assessment and management of PCOS has generally improved in the past 5 years but remains of low to moderate quality. The technical evidence report and analyses (∼6000 pages) underpin 77 evidence-based and 54 consensus recommendations, with 123 practice points. Key updates include the following: (1) further refinement of individual diagnostic criteria, a simplified diagnostic algorithm, and inclusion of anti-Müllerian hormone levels as an alternative to ultrasound in adults only; (2) strengthening recognition of broader features of PCOS including metabolic risk factors, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea, very high prevalence of psychological features, and high risk status for adverse outcomes during pregnancy; (3) emphasizing the poorly recognized, diverse burden of disease and the need for greater healthcare professional education, evidence-based patient information, improved models of care, and shared decision-making to improve patient experience, alongside greater research; (4) maintained emphasis on healthy lifestyle, emotional well-being, and quality of life, with awareness and consideration of weight stigma; and (5) emphasizing evidence-based medical therapy and cheaper and safer fertility management. Limitations and reasons for caution: Overall, recommendations are strengthened and evidence is improved but remains generally low to moderate quality. Significantly greater research is now needed in this neglected, yet common condition. Regional health system variation was considered and acknowledged, with a further process for guideline and translation resource adaptation provided. Wider implications of the findings: The 2023 International Guideline for the Assessment and Management of PCOS provides clinicians and patients with clear advice on best practice, based on the best available evidence, expert multidisciplinary input, and consumer preferences. Research recommendations have been generated, and a comprehensive multifaceted dissemination and translation programme supports the guideline with an integrated evaluation programme.
|
|
| 24. |
- Teede, Helena J, et al.
(author)
-
Recommendations From the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
- 2023
-
In: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. - 1945-7197. ; 108:10, s. 2447-2469
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- What is the recommended assessment and management of those with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), based on the best available evidence, clinical expertise, and consumer preference?International evidence-based guidelines address prioritized questions and outcomes and include 254 recommendations and practice points, to promote consistent, evidence-based care and improve the experience and health outcomes in PCOS.The 2018 International PCOS Guideline was independently evaluated as high quality and integrated multidisciplinary and consumer perspectives from six continents; it is now used in 196 countries and is widely cited. It was based on best available, but generally very low to low quality, evidence. It applied robust methodological processes and addressed shared priorities. The guideline transitioned from consensus based to evidence-based diagnostic criteria and enhanced accuracy of diagnosis, whilst promoting consistency of care. However, diagnosis is still delayed, the needs of those with PCOS are not being adequately met, evidence quality was low and evidence-practice gaps persist.The 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline update reengaged the 2018 network across professional societies and consumer organizations with multidisciplinary experts and women with PCOS directly involved at all stages. Extensive evidence synthesis was completed. Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation-II (AGREEII)-compliant processes were followed. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework was applied across evidence quality, feasibility, acceptability, cost, implementation and ultimately recommendation strength and diversity and inclusion were considered throughout.This summary should be read in conjunction with the full Guideline for detailed participants and methods. Governance included a six-continent international advisory and management committee, five guideline development groups, and paediatric, consumer, and translation committees. Extensive consumer engagement and guideline experts informed the update scope and priorities. Engaged international society-nominated panels included paediatrics, endocrinology, gynaecology, primary care, reproductive endocrinology, obstetrics, psychiatry, psychology, dietetics, exercise physiology, obesity care, public health and other experts, alongside consumers, project management, evidence synthesis, statisticians and translation experts. Thirty-nine professional and consumer organizations covering 71 countries engaged in the process. Twenty meetings and five face-to-face forums over 12 months addressed 58 prioritized clinical questions involving 52 systematic and 3 narrative reviews. Evidence-based recommendations were developed and approved via consensus across five guideline panels, modified based on international feedback and peer review, independently reviewed for methodological rigour, and approved by the Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).The evidence in the assessment and management of PCOS has generally improved in the past five years, but remains of low to moderate quality. The technical evidence report and analyses (∼6000 pages) underpins 77 evidence-based and 54 consensus recommendations, with 123 practice points. Key updates include: i) further refinement of individual diagnostic criteria, a simplified diagnostic algorithm and inclusion of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels as an alternative to ultrasound in adults only; ii) strengthening recognition of broader features of PCOS including metabolic risk factors, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, very high prevalence of psychological features, and high risk status for adverse outcomes during pregnancy; iii) emphasizing the poorly recognized, diverse burden of disease and the need for greater healthcare professional education, evidence-based patient information, improved models of care and shared decision making to improve patient experience, alongside greater research; iv) maintained emphasis on healthy lifestyle, emotional wellbeing and quality of life, with awareness and consideration of weight stigma; and v) emphasizing evidence-based medical therapy and cheaper and safer fertility management.Overall, recommendations are strengthened and evidence is improved, but remain generally low to moderate quality. Significantly greater research is now needed in this neglected, yet common condition. Regional health system variation was considered and acknowledged, with a further process for guideline and translation resource adaptation provided.The 2023 International Guideline for the Assessment and Management of PCOS provides clinicians and patients with clear advice on best practice, based on the best available evidence, expert multidisciplinary input and consumer preferences. Research recommendations have been generated and a comprehensive multifaceted dissemination and translation programme supports the Guideline with an integrated evaluation program.This effort was primarily funded by the Australian Government via the National Health Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (APP1171592), supported by a partnership with American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Endocrine Society, European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology, and the European Society for Endocrinology. The Commonwealth Government of Australia also supported Guideline translation through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFCRI000266). HJT and AM are funded by NHMRC fellowships. JT is funded by a Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) fellowship. Guideline development group members were volunteers. Travel expenses were covered by the sponsoring organizations. Disclosures of interest were strictly managed according to NHMRC policy and are available with the full guideline, technical evidence report, peer review and responses (www.monash.edu/medicine/mchri/pcos). Of named authors HJT, CTT, AD, LM, LR, JBoyle, AM have no conflicts of interest to declare. JL declares grant from Ferring and Merck; consulting fees from Ferring and Titus Health Care; speaker's fees from Ferring; unpaid consultancy for Ferring, Roche Diagnostics and Ansh Labs; and sits on advisory boards for Ferring, Roche Diagnostics, Ansh Labs, and Gedeon Richter. TP declares a grant from Roche; consulting fees from Gedeon Richter and Organon; speaker's fees from Gedeon Richter and Exeltis; travel support from Gedeon Richter and Exeltis; unpaid consultancy for Roche Diagnostics; and sits on advisory boards for Roche Diagnostics. MC declares travels support from Merck; and sits on an advisory board for Merck. JBoivin declares grants from Merck Serono Ltd.; consulting fees from Ferring B.V; speaker's fees from Ferring Arzneimittell GmbH; travel support from Organon; and sits on an advisory board for the Office of Health Economics. RJN has received speaker's fees from Merck and sits on an advisory board for Ferring. AJoham has received speaker's fees from Novo Nordisk and Boehringer Ingelheim. The guideline was peer reviewed by special interest groups across our 39 partner and collaborating organizations, was independently methodologically assessed against AGREEII criteria and was approved by all members of the guideline development groups and by the NHMRC.
|
|
| 25. |
- ter Steege, Hans, et al.
(author)
-
Mapping density, diversity and species-richness of the Amazon tree flora
- 2023
-
In: COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY. - 2399-3642. ; 6:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using 2.046 botanically-inventoried tree plots across the largest tropical forest on Earth, we mapped tree species-diversity and tree species-richness at 0.1-degree resolution, and investigated drivers for diversity and richness. Using only location, stratified by forest type, as predictor, our spatial model, to the best of our knowledge, provides the most accurate map of tree diversity in Amazonia to date, explaining approximately 70% of the tree diversity and species-richness. Large soil-forest combinations determine a significant percentage of the variation in tree species-richness and tree alpha-diversity in Amazonian forest-plots. We suggest that the size and fragmentation of these systems drive their large-scale diversity patterns and hence local diversity. A model not using location but cumulative water deficit, tree density, and temperature seasonality explains 47% of the tree species-richness in the terra-firme forest in Amazonia. Over large areas across Amazonia, residuals of this relationship are small and poorly spatially structured, suggesting that much of the residual variation may be local. The Guyana Shield area has consistently negative residuals, showing that this area has lower tree species-richness than expected by our models. We provide extensive plot meta-data, including tree density, tree alpha-diversity and tree species-richness results and gridded maps at 0.1-degree resolution. A study mapping the tree species richness in Amazonian forests shows that soil type exerts a strong effect on species richness, probably caused by the areas of these forest types. Cumulative water deficit, tree density and temperature seasonality affect species richness at a regional scale.
|
|
| 26. |
- Vieira, Renan, et al.
(author)
-
Bayesian Analysis of Bug-Fixing Time using Report Data
- 2022
-
In: International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement. - New York, NY, USA : IEEE Computer Society. - 9781450394277 ; , s. 57-68
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Bug-fixing is the crux of software maintenance. It entails tending to heaps of bug reports using limited resources. Using historical data, we can ask questions that contribute to betterinformed allocation heuristics. The caveat here is that often there is not enough data to provide a sound response. This issue is especially prominent for young projects. Also, answers may vary from project to project. Consequently, it is impossible to generalize results without assuming a notion of relatedness between projects.Aims: Evaluate the independent impact of three report features in the bug-fixing time (BFT), generalizing results from many projects: bug priority, code-churn size in bug fixing commits, and existence of links to other reports (e.g., depends on or blocks other bug reports).Method: We analyze 55 projects from the Apache ecosystem using Bayesian statistics. Similar to standard random effects methodology, we assume each project's average BFT is a dispersed version of a global average BFT that we want to assess. We split the data based on feature values/range (e.g., with or without links). For each split, we compute a posterior distribution over its respective global BFT. Finally, we compare the posteriors to establish the feature's effect on the BFT. We run independent analyses for each feature.Results: Our results show that the existence of links and higher code-churn values lead to BFTs that are at least twice as long. On the other hand, considering three levels of priority (low, medium, and high), we observe no difference in the BFT.Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study using hierarchical Bayes to extrapolate results from multiple projects and assess the global effect of different attributes on the BFT. We use this methodology to gain insight on how links, priority, and code-churn size impact the BFT. On top of that, our posteriors can be used as a prior to analyze novel projects, potentially young and scarce on data. We also believe our methodology can be reused for other generalization studies in empirical software engineering. © 2022 Association for Computing Machinery.
|
|
| 27. |
- Warmerdam, Lisanne, et al.
(author)
-
Innovative ICT Solutions to Improve Treatment Outcomes for Depression : The ICT4Depression Project
- 2012
-
In: Studies in Health Technology and Informatics. - 0926-9630 .- 1879-8365. ; 181, s. 339-343
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Depression is expected to be the disorder with the highest disease burden in high-income countries by the year 2030. ICT4Depression (ICT4D) is a European FP7 project, which aims to contribute to the alleviation of this burden by making use of depression treatment and ICT innovations. In this project we developed an ICT-based system for use in primary care that aims to improve access as well as actual care delivery for depressed adults. Innovative technologies within the ICT4D system include 1) flexible self-help treatments for depression, 2) automatic assessment of the patient using mobile phone and web-based communication 3) wearable biomedical sensor devices for monitoring activities and electrophysiological indicators, 4) computational methods for reasoning about the state of a patient and the risk of relapse (reasoning engine) and 5) a flexible system architecture for monitoring and supporting people using continuous observations and feedback via mobile phone and the web. The general objective of the ICT4D project is to test the feasibility and acceptability of the ICT4D system within a pilot study in the Netherlands and in Sweden during 2012 and 2013.
|
|
