Intravenous ibandronate in men with osteoporosis: An open pilot study over 2 years

In the treatment of osteoporosis, the tolerance of oral bisphosphonates is often low. The high potency of ibandronate allows iv bolus injections that can be repeated every 2 to 3 months. However, the best dose and time interval of the treatment with iv ibandronate is still debated. Efficacy of 2-mg ibandronate injected every 3 months was tested in men with osteoporosis over 2 yr, in a prospective, open study. Fourteen men with primary osteoporosis, mean age 57±12 yr (range: 40-73), received 2-mg ibandronate iv every 3 months over 2 yr. All got 1 g/day calcium and 880 UI/day vitamin D for 2 yr. Bone mineral density (BMD) increased after 2 yr by 6.7±1.5% (mean change±SEM) at lumbar spine (p<0.001), by 3.2±08% at trochanter (p<0.001) and by 1.4±1.1% at femoral neck (ns). Serum ß-crosslaps and osteocalcin decreased significantly by 30-45 and 30%, respectively, during the 2 yr of treatment. Serum calcium increased from the lower to the middle tertile of the normal range during the 2 yr of the study. The observed decrease of bone remodelling and the increase of BMD are of the same magnitude as those described with oral bisphosphonates. The increase of plasma calcium confirms the positive effect of the supplementation with calcium and vitamin D. These results suggest that 3 months are a good interval between two doses of iv ibandronate, when 2 mg are give

Integration of Action and Language Knowledge: A Roadmap for Developmental Robotics

“This material is presented to ensure timely dissemination of scholarly and technical work. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by authors or by other copyright holders. All persons copying this information are expected to adhere to the terms and constraints invoked by each author's copyright. In most cases, these works may not be reposted without the explicit permission of the copyright holder." “Copyright IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE.”This position paper proposes that the study of embodied cognitive agents, such as humanoid robots, can advance our understanding of the cognitive development of complex sensorimotor, linguistic, and social learning skills. This in turn will benefit the design of cognitive robots capable of learning to handle and manipulate objects and tools autonomously, to cooperate and communicate with other robots and humans, and to adapt their abilities to changing internal, environmental, and social conditions. Four key areas of research challenges are discussed, specifically for the issues related to the understanding of: 1) how agents learn and represent compositional actions; 2) how agents learn and represent compositional lexica; 3) the dynamics of social interaction and learning; and 4) how compositional action and language representations are integrated to bootstrap the cognitive system. The review of specific issues and progress in these areas is then translated into a practical roadmap based on a series of milestones. These milestones provide a possible set of cognitive robotics goals and test scenarios, thus acting as a research roadmap for future work on cognitive developmental robotics.Peer reviewe

Produção de gado de corte e acúmulo de matéria seca em sistemas de integração lavoura: pecuária em presença e ausência de trevo branco e nitrogênio.

O trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de verificar a influência da adubação nitrogenada em uma pastagem de azevém (Lolium multiflorium L.) e aveia (Avena strigosa Scherb) em presença e ausência de trevo branco (Trifolium repens L.), conferida pelo acúmulo e produção de matéria seca, ganho médio diário, ganho de peso vivo e carga animal no sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária sob sistema de plantio direto. A cultura antecessora da pastagem foi a soja (Glycine Max L.). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos completos ao acaso, com parcelas subdivididas e três repetições. Nas parcelas, foram testadas quatro doses de nitrogênio (0, 100, 200 e 300 kg.ha-1) e nas subparcelas, a combinação de presença e ausência de trevo branco. A elevação das doses crescentes de N aumentaram de forma linear crescente o acúmulo e a produção de matéria seca da pastagem. A carga animal e o ganho de peso vivo por hectare de bovinos aumentaram com o incremento de nitrogênio. Os resultados demonstram o efeito da adubação nitrogenada no acúmulo diário, na produção de matéria seca, carga animal e no ganho de peso vivo

Obtendo segurança em uma rede a partir da utilização de intrusion

Este trabalho tem por objetivo realizar um estudo sobre algumas soluções em segurança de redes de computadores, culminando no Intrusion Prevention System (IPS). Esse sistema possui as mesmas características de um Intrusion Detection System (IDS), porém seu maior diferencial é que ele trabalha de modo ativo na rede, ou seja, ele não fica apenas coletando tráfego, mas interagindo com a rede. A proposta desses sistemas de prevenção de intrusão surgiu recentemente devido á habilidade de coletar e analisar tráfego TCP/IP em tempo real, a fim de, sempre que necessário, executar medidas próativas ou, pelo menos, reativas.This work has for aim to carry through a study on some solutions in security of computer networks, with its final results in the Intrusion Prevention System (IPS). This system has the same characteristics of a Intrusion Detection System (IDS), however the biggest difference between them is that it works in active way in the net, or either, does not only collect traffic, but it interacts with the net. The proposal of these systems of prevention of intrusion recently appeared due to ability to collect and to analyze traffic TCP/IP in real time, so that, whenever it’s necessary, it performs pro-active or, at least, reactive actions.Eje: Arquitectura, Redes y Sistemas Operativos (ARSO)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Distribution and sources of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of Itajaí-Açu estuarine system in Brazil

The Itajaí-Açu estuarine system, located in southern Brazil, has great economic importance due to the presence of two ports (Itajaí and Navegantes). This system is affected by industrial and dredging activities, which can cause the remobilization of pollutants accumulated over time in the sediment. In this context, hydrocarbons were assessed in twelve surface sediment samples. n-Alkane and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) concentrations were determined by gas chromatography and their sources assessed. Total concentrations ranged between 0.50 ± 0.04 and 69.70 ± 3.90 &#956;g g-1 dry weight (d.w.) for n-alkanes and from 63.9 ± 12.1 to 1459.0 ± 43.5 ng g-1 d.w. for PAH. Most of the sediment samples presented carbon preference index (CPI) values close to unity, indicating that the area is submitted to petroleum-related sources, mainly close to Itajaí harbor, where an intense unresolved complex mixture (UCM) was observed. The presence at all stations of &#945;&#946;-hopane biomarkers also indicated petrogenic input. Based on selected PAH ratios, the sedimentary PAH composition reflects a mixture of both petrogenic and pyrolytic sources. A comparison of the PAH concentrations found in this study with those listed in the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) indicated that adverse biological effects on the biota are rarely expected.The Itajaí-Açu estuarine system, located in southern Brazil, has great economic importance due to the presence of two ports (Itajaí and Navegantes). This system is affected by industrial and dredging activities, which can cause the remobilization of pollu28460361

Obtendo segurança em uma rede a partir da utilização de intrusion

Este trabalho tem por objetivo realizar um estudo sobre algumas soluções em segurança de redes de computadores, culminando no Intrusion Prevention System (IPS). Esse sistema possui as mesmas características de um Intrusion Detection System (IDS), porém seu maior diferencial é que ele trabalha de modo ativo na rede, ou seja, ele não fica apenas coletando tráfego, mas interagindo com a rede. A proposta desses sistemas de prevenção de intrusão surgiu recentemente devido á habilidade de coletar e analisar tráfego TCP/IP em tempo real, a fim de, sempre que necessário, executar medidas próativas ou, pelo menos, reativas.This work has for aim to carry through a study on some solutions in security of computer networks, with its final results in the Intrusion Prevention System (IPS). This system has the same characteristics of a Intrusion Detection System (IDS), however the biggest difference between them is that it works in active way in the net, or either, does not only collect traffic, but it interacts with the net. The proposal of these systems of prevention of intrusion recently appeared due to ability to collect and to analyze traffic TCP/IP in real time, so that, whenever it’s necessary, it performs pro-active or, at least, reactive actions.Eje: Arquitectura, Redes y Sistemas Operativos (ARSO)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Multivariate deep phenotyping reveals behavioral correlates of non-restorative sleep in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Converging evidence suggests that sleep disturbances can directly contribute to a transdiagnostic combination of behavior and neurocognitive difficulties characterizing most forms of psychopathology. However, it remains unclear how the growing comprehension of sleep neurophysiology should best inform sleep quality assessment in mental health patients. To address this fundamental question, we performed deep multimodal sleep and behavioral phenotyping in 37 individuals at high genetic risk for psychopathology due to 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (Mean age:19±8.17, M/F = 22/15) and 34 Healthy Controls (Mean age:17.06±6.87, M/F = 12/22). We implemented a multivariate analysis pipeline informed by the current neurobiological understanding of the behavioral consequences of sleep disruption. We detected multivariate patterns of disrupted sleep architecture consistently influenced by age and diagnosis across recordings and experimental settings. With high-density EEG polysomnography we detected atypical trajectories of Slow-Wave-Activity (SWA) reduction, influenced by age and sleep duration which, according to the Synaptic-Homeostasis-Hypothesis, could reflect combined alterations in neurodevelopmental and synaptic homeostasis mechanisms in 22q11DS. Blunted SWA reduction was linked with EEG markers of residual sleep pressure in morning-vs-evening EEG and with questionnaires estimating subjective somnolence in everyday life, potentially representing a clinically relevant signature of non-restorative sleep. Moreover, blunted SWA decline was linked to a transdiagnostic combination of behavioral difficulties, including negative psychotic symptoms, ADHD symptoms, and neurocognitive impairments in processing speed and inhibitory-control. These findings suggest that systematic screening and management of sleep disturbances could directly improve behavioral outcomes in 22q11DS. They highlight the potential of precision/multivariate phenotyping approaches for characterizing the role of sleep disturbances in developmental psychopathology

Fungal vaccines and immunotherapeutics: current concepts and future challenges

Purpose of review The remarkable advances in modern medicine have paradoxically resulted in a rapidly expanding population of immunocompromised patients displaying extreme susceptibility to life-threatening fungal infections. There are currently no licensed vaccines, and the prophylaxis and therapy of fungal infections in at-risk individuals remains challenging, contributing to undesirable mortality and morbidity rates. The design of successful antifungal preventive approaches has been hampered by an insufficient understanding of the dynamics of the host-fungus interaction and the mechanisms that underlie heterogenous immune responses to vaccines and immunotherapy. Recent findings Recent advances in proteomics and glycomics have contributed to the identification of candidate antigens for use in subunit vaccines, novel adjuvants, and delivery systems to boost the efficacy of protective vaccination responses that are becoming available, and several targets are being exploited in immunotherapeutic approaches. Summary We review some of the emerging concepts as well as the inherent challenges to the development of fungal vaccines and immunotherapies to protect at-risk individuals.ThisworkwassupportedbytheNorthernPortugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000013), and the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) (contracts IF/00735/ 2014 to A.C., and SFRH/BPD/96176/2013 to C.C).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Metodologia para validar IPS’s de código-fonte aberto

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo descrever uma metodologia para realizar testes com ferramentas IPS (Intrusion Prevention Systems). Essas ferramentas são mecanismos que são implementados como gateways (in-line) em uma rede de computadores para receber, analisar e encaminhar o tráfego para o seu destino. A análise é feita através da procura por pacotes que contenham assinaturas de ataques aos computadores da rede. Como se trata de uma nova tecnologia é necessário determinar métricas para avaliar os IPS que estão surgindo no mercado. Da mesma forma como acontece com os IDS’s (Intrusion Detection Systems), não é uma tarefa fácil determinar métricas concretas para avaliar os IPS.Eje: I - Workshop de Ingeniería de Software y Base de DatosRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Metodologia para validar IPS’s de código-fonte aberto

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo descrever uma metodologia para realizar testes com ferramentas IPS (Intrusion Prevention Systems). Essas ferramentas são mecanismos que são implementados como gateways (in-line) em uma rede de computadores para receber, analisar e encaminhar o tráfego para o seu destino. A análise é feita através da procura por pacotes que contenham assinaturas de ataques aos computadores da rede. Como se trata de uma nova tecnologia é necessário determinar métricas para avaliar os IPS que estão surgindo no mercado. Da mesma forma como acontece com os IDS’s (Intrusion Detection Systems), não é uma tarefa fácil determinar métricas concretas para avaliar os IPS.Eje: I - Workshop de Ingeniería de Software y Base de DatosRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI