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PURPOSE: In this study, we present DeepVirusClassifier, a tool capable of accurately classifying Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral sequences among other subtypes of the coronaviridae family. This classification is achieved through a deep neural network model that relies on convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Since viruses within the same family share similar genetic and structural characteristics, the classification process becomes more challenging, necessitating more robust models. With the rapid evolution of viral genomes and the increasing need for timely classification, we aimed to provide a robust and efficient tool that could increase the accuracy of viral identification and classification processes. Contribute to advancing research in viral genomics and assist in surveilling emerging viral strains. METHODS: Based on a one-dimensional deep CNN, the proposed tool is capable of training and testing on the Coronaviridae family, including SARS-CoV-2. Our model's performance was assessed using various metrics, including F1-score and AUROC. Additionally, artificial mutation tests were conducted to evaluate the model's generalization ability across sequence variations. We also used the BLAST algorithm and conducted comprehensive processing time analyses for comparison. RESULTS: DeepVirusClassifier demonstrated exceptional performance across several evaluation metrics in the training and testing phases. Indicating its robust learning capacity. Notably, during testing on more than 10,000 viral sequences, the model exhibited a more than 99% sensitivity for sequences with fewer than 2000 mutations. The tool achieves superior accuracy and significantly reduced processing times compared to the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool algorithm. Furthermore, the results appear more reliable than the work discussed in the text, indicating that the tool has great potential to revolutionize viral genomic research. CONCLUSION: DeepVirusClassifier is a powerful tool for accurately classifying viral sequences, specifically focusing on SARS-CoV-2 and other subtypes within the Coronaviridae family. The superiority of our model becomes evident through rigorous evaluation and comparison with existing methods. Introducing artificial mutations into the sequences demonstrates the tool's ability to identify variations and significantly contributes to viral classification and genomic research. As viral surveillance becomes increasingly critical, our model holds promise in aiding rapid and accurate identification of emerging viral strains.

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This work proposes an implementation of the SHA-256, the most common blockchain hash algorithm, on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) to improve processing capacity and power saving in Internet of Things (IoT) devices to solve security and privacy issues. This implementation presents a different approach than other papers in the literature, using clustered cores executing the SHA-256 algorithm in parallel. Details about the proposed architecture and an analysis of the resources used by the FPGA are presented. The implementation achieved a throughput of approximately 1.4 Gbps for 16 cores on a single FPGA. Furthermore, it saved dynamic power, using almost 1000 times less compared to previous works in the literature, making this proposal suitable for practical problems for IoT devices in blockchain environments. The target FPGA used was the Xilinx Virtex 6 xc6vlx240t-1ff1156.

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Retinoic acid (RA) regulates stemness and differentiation in human embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a pediatric tumor that may arise from the abnormal development of ESCs. Here we show that RA impairs the viability of SK-ES-1 ES cells and affects the cell cycle. Cells treated with RA showed increased levels of p21 and its encoding gene, CDKN1A. RA reduced mRNA and protein levels of SRY-box transcription factor 2 (SOX2) as well as mRNA levels of beta III Tubulin (TUBB3), whereas the levels of CD99 increased. Exposure to RA reduced the capability of SK-ES-1 to form tumorspheres with high expression of SOX2 and Nestin. Gene expression of CD99 and CDKN1A was reduced in ES tumors compared to non-tumoral tissue, whereas transcript levels of SOX2 were significantly higher in tumors. For NES and TUBB3, differences between tumors and control tissue did not reach statistical significance. Low expression of CD99 and NES, and high expression of SOX2, were significantly associated with a poorer patient prognosis indicated by shorter overall survival (OS). Our results indicate that RA may display rather complex modulatory effects on multiple target genes associated with the maintenance of stem cell's features versus their differentiation, cell cycle regulation, and patient prognosis in ES.

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Gliomas comprise most cases of central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Gliomas afflict both adults and children, and glioblastoma (GBM) in adults represents the clinically most important type of malignant brain cancer, with a very poor prognosis. The cell surface glycoprotein CD114, which is encoded by the CSF3R gene, acts as the receptor for the granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF), and is thus also called GCSFR or CSFR. CD114 is a marker of cancer stem cells (CSCs), and its expression has been reported in several cancer types. In addition, CD114 may represent one among various cases where brain tumors hijack molecular mechanisms involved in neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity. Here, we describe CSF3R mRNA expression in human gliomas and their association with patient prognosis as assessed by overall survival (OS). We found that the levels of CSF3R/CD114 transcripts are higher in a few different types of gliomas, namely astrocytoma, pilocytic astrocytoma, and GBM, in comparison to non-tumoral neural tissue. We also observed that higher expression of CSF3R/CD114 in gliomas is associated with poorer outcome as measured by a shorter OS. Our findings provide early evidence suggesting that CSF3R/CD114 shows a potential role as a prognosis marker of OS in patients with GBM.

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Rapid neuronal inhibition in the brain is mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activation of GABAA receptors. The GABRA5 gene, which encodes the α5 subunit of the GABAA receptor, has been implicated in an aggressive subgroup of medulloblastoma (MB), a type of pediatric brain tumor. However, the possible role of GABAA receptor subunits in glioma remains poorly understood. Here, we examined the expression of genes encoding GABAA receptor subunits in different types of glioma, and its possible association with patient prognosis assessed by overall survival (OS). Data were obtained from the French and The Cancer Genome Atlas Brain Lower Grade Glioma (TCGA-LGG) datasets and analyzed for expression of GABAA receptor subunit genes. OS was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier estimate. We found that genes GABRA2, GABRA3, GABRB3, GABRG1, and GABRG2 showed a significant association with OS, with higher gene expression indicating better prognosis. In patients with GBM, high expression of GABRA2 was associated with shorter OS, whereas, in contrast, higher levels of GABRB3 were associated with better prognosis indicated by longer OS. In patients with lower grade gliomas, GABRA3, GABRB3, GABRG1, and GABRG2, were associated with longer OS. High GABRB3 expression was related to longer survival when low grade glioma types were analyzed separately. Our results suggest an overall association between higher expression of most genes encoding GABAA receptor subunits and better prognosis in different types of glioma. Our findings support the possibility that down-regulation of GABAA receptors in glioma contributes to promoting tumor progression by reducing negative inhibition. These findings might contribute to further evaluation of GABAA receptors as a therapeutic target in glioma.

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PURPOSE: To compare visual performance and photic visual disturbances of patients implanted with 2 different extended depth-of-focus (EDOF) intraocular lenses (IOLs) using mini-monovision. SETTING: Ambulatory surgical center at the University of São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. DESIGN: Prospective, examiner-masked, randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Patients were assigned to either a bilateral Symfony (SYM) or Vivity (VIV) IOL group, with 1 eye targeted for myopia (-0.75 diopter [D]). Defocus curve, contrast sensitivity (Pelli-Robson), Patient-Reported Spectacle Independence Questionnaire, and Quality of Vision questionnaire were recorded at 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients finished the follow-up: group SYM: n = 60 and group VIV: n = 66. Regarding near visual acuity, 80% of patients in the SYM group and 84% of patients in the VIV group achieved J2 or better on the near-planned eye ( P = .3840). No significant differences were found between groups for distance visual acuity, defocus profiles, PRISC, contrast sensitivity, or reading speed ( P > .05). Notably, significant between-group differences were observed for bothersome visual disturbances ( P = .0235), with 45% of patients in the SYM group with a score of 0 for bothersome disturbances compared with 66% in the VIV group. CONCLUSIONS: Mini-monovision using these EDOF IOLs was well-tolerated in the patient cohort. No significant differences were found for visual performance tests between the VIV and SYM groups. However, the data suggest that Vivity IOL is associated with a lower probability of bothersome visual disturbances compared with Symfony IOL.

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Boyde et al. (2023) stated that Moura et al. (2021) did not explain how fleas generated cavities in armadillo osteoderms, which is wrongly stated, also presenting a misrepresentation of what is written about this in Moura et al. (2021).

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One of the most remarkable features in sauropod dinosaurs relates to their pneumatized skeletons permeated by a bird-like air sac system. Many studies described the late evolution and diversification of this trait in mid to late Mesozoic forms but few focused on the origin of the invasive respiratory diverticula in sauropodomorphs. Fortunately, it is possible to solve this thanks to the boom of new species described in the last decade as well as the broad accessibility of new technologies. Here we analyze the unaysaurid sauropodomorph Macrocollum itaquii from the Late Triassic (early Norian) of southern Brazil using micro-computed tomography. We describe the chronologically oldest and phylogenetically earliest unambiguous evidence of an invasive air sac system in a dinosaur. Surprisingly, this species presented a unique pattern of pneumatization in non-sauropod sauropodomorphs, with pneumatic foramina in posterior cervical and anterior dorsal vertebrae. This suggests that patterns of pneumatization were not cladistically consistent prior to the arrival of Jurassic eusauropods. Additionally, we describe the protocamerae tissue, a new type of pneumatic tissue with properties of both camellae and camerae. This reverts the previous hypothesis which stated that the skeletal pneumatization first evolved into camarae, and derived into delicate trabecular arrangements. This tissue is evidence of thin camellate-like tissue developing into larger chambers. Finally, Macrocollum is an example of the gradual evolution of skeletal tissues responding to the fastly specializing Respiratory System of saurischian dinosaurs.

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Objetivo: Identificar as contribuições de enfermeiros no processo de adesão ao tratamento da tuberculose. Métodos: Revisão integrativa nas bases de dados Cumulative Index toNursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline completeEbsco, PubMed Central, Science Direct,Scopuse Web of Sciencea partir da utilização dos descritores Patient Compliance, Medication adherence, Treatment adherence and compliance, Tuberculosise Nurse's Role. Resultados: A partir dos artigos que compuseram a amostra final, as contribuições de enfermeiros no processo de adesão que emergiram consistiram em aconselhamento, visitas domiciliares, uso de tecnologias e de programas, tais como o Tratamento Diretamente Observado, supervisão por vídeo e suporte social. Conclusão: O enfermeiro é um profissional que contribui na implementação desses métodos. O uso de tecnologia sem fio adicionada aos métodos eletrônicos é promissor e pode significar um grande avanço, uma vez que a supervisão direta não vem se mostrando viável e factível em diversas realidades. Descritores: Tuberculose; Cooperação do Paciente; Adesão à Medicação; Enfermagem; Saúde Pública

Objective: To identify the contributions of nurses in the process of adherence to tuberculosis treatment. Methods: Integrative review in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline complete Ebsco, PubMed Central, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science databases using the descriptors Patient Compliance, Medication adherence, Treatment adherence and compliance, Tuberculosis and Nurse's Role. Results: From the articles that composed the final sample, the contributions of nurses in the adherence process that emerged consisted of counseling, home visits, use of technologies and programs such as Directly Observed Treatment, video supervision and social support. Conclusion: Nurses are professionals who contribute to the implementation of these methods. The use of wireless technology added to electronic methods is promising and can mean a great advance, since direct supervision has not been economically viable and feasible in several realities.Descriptors:Tuberculosis; Patient cooperation; Adherence to medication; Nursing; Public health

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Analisar os discursos das gestantes sobre a sexualidade na gestação em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde da Família. Trata-se de estudo descritivo com abordagem qualitativa, realizado com 14 gestantes em acompanhamento pré-natal em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde da cidade de Cajazeiras, Paraíba, Brasil. Para a coleta de dados, utilizou-se entrevista semiestruturada, após a aprovação do Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa. Empregou-se o Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo para organização e análise dos resultados.Identificou-se, no decorrer dos discursos, a falta de conhecimento acerca do conceito de sexualidade, a sexualidade como prazer e bem-estar na possibilidade para autoestima da gestante, o medo de machucar o bebê durante o ato sexual, dores como obstáculo para relações sexuais durante a gestação e a importância da participação ativa do parceiro no período gestacional. Dessa maneira, é importante que, durante o pré-natal, as práticas educativas sejam reforçadas, para ampliar o conhecimento sobre a sexualidade.

To analyze the discourses of pregnant women about sexuality during pregnancy in a Basic Family Health Unit. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, carried out with 14 pregnant women in prenatal care in a Basic Health Unit in the city of Cajazeiras, Paraíba, Brazil. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were used, after the approval of the Ethics and Research Committee. The Collective Subject Discourse was used to organize and analyze the results. During the subjects' discourses, we found a lack of knowledge about the concept of sexuality, what it means as pleasure, and well-being in the possibility of self-esteem of pregnant women; moreover, the fear of hurting the baby during the sexual act, pain as an obstacle to sexual intercourse during pregnancy, and the importance of their partners' active participation throughout the gestational period. In this way, it is important that educational practices be strengthened throughout the prenatal period in order to expand pregnant women's knowledge about sexuality