A framework for using real data with distributed low cost sensors

Currently, due to the widespread use of computers and the internet, students are trading libraries for the World Wide Web and laboratories with simulation programs. In most courses, simulators are made available to students and can be used to proof theoretical results or to test a developing hardware/product. Although this is an interesting solution: low cost, easy and fast way to perform some courses work, it has indeed major disadvantages. As everything is currently being done with/in a computer, the students are loosing the “feel” of the real values of the magnitudes. For instance in engineering studies, and mainly in the first years, students need to learn electronics, algorithmic, mathematics and physics. All of these areas can use numerical analysis software, simulation software or spreadsheets and in the majority of the cases data used is either simulated or random numbers, but real data could be used instead. For example, if a course uses numerical analysis software and needs a dataset, the students can learn to manipulate arrays. Also, when using the spreadsheets to build graphics, instead of using a random table, students could use a real dataset based, for instance, in the room temperature and its variation across the day. In this work we present a framework which uses a simple interface allowing it to be used by different courses where the computers are the teaching/learning process in order to give a more realistic feeling to students by using real data. A framework is proposed based on a set of low cost sensors for different physical magnitudes, e.g. temperature, light, wind speed, which are connected to a central server, that the students have access with an Ethernet protocol or are connected directly to the student computer/laptop. These sensors use the communication ports available such as: serial ports, parallel ports, Ethernet or Universal Serial Bus (USB). Since a central server is used, the students are encouraged to use sensor values results in their different courses and consequently in different types of software such as: numerical analysis tools, spreadsheets or simply inside any programming language when a dataset is needed. In order to do this, small pieces of hardware were developed containing at least one sensor using different types of computer communication. As long as the sensors are attached in a server connected to the internet, these tools can also be shared between different schools. This allows sensors that aren't available in a determined school to be used by getting the values from other places that are sharing them. Another remark is that students in the more advanced years and (theoretically) more know how, can use the courses that have some affinities with electronic development to build new sensor pieces and expand the framework further. The final solution provided is very interesting, low cost, simple to develop, allowing flexibility of resources by using the same materials in several courses bringing real world data into the students computer works.

Blastocystis hominis and other intestinal parasites in a community of Pitanga City, Paraná State, Brazil

The objective was to estimate the prevalence of Blastocystis hominis, to evaluate the effectiveness of different techniques for its diagnosis as well as to estimate the prevalence of other intestinal parasites in the community of Campo Verde, a district of Pitanga. The work was carried out from August to October 2004. Samples of feces from children and adults were collected and submitted to the techniques of direct wet mount, flotation in zinc sulphate solution, tube sedimentation, sedimentation in formalin-ether and staining by Kinyoun and iron hematoxylin methods. From 181 studied individuals, 128 (70.7%) showed protozoa and/or helminths in stool samples. The most prevalent species were Endolimax nana (33.7%); B. hominis (26.5%); Giardia lamblia (18.2%); Entamoeba coli (17.1%); Ascaris lumbricoides (16.6%); Iodamoeba bütschlii (9.4%); and ancylostomatidae (7.7%). B. hominis was only identified by the techniques of direct wet mount, sedimentation in formalin-ether and staining by iron hematoxylin, though the latter was less sensitive than the other methods. The high frequency of B. hominis demonstrated by this study indicates the need to include laboratory techniques that enable identification of the parasite on a routine basis.

Designing video lectures for MOOC

Educational videos differ from other teaching and learning technologies as they allow the benefit of using visual perception. Video lectures are not new to education, however with the use of innovative video technologies they can improve academic outcomes and extend the reach of education. They may offer extraordinary new experiences for higher education institutions (HEI). Through them lecturers can provide information and contents to students, and if used creatively, video lectures can become a powerful technological tool in education, inside and outside classrooms. Inside a classroom it can motivate students and improve topics’ debate and outside it is a good support for students’ self- learning. In some cases they can be used to work some subjects standing behind, but needed to support actual courses contents, that students do not remember (or were not even taught), opening an “in front to the past door” that backs students self-study. The student-educator dynamic is changing. Students are expecting exceptional instruction and educators are expecting students to be more and more well informed about subjects from online viewing.This article explores some of the potential benefits and challenges associated with the use of video lectures in the teaching and learning process at higher education. We will also discuss some thoughts and examples for the use of teaching materials to enhance student’s learning and try to understand how video can act as powerful and innovative to enlighten teaching and learning (note that unfortunately, sometimes, the opposite is happening).

Comparison among tomato juice agar with other three media for differentiation of Candida dubliniensis from Candida albicans

The purpose of the present study is to compare the tomato juice agar, a well known medium employed to observe ascospore formation, with niger seed agar, casein agar and sunflower seed agar, applied to a differentiation between C. dubliniensis and C. albicans. After 48 hours of incubation at 30 ºC all 26 (100%) C. dubliniensis isolates tested produced chlamydospores on tomato juice agar as well as in the other three media evaluated. However, when we inoculated all media with C. albicans, the absence of chlamydospores became resulting in the following percents: tomato juice agar (92.47%), niger seed agar (96.7%), casein agar (91.39%), and sunflower seed agar (96.7%). These results indicate that tomato juice agar is another medium which can also be used in the first phenotypic differentiation between C. dubliniensis and C. albicans.

Tendências no Twitter

Atualmente as redes sociais fazem parte do dia a dia das pessoas, sendo que para muitas delas essas plataformas tornaram-se imprescindíveis. Quer seja por mera curiosidade ou por uma necessidade imperiosa de partilhar com o mundo as suas ideias ou pensamentos, a verdade é que as pessoas utilizam cada vez mais as redes sociais. O trabalho descrito neste documento pretende explorar uma dessas redes sociais, o Twitter, mais propriamente através do estudo das suas tendências do momento ou trending topics que são expressões referidas pelos utilizadores a uma taxa superior em comparação com outras. São descritas algumas das características do Twitter e dos recursos disponíveis para programadores. Para além do estudo detalhado do Twitter, são extraídos dados de diversas fontes, destacando-se o próprio Twitter, mas também outras plataformas e jornais online. Posteriormente é feita a análise desses dados através da verificação da evolução das tendências ao longo do tempo nos diversos locais em estudo e ainda através do cruzamento de dados das várias fontes de dados, com análise dos resultados obtidos. Na análise efetuada são analisadas as tendências considerando algumas métricas, a sua globalidade, a relação das tendências com tópicos dos jornais online e ainda a sua periodicidade.

Sensitivity of an immunoenzymatic test for detection of ant-L. brasiliensis antibodies compared to other tests used for the diagnosis of American cutaneous leishmaniasis

The diagnosis of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is frequently based on clinical and epidemiological data associated with the results of laboratory tests. Some laboratory methods are currently being applied for the diagnosis of ACL, among them the indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IIFR), the Montenegro skin test (MST), histopathological examination, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The performance of these methods varies in a considerable proportion of patients. After the standardization of an immunoenzymatic test (ELISA) for the detection of IgG in the serum of patients with ACL using a crude Leishmania braziliensis antigen, the results obtained were compared to those of other tests routinely used for the diagnosis. The tests revealed the following sensitivity, when analyzed separately: 85% for ELISA IgG, 81% for PCR, 64.4% for MST, 58.1% for IIFR, and 34% for the presence of parasites in the biopsy. ELISA was positive in 75% of patients with ACL presenting a negative MST, in 84.8% of ACL patients with negative skin or mucous biopsies for the presence of the parasite, and in 100% of cases with a negative PCR. Thus, ELISA presented a higher sensitivity than the other tests and was useful as a complementary method for the diagnosis of ACL.

Giardia lamblia and other intestinal parasitic infections and their relationships with nutritional status in children in Brazilian Amazon

The objective of this survey was to assess the relationships between intestinal parasitism, nutritional status and hemoglobin level in children with Indian ascendancy living in an urban area in Brazilian Amazon. We carried out a cross-sectional survey obtaining anthropometric, parasitological and socioeconomic data, and hemoglobin measurements of children aged six to 84 months. Anthropometric data were expressed as z-scores for weight for age (WAZ), height for age (HAZ), weight for height (WHZ) and mid upper circumference for age (MUACZ) parameters. Parasitological examinations were performed through Ritchie (n = 307), Kato-Katz (n = 278), Baermann-Moraes (n = 238) and Safranin-methylene blue methods (n = 307). Hemoglobin measurements were obtained with a Hemocue® photometer (n = 282). Socioeconomic data were used in order to classify children in three family income strata (n = 242). Multiple linear regression analysis showed independent interactions between Giardia lamblia and WAZ (beta = -0.195, SE = 0.138, p = 0.003), WHZ (beta = -0.161, SE = 0.133, p = 0.018) and MUACZ (beta = -0.197, SE = 0.143, p = 0.011), controlling for age, sex, family income, Ascaris lumbricoides, and hookworm infection. Also, the multivariate model showed that the only variable associated with hemoglobin levels was age. Intestinal parasitism control should increase children's possibilities of full development in the studied area.

Comparison Among Aerobic Exercise and Other Types of Interventions to Treat Depression: A Systematic Review

Depression is a common and disabling disease that affects over 100 million people worldwide and can have a significant impact on physical and mental health, reducing their quality of life. Thus, the aim of this article was to provide information on research results and key chains related to the therapeutic effects of chronic aerobic exercise compared with other types of interventions to treat depression, which may become a useful clinical application in a near future. Researches have shown the effectiveness of alternative treatments, such as physical exercise, minimizing high financial costs and minimizing side effects. In this review, the data analyzed allows us to claim that alternative therapies, such as exercise, are effective on controlling and reducing symptoms. 69.3% of the studies that investigated the antidepressant effects of exercise on depressive were significant, and the other 30.7% of the studies improved only in general physiological aspects, such as increased oxygen uptake, increased use of blood glucose and decreased body fat percentage, with no improvement on symptoms of depression. From the sample analyzed, 71.4% was composed of women, and regarding the severity of symptoms, 85% had mild to moderate depression and only 15% had moderate to severe depression. However, there is still disagreement regarding the effect of exercise compared to the use of antidepressants in symptomatology and cognitive function in depression, this suggests that there is no consensus on the correct intensity of aerobic exercise as to achieve the best dose-response, with intensities high to moderate or moderate to mild.

The characteristic time of glucose diffusion measured for muscle tissue at optical clearing

The study of agent diffusion in biological tissues is very important to understand and characterize the optical clearing effects and mechanisms involved: tissue dehydration and refractive index matching. From measurements made to study the optical clearing, it is obvious that light scattering is reduced and that the optical properties of the tissue are controlled in the process. On the other hand, optical measurements do not allow direct determination of the diffusion properties of the agent in the tissue and some calculations are necessary to estimate those properties. This fact is imposed by the occurrence of two fluxes at optical clearing: water typically directed out of and agent directed into the tissue. When the water content in the immersion solution is approximately the same as the free water content of the tissue, a balance is established for water and the agent flux dominates. To prove this concept experimentally, we have measured the collimated transmittance of skeletal muscle samples under treatment with aqueous solutions containing different concentrations of glucose. After estimating the mean diffusion time values for each of the treatments we have represented those values as a function of glucose concentration in solution. Such a representation presents a maximum diffusion time for a water content in solution equal to the tissue free water content. Such a maximum represents the real diffusion time of glucose in the muscle and with this value we could calculate the corresponding diffusion coefficient.

Schistosoma mansoni and other larval trematodes in Biomphalaria tenagophila (Planorbidae) from Guarulhos, São Paulo State, Brazil

A total of 909 Biomphalaria tenagophila were collected from two areas in Guarulhos (Metropolitan area of São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil) to assess larval trematode infections. In all collection sites, only this species was found and 183 (20.13%) harbored trematode infections. In these collections, four morphologically distinguishable types of cercariae were identified by confocal microscopy. Xiphidiocercaria (Cercaria lutzi) was the most common type of cercaria recovered, contributing 76.5% of all infections. Schistosoma mansoni cercariae were recovered and comprised the total of 13.11%. Strigea cercaria (Cercaria caratinguensis) and Brevifurcate pharyngeate Clinostomatoide cercaria (Cercaria ocellifera) contributed 8.33% and 2.22% of all infections, respectively. Double infections (S. mansoni and C. lutzi) were found in twelve snails, contributing 6.55% of all infections. In all sites studied, small vertebrates were found in snail habitats and it was observed human contact with the water. The presence of trematode infected snails in large cities has public health implications. It further provides a starting point for some comprehensive studies on snail-related aspects of transmission and biology of trematode of medical and veterinary importance.

Epidemiology of neglected tropical diseases in transplant recipients: review of the literature and experience of a Brazilian HSCT center

The rising success rate of solid organ (SOT) and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and modern immunosuppression make transplants the first therapeutic option for many diseases affecting a considerable number of people worldwide. Consequently, developing countries have also grown their transplant programs and have started to face the impact of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in transplant recipients. We reviewed the literature data on the epidemiology of NTDs with greatest disease burden, which have affected transplant recipients in developing countries or may represent a threat to transplant recipients living in other regions. Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Chagas disease, Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Dengue, Yellow fever and Measles are the topics included in this review. In addition, we retrospectively revised the experience concerning the management of NTDs at the HSCT program of Amaral Carvalho Foundation, a public transplant program of the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Projeto da estrutura e sistema de movimentação robotizado de linha automática de corte de chapa

Os robots de movimentação de chapa são bastantes úteis para as empresas de metalomecânica. De facto, cada vez mais existem máquinas de corte por jato de água, laser ou outros processos, nos quais os robots apresentam um papel importante na carga e descarga do material. O trabalho realizado apresenta novas soluções aos sistemas de movimentação existentes no mercado, e permite reduzir os custos na movimentação do material. Este projeto serve essencialmente para chapas em trajetória retilínea, e efetuar o seu levantamento do equipamento e deposição em estrutura de suporte (ou viceversa). A vantagem a ter em conta é a diminuição dos custos de movimentação do material. Neste trabalho apresentou-se a metodologia de dimensionamento de um robot automatizado que transporta chapas com um peso máximo de 3500 kg, tendo por base as normas do EC3-P1.8 e o Método de Elementos Finitos (MEF). No decurso do projeto foram abordadas os seguintes temas: Abordagem inicial da geometria através do Solidworks; Dimensionamento da estrutura por software de Elementos Finitos, o Solidworks; Dimensionamento das correntes, carretos/discos ou coroas e rolamentos; Dimensionamento e seleção dos moto-redutores, bomba de vácuo e ventosas; Cálculo das solicitações em cada membro da estrutura por software de análise estrutural, o Multiframe3D, e respetivo dimensionamento das ligações aparafusadas e soldadas; Elaboração dos desenhos de projeto finais, processos de fabrico e custos; Dimensionamento do acionamento, MG e disposição dos dispositivos no quadro elétrico. Como conclusão refere-se que se conseguiu realizar o projeto e obter uma solução final otimizada, com a ajuda de ferramentas importantes, como sejam o MEF, resultando num equipamento cujas solicitações para a estrutura e sistema de movimentação foram otimizadas, resultando num equipamento eficiente, robusto, seguro e de custo reduzido.

O papel da reflexão colaborativa entre pares na transformação das práticas

Este estudo teve como enfoque o papel da reflexão na escola, para transformação de práticas. Este implicou a realização de um projeto a nível de escola, que teve a colaboração e envolvimento de todos os docentes. A concretização deste projeto permitiu uma compreensão mais aprofundada de diversas potencialidades, quer do exercício da reflexão, como da colaboração entre pares, da investigação‐ação, promovendo a sua utilização, com uma participação ativa de todos. Estamos perante um estudo de natureza interpretativa, que se iniciou com a aplicação de um inquérito por questionário aos docentes participantes, implicando posteriormente, a formação de um grupo de trabalho, com recurso a encontros semanais de reflexão colaborativa, reflexões escritas em critical friend e uma entrevista final aos mesmos. Relativamente aos procedimentos de análise, estes foram do tipo qualitativo tendo‐se privilegiado o discurso oral e escrito utilizado ao longo de todo o estudo. Os resultados auferidos, não diferem muito de outros estudos que se centraram na mesma temática, reconhecendo portanto, as potencialidades formativas da reflexão colaborativa, da investigação‐ação, relativamente ao desenvolvimento dos saberes profissionais, que fomentam a construção de uma nova dinâmica na organização escola. Esta sensibilização possibilitou o desenvolvimento das nossas aprendizagens em toda a instituição facilitando assim a mudança.

O papel da reflexão colaborativa entre pares na transformação das práticas

Este estudo teve como enfoque o papel da reflexão na escola, para transformação de práticas. Este implicou a realização de um projeto a nível de escola, que teve a colaboração e envolvimento de todos os docentes. A concretização deste projeto permitiu uma compreensão mais aprofundada de diversas potencialidades, quer do exercício da reflexão, como da colaboração entre pares, da investigação‐ação, promovendo a sua utilização, com uma participação ativa de todos. Estamos perante um estudo de natureza interpretativa, que se iniciou com a aplicação de um inquérito por questionário aos docentes participantes, implicando posteriormente, a formação de um grupo de trabalho, com recurso a encontros semanais de reflexão colaborativa, reflexões escritas em critical friend e uma entrevista final aos mesmos. Relativamente aos procedimentos de análise, estes foram do tipo qualitativo tendo‐se privilegiado o discurso oral e escrito utilizado ao longo de todo o estudo. Os resultados auferidos, não diferem muito de outros estudos que se centraram na mesma temática, reconhecendo portanto, as potencialidades formativas da reflexão colaborativa, da investigação‐ação, relativamente ao desenvolvimento dos saberes profissionais, que fomentam a construção de uma nova dinâmica na organização escola. Esta sensibilização possibilitou o desenvolvimento das nossas aprendizagens em toda a instituição facilitando assim a mudança.