Video Quality Assessments on Digital TV and Video Streaming Services Using Objective Metrics

There is a wide range of telecommunications services that transmit voice, video and data through complex transmission networks and in some cases, the service has not an acceptable quality level for the end user. In this sense the study of methods for assessing video quality and voice have a very important role. This paper presents a classification scheme, based on different criteria, of the methods and metrics that are being studied in recent years. This paper presents how the video quality is affected by degradation in the transmission channel in two kinds of services: Digital TV (ISDB-TB) due the fading in the air interface and video streaming service on an IP network due packet loss. For Digital TV tests was set up a scenario where the digital TV transmitter is connected to an RF channel emulator, where are inserted different fading models and at the end, the videos are saved in a mobile device. The tests of streaming video were performed in an isolated scenario of IP network, which are scheduled several network conditions, resulting in different qualities of video reception. The video quality assessment is performed using objective assessment methods: PSNR, SSIM and VQM. The results show how the losses in the transmission channel affects the quality of end-user experience on both services studied.

Knowledge as a factor in vulnerability to tuberculosis among nursing students and professionals

The objective of this study was to identify vulnerability to tuberculosis (TB) related to knowledge about the disease among 76 nursing students and professionals. A quantitative descriptive study was conducted using a closed questionnaire for the collection of data regarding transmission, preventive and biosafety measures, diagnosis, and prejudice regarding the disease. The SAS software version 9.1.3 was used for data analysis, with the level of significance set at 5% (p < 0.05). Nursing students and professionals showed a vulnerability to TB related to knowledge about transmission, preventive and biosafety measures, and diagnosis of the disease. With respect to transmission, vulnerability was higher among nursing professionals. The results indicate the need for investment by healthcare institutions surrounding this topic in view of the important role of nursing in the establishment of strategies for prevention and control of the disease.

Classification and regression tree (CART) model to predict pulmonary tuberculosis in hospitalized patients

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a public health issue worldwide. The lack of specific clinical symptoms to diagnose TB makes the correct decision to admit patients to respiratory isolation a difficult task for the clinician. Isolation of patients without the disease is common and increases health costs. Decision models for the diagnosis of TB in patients attending hospitals can increase the quality of care and decrease costs, without the risk of hospital transmission. We present a predictive model for predicting pulmonary TB in hospitalized patients in a high prevalence area in order to contribute to a more rational use of isolation rooms without increasing the risk of transmission. Methods: Cross sectional study of patients admitted to CFFH from March 2003 to December 2004. A classification and regression tree (CART) model was generated and validated. The area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were used to evaluate the performance of model. Validation of the model was performed with a different sample of patients admitted to the same hospital from January to December 2005. Results: We studied 290 patients admitted with clinical suspicion of TB. Diagnosis was confirmed in 26.5% of them. Pulmonary TB was present in 83.7% of the patients with TB (62.3% with positive sputum smear) and HIV/AIDS was present in 56.9% of patients. The validated CART model showed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 60.00%, 76.16%, 33.33%, and 90.55%, respectively. The AUC was 79.70%. Conclusions: The CART model developed for these hospitalized patients with clinical suspicion of TB had fair to good predictive performance for pulmonary TB. The most important variable for prediction of TB diagnosis was chest radiograph results. Prospective validation is still necessary, but our model offer an alternative for decision making in whether to isolate patients with clinical suspicion of TB in tertiary health facilities in countries with limited resources.

Spatio-temporal patterns of tuberculosis incidence in Ribeirao Preto, State of Sao Paulo, southeast Brazil, and their relationship with social vulnerability: a Bayesian analysis

Introduction: The purpose of this ecological study was to evaluate the urban spatial and temporal distribution of tuberculosis (TB) in Ribeirao Preto, State of Sao Paulo, southeast Brazil, between 2006 and 2009 and to evaluate its relationship with factors of social vulnerability such as income and education level. Methods: We evaluated data from TBWeb, an electronic notification system for TB cases. Measures of social vulnerability were obtained from the SEADE Foundation, and information about the number of inhabitants, education and income of the households were obtained from Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Statistical analyses were conducted by a Bayesian regression model assuming a Poisson distribution for the observed new cases of TB in each area. A conditional autoregressive structure was used for the spatial covariance structure. Results: The Bayesian model confirmed the spatial heterogeneity of TB distribution in Ribeirao Preto, identifying areas with elevated risk and the effects of social vulnerability on the disease. We demonstrated that the rate of TB was correlated with the measures of income, education and social vulnerability. However, we observed areas with low vulnerability and high education and income, but with high estimated TB rates. Conclusions: The study identified areas with different risks for TB, given that the public health system deals with the characteristics of each region individually and prioritizes those that present a higher propensity to risk of TB. Complex relationships may exist between TB incidence and a wide range of environmental and intrinsic factors, which need to be studied in future research.

Terbium(III) and dysprosium(III) 8-connected 3D networks containing 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylate anion: Crystal structures and photoluminescence studies

Two novel coordination polymers with the formula {[Ln(2)(2,5-tdc)(3)(dmso)(2)].H2O}(n) (Ln = Tb(III) for (1) and Dy(III) for (2)), (2,5-tdc(2-) = 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylate and dmso = dimethylsulfoxide) have been synthesized by the diffusion method and characterized by thermal analysis, vibrational spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Structure analysis reveals that 2,5-tdc(2-) play a versatile role toward different lanthanide ions to form three-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in which the lanthanides ions are heptacoordinated. Photophysical properties were studied using excitation and emission spectra, where the photoluminescence data show the high emission intensity of the characteristic transitions D-5(4 ->) F-7(J) (J= 6, 5, 4 and 3) for (1) and (F9/2 -> HJ)-F-4-H-6 (J = 15/2, 13/2 and 11/2) for (2), indicating that 2,5-tdc(2-) is a good sensitizer. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Delays in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in a town at the triple border of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina

Objective. To identify the factors linked to patients and health services in delays in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Methods. Epidemiological study in Foz do Iguacu, Parana, Brazil, 2009. The Primary Care Assessment Tool, adapted for appraising tuberculosis treatment, was the instrument used. Descriptive statistics techniques were used, such as frequency distributions, central tendency and dispersion measurements (median and interquartile intervals), and odds ratios. Results. There were greater delays in seeking health services for those in the age group 60 years and older, for females, for patients with low levels of education, and for patients with poor knowledge of the disease. Clinical variables (being a new case and HIV infection) and behavioral variables (use of tobacco and alcohol consumption) were not linked with delays in diagnosis. The median time delays before diagnosis attributable to patients and to the health services were 30 days and 10 days, respectively. Emergency 24-hour medical services and primary health care services were not effective in identifying suspicious cases of tuberculosis and requesting tests to confirm the diagnosis, with a high percentage of referrals to the Tuberculosis Control Program clinic. Conclusions. Going to primary health care services for diagnosis increased the time before diagnosis of the disease was reached. The Tuberculosis Control Program clinic was more effective in diagnosis of tuberculosis, due to the training of the staff and to an organized process for receiving patients, including the availability of tests to support the diagnosis.

Tributyrin attenuates obesity-associated inflammation and insulin resistance in high-fat-fed mice

Vinolo MA, Rodrigues HG, Festuccia WT, Crisma AR, Alves VS, Martins AR, Amaral CL, Fiamoncini J, Hirabara SM, Sato FT, Fock RA, Malheiros G, dos Santos MF, Curi R. Tributyrin attenuates obesity-associated inflammation and insulin resistance in high-fat-fed mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 303: E272-E282, 2012. First published May 22, 2012; doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00053.2012.-The aim of this study was to investigate whether treatment with tributyrin (Tb; a butyrate prodrug) results in protection against diet-induced obesity and associated insulin resistance. C57BL/6 male mice fed a standard chow or high-fat diet were treated with Tb (2 g/kg body wt, 10 wk) and evaluated for glucose homeostasis, plasma lipid profile, and inflammatory status. Tb protected mice against obesity and obesity-associated insulin resistance and dyslipidemia without food consumption being affected. Tb attenuated the production of TNF alpha and IL-1 beta by peritoneal macrophages and their expression in adipose tissue. Furthermore, in the adipose tissue, Tb reduced the expression of MCP-1 and infiltration by leukocytes and restored the production of adiponectin. These effects were associated with a partial reversion of hepatic steatosis, reduction in liver and skeletal muscle content of phosphorylated JNK, and an improvement in muscle insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and Akt signaling. Although part of the beneficial effects of Tb are likely to be secondary to the reduction in body weight, we also found direct protective actions of butyrate reducing TNF alpha production after LPS injection and in vitro by LPS- or palmitic acid-stimulated macrophages and attenuating lipolysis in vitro and in vivo. The results, reported herein, suggest that Tb may be useful for the treatment and prevention of obesity-related metabolic disorders.

Multi-element determination in Brazilian honey samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and estimation of geographic origin with data mining techniques

Multi-element analysis of honey samples was carried out with the aim of developing a reliable method of tracing the origin of honey. Forty-two chemical elements were determined (Al, Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, Cd, Tl, Co, Ni, Rb, Ba, Be, Bi, U, V, Fe, Pt, Pd, Te, Hf, Mo, Sn, Sb, P, La, Mg, I, Sm, Tb, Dy, Sd, Th, Pr, Nd, Tm, Yb, Lu, Gd, Ho, Er, Ce, Cr) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Then, three machine learning tools for classification and two for attribute selection were applied in order to prove that it is possible to use data mining tools to find the region where honey originated. Our results clearly demonstrate the potential of Support Vector Machine (SVM), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) and Random Forest (RF) chemometric tools for honey origin identification. Moreover, the selection tools allowed a reduction from 42 trace element concentrations to only 5. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PPAR gamma activation attenuates cold-induced upregulation of thyroid status and brown adipose tissue PGC-1 alpha and D2

Festuccia WT, Blanchard PG, Oliveira TB, Magdalon J, Paschoal VA, Richard D, Deshaies Y. PPAR gamma activation attenuates cold-induced upregulation of thyroid status and brown adipose tissue PGC-1 alpha and D2. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 303: R1277-R1285, 2012. First published October 24, 2012; doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00299.2012.-Here, we investigated whether pharmacological PPAR gamma activation modulates key early events in brown adipose tissue (BAT) recruitment induced by acute cold exposure with the aim of unraveling the interrelationships between sympathetic and PPAR gamma signaling. Sprague-Dawley rats treated or not with the PPAR gamma ligand rosiglitazone (15 mg.kg(-1).day(-1), 7 days) were kept at 23 degrees C or exposed to cold (5 degrees C) for 24 h and evaluated for BAT gene expression, sympathetic activity, thyroid status, and adrenergic signaling. Rosiglitazone did not affect the reduction in body weight gain and the increase in feed efficiency, VO2, and BAT sympathetic activity induced by 24-h cold exposure. Rosiglitazone strongly attenuated the increase in serum total and free T4 and T3 levels and BAT iodothyronine deiodinase type 2 (D2) and PGC-1 alpha mRNA levels and potentiated the reduction in BAT thyroid hormone receptor (THR) beta mRNA levels induced by cold. Administration of T3 to rosiglitazone-treated rats exacerbated the cold-induced increase in energy expenditure but did not restore a proper activation of D2 and PGC-1 alpha, nor further increased uncoupling protein 1 expression. Regarding adrenergic signaling, rosiglitazone did not affect the changes in BAT cAMP content and PKA activity induced by cold. Rosiglitazone alone or in combination with cold increased CREB binding to DNA, but it markedly reduced the expression of one of its major coactivators, CREB binding protein. In conclusion, pharmacological PPAR gamma activation impairs short-term cold elicitation of BAT adrenergic and thyroid signaling, which may result in abnormal tissue recruitment and thermogenic activity.

Evidence of the participation of electronic excited states in the mechanism of positronium formation in substitutional Tb1-xEux(dpm)(3) solid solutions studied by optical and positron annihilation spectroscopies

Positronium formation in the bimary molecular solid solutions Tb1-xEux (dpm)(3) (dpm = dipivaloylmethanate) has been investigated. A strong linear correlation between the D-5(4) Tb(III) energy level excited state lifetime and the positronium formation probability has been observed. This correlation indicates that the ligand-to-metal charge transfer LMCT states act in both luminescence quenching and positronium formation inhibition, as previously proposed. A kinetic mechanism is proposed to explain this correlation and shows that excited electronic states have a very important role in the positronium formation mechanism.

HYDROGEN SULFIDE AS A CRYOGENIC MEDIATOR OF HYPDXIA-INDUCED ANAPYREXIA

Hypoxia causes a regulated decrease in body temperature (Tb), a response that has been aptly called anapyrexia, but the mechanisms involved are not completely understood. The roles played by nitric oxide (NO) and other neurotransmitters have been documented during hypoxia-induced anapyrexia, but no information exists with respect to hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S), a gaseous molecule endogenously produced by cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS). We tested the hypothesis that HA production is enhanced during hypoxia and that the gas acts in the anteroventral preoptic region (AVPO; the most important thermosensitive and thermointegrative region of the CNS) modulating hypoxia-induced anapyrexia. Thus, we assessed CBS and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activities [by means of H2S and nitrite/nitrate (NO(x)) production, respectively] as well as cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) levels in the anteroventral third ventricle region (AV3V; where the AVPO is located) during normoxia and hypoxia. Furthermore, we evaluated the effects of pharmacological modifiers of the H2S pathway given i.c.v. or intra-AVPO. I.c.v. or intra-AVPO microinjection of CBS inhibitor caused no change in Tb under normoxia but significantly attenuated hypoxia-induced anapyrexia. During hypoxia there were concurrent increases in H2S production, which could be prevented by CBS inhibitor, indicating the endogenous source of the gas. cAMP concentration, but not cGMP and NOR, correlated with CBS activity. CBS inhibition increased NOS activity, whereas H2S donor decreased NO. production. In conclusion, hypoxia activates H2S endogenous production through the CBS-H(2)S pathway in the AVPO, having a cryogenic effect. Moreover, the present data are consistent with the notion that the two gaseous molecules, H(2)S and NO, play a key role in mediating the drop in Tb caused by hypoxia and that a fine-balanced interplay between NOS-NO and CBS-H(2)S pathways takes place in the AVPO of rats exposed to hypoxia. (C) 2011 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Opioid mu-receptors in the rostral medullary raphe modulate hypoxia-induced hyperpnea in unanesthetized rats

Aim: It has been suggested that the medullary raphe (MR) plays a key role in the physiological responses to hypoxia. As opioid mu-receptors have been found in the MR, we studied the putative role of opioid mu-receptors in the rostral MR (rMR) region on ventilation in normal and 7% hypoxic conditions. Methods: We measured pulmonary ventilation ((V) over dotE) and the body temperatures (Tb) of male Wistar rats before and after the selective opioid l-receptor antagonist CTAP ( d-Phe-Cys-Tyr-d-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2, cyclic, 0.1 mu g per 0.1 mu L) was microinjected into the rMR during normoxia or after 60 min of hypoxia. Results: The animals treated with intra-rMR CTAP exhibited an attenuation of the ventilatory response to hypoxia ( 430 +/- 86 mL kg) 1 min) 1) compared with the control group ( 790 +/- 82 mL kg) 1 min) 1) ( P < 0.05). No differences in the Tb were observed between groups during hypoxia. Conclusion: These data suggest that opioids acting on l-receptors in the rMR exert an excitatory modulation of hyperventilation induced by hypoxia.

Crystallization conditions and controls on trace element residence in the main minerals from the Pedra Branca Syenite, Brazil: An electron microprobe and LA-ICPMS study

Major and trace-element microanalyses of the main minerals from the 610 Ma Pedra Branca Syenite, southeast Brazil, allow inferences on intensive parameters of magmatic crystallization and on the partition of trace-elements among these minerals, with important implications for the petrogenetic evolution of the pluton. Two main syenite types make up the pluton, a quartz-free syenite with tabular alkali feldspar (laminated silica-saturated syenite, LSS, with Na-rich augite + phlogopite + hematite + magnetite + titanite + apatite) and a quartz-bearing syenite (laminated silica-oversaturated syenite, LSO, with scarce corroded plagioclase plus diopside + biotite +/- hornblende + ilmenite magnetite +/- titanite + apatite). Both types share a remarkable enrichment in incompatible elements as K, Ba, Sr, P and LREE. Apatite saturation temperatures of similar to 1060-1090 degrees C are the best estimates of liquidus, whereas the pressure of emplacement, based on Al-in-hornblende barometry, is estimated as 3.3 to 4.8 khan Although both units crystallized under oxidizing conditions, oxygen fugacity was probably higher in LSS, as shown by higher mg# of the mafic minerals and higher hematite contents in Hem-Ilm(ss). In contrast with the Ca-bearing alkali-feldspar from LSO, which hosts most of the whole-rock Sr and Pb, virtually Ca-free alkali-feldspar from LSS hosts similar to 50% of whole-rock Sr and similar to 80% of Pb, the remainder of these elements being shared by apatite, pyroxene and titanite. This contrast reflects a strong crystal-chemical control, whereby a higher proportion of an element with similar ratio and charge (Ca2+) enhances the residence of Sr and Pb in the M-site of alkali feldspar. The more alkaline character of the LSS magma is inferred to have inhibited zircon saturation; Zr + Hf remained in solution until late in the crystallization, and were mostly accommodated in the structure of Ca-Na pyroxene and titanite, which are one order of magnitude richer in these elements compared to the same minerals in LSO, where most of Zr and Hf are inferred to reside in zircon. The REE, Th and U reside mostly in titanite and apatite; D(REE)Tit/Ap raises steadily from 1 to 6 from La to Tb then remains constant up to Lu in the LSO sample; these values are about half as much in the LSS sample, where lower contents of incompatible elements in titanite are attributed to its greater modal abundance and earlier crystallization. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemopreventive effects of the dietary histone deacetylase inhibitor tributyrin alone or in combination with vitamin A during the promotion phase of rat hepatocarcinogenesis

The chemopreventive effects of tributyrin (TB) and vitamin A (VA), alone or in combination, were investigated during the promotion phase of rat hepatocarcinogenesis. Compared to diethylnitrosamine control rats. TB and TB+VA-treated rats, but not VA-treated rats, presented a lower incidence and mean number of hepatocyte nodules and a smaller size of persistent preneoplastic lesions (pPNLs). In addition, TB and TB+VA-treated rats exhibited a higher apoptotic body index in pPNL and remodeling PNL, whereas VA-treated rats presented only a higher apoptotic body index in remodeling PNL. None of the treatments inhibited cell proliferation in PNL TB and TB+VA-treated rats, but not VA-treated rats, exhibited higher levels of H3K9 acetylation and p21 protein expression. TB and VA-treated rats exhibited increased hepatic concentrations of butyric acid and retinoids, respectively. Compared to normal rats, diethylnitrosamine control animals exhibited lower retinyl palmitate hepatic concentrations. All groups had similar expression levels and exhibited similar unmethylated CRBP-I promoter region in microdissected pPNL, indicating that epigenetic silencing of this gene was not involved in alteration of retinol metabolism in early hepatocarcinogenesis. Data support the effectiveness of TB as a dietary histone deacetylase inhibitor during the promotion phase of hepatocarcinogenesis, which should be considered for chemoprevention combination strategies. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sleeve Gastrectomy With Transit Bipartition A Potent Intervention for Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity

Objective: To present 5-year results of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) with transit bipartition (TB) as a metabolic intervention for obesity. Background: Recent data suggest that high glycemic index foods may lead to a hormonally hyperactive proximal gut and a hypoactivate distal gut, which are linked to metabolic syndrome. TB was designed to counterbalance these effects. Methods: A total of 1020 obese patients with body mass index (BMI) ranging from 33 to 72 Kg/m(2) underwent SG and TB (SG + TB). TB creates a gastroileal anastomosis in the antrum after the SG; nutrient transit is maintained in the duodenum, avoiding blind loops and minimizing malabsorption. The stomach retains 2 outflow pathways. A lateral enteroanastomosis connects both segments at 80 cm proximal to the cecum. Results: Adequate follow-up data were collected in 59.1% of patients from 4 months to 5 years. The average percent of excess BMI loss was 91%, 94%, 85%, 78%, and 74% in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth year, respectively. Patients experienced early satiety and major improvement in presurgical comorbidities, including diabetes (86% in remission), following surgery. Two deaths occurred (0.2%). Other surgical complications occurred in 6% of patients. Signs of malabsorption were rare. Conclusions: SG + TB is a simple procedure that results in rapid weight loss and remission or major improvement of comorbidities. Strictly aiming at physiological correction, TB avoids prostheses, narrow anastomoses, excluded segments, and malabsorption. Weight and comorbidities are much improved. Diabetes is improved without duodenal exclusion. TB is an excellent complement to an SG.