•A data preprocessing algorithm that contributes to improving the prediction quality of the LSTM model is proposed.•A Bayesian optimization algorithm is employed to obtain the optimal adjustment of ...the hyperparameters of the model.•A sensitivity analysis is performed to determine the degree of importance of each input selected in the ANN model.•The behavior of forecast errors is analyzed as a function of the number of inputs used.•The results indicate that the proposed model obtained the lowest MAPE values for the prediction of PV power during the daytime.
In this paper, a forecasting method for day-ahead photovoltaic (PV) generation using long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network is presented. To improve the quality of the predictions, the most relevant hyperparameters of the proposed model are adjusted using a Bayesian optimization algorithm. The study uses a database obtained from a grid-connected solar plant containing historical data of the PV power generated, solar irradiance, ambient temperature, PV panel temperature and wind speed. First, a preprocessing algorithm is applied to enhance the quality of the data and the accuracy of the forecasts. Subsequently, the proposed model is used to predict the power generated at the facility for the following day. The obtained results are compared with other types of models used in the related literature: a gated recurrent unit (GRU) neural network and a multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network. The tests are performed on days with different meteorological behavior, and it is observed that the proposed model outperforms the comparison models in all cases analyzed in terms of accuracy and quality of predictions.
Preclinical changes that precede the onset of symptoms and eventual diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are a target for potential preventive interventions. A large body of evidence suggests that ...inflammation is closely associated with AD pathogenesis and may be a promising target pathway for such interventions. However, little is known about the association between systemic inflammation and preclinical AD pathophysiology. We first examined whether the acute-phase protein, alpha-2 macroglobulin (A2M), a major component of the innate immune system, was associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of neuronal injury in preclinical AD and risk of incident AD in the predictors of cognitive decline among normal individuals (BIOCARD) cohort. We find that A2M concentration in blood is significantly associated with CSF concentrations of the neuronal injury markers, tau and phosphorylated tau, and that higher baseline serum A2M concentration is associated with an almost threefold greater risk of progression to clinical symptoms of AD in men. These findings were replicated in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging (ADNI) study. Then, utilizing a systems level approach combining large multi-tissue gene expression datasets with mass spectrometry-based proteomic analyses of brain tissue, we identified an A2M gene network that includes regulator of calcineurin (RCAN1), an inhibitor of calcineurin, a well-characterized tau phosphatase. A2M gene and protein expression in the brain were significantly associated with gene and protein expression levels of calcineurin. Collectively these novel findings suggest that A2M is associated with preclinical AD, reflects early neuronal injury in the disease course and may be responsive to tau phosphorylation in the brain through the RCAN1-calcineurin pathway.
1. The effects of housing system and stocking density on growth performance and carcase yield of a commercial strain of broiler chickens reared under tropical environmental conditions may differ from ...temperate conditions.
2. In two experimental periods, carried out during two contrasting seasons of the year (winter and summer), 240 Cobb 500 male chickens were randomly assigned in groups of 60 to 1 of 4 treatments, with 6 replicates in each, low stocking density with outdoor access (LO, 5 birds/m
2
); high stocking density with outdoor access (HO, 10 birds/m
2
); low stocking density indoors (LI, 5 birds/m
2
); high stocking density indoors (HI, 10 birds/m
2
). From 21 to 42 d old, body weight (BW) and feed intake (FI) were weekly recorded. Mortality was measured daily and carcase weight at slaughter. Indoor and outdoor temperature and relative humidity were measured daily.
3. There was a tendency for chickens raised in the outdoor access to be heavier than those raised in the indoor treatments. Chickens raised in the low-density treatments in the first experimental period were significantly heavier, gained more weight and had lower value for feed conversion ratio (FCR) than those reared at high density. In the second experimental period mortality significantly increased on week 4 due to heat stress. Birds raised with outdoor access had an increased carcase yield compared to those raised exclusively indoors.
4. In conclusion, low stocking density in combination with low environmental temperatures had enhancing effects on BW, BWG, FI and FCR, and the effects of housing system depended on stocking density. Low stocking density and outdoor access had positive effects on carcase yield.
Much research has been conducted to mitigate the impact of conventional production systems on broilers welfare, but nearly all of these studies are based on the development of strategies to improve ...performance parameters in temperate regions, making it difficult to implement such approaches in tropical environments. Stocking density is one of the main housing variables that influences the birds' development. Optimal stocking density ranges from 25 kg to 40 kg liveweight per m
2
, with no less than 1 m
2
of outdoor area per bird in some cases, for a minimum of 8 h of free-range access per day, according to welfare legislations in different jurisdictions worldwide. Several studies with commercial-line broiler chickens have shown that they are adapted to the environmental characteristics of tropical regions if the temperature is below 30°C, relative humidity levels below 80% inside the housing and stocking density does not exceed 30 kg/m
2
. Therefore, Latin America has great potential for the implementation of a free-range production system. The use of local resources, like forage plants for feed and natural materials with good thermal insulation properties for housing construction could be a good alternative to make this system feasible. C4 plants present in tropical ecosystems have a high rate of water-use efficiency in temperatures between 30-35°C, which may increase the productivity of crops, fodder and pastures. Those plants are a good option to stimulate ranging in chickens, due to both their abilities as covering crop and fast-growing. The review concludes that outdoor access has the potential to improve broiler welfare in tropical regions, but it is still necessary to develop standards and regulations that ensure its proper functioning and, consequently, chicken welfare.
The transition and adaptation of students to higher education (HE) involve a wide range of challenges that justify some institutional practices promoting skills that enable students to increase their ...autonomy and to face the difficulties experienced. The requirements for this adaptation were particularly aggravated by the containment and sanitary conditions associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). With the aim of promoting academic success and preventing dropout in the first year, a support program was implemented for students enrolled in two courses in the area of education at a public university in northern Portugal during the first semester of 2020/2021. Three sessions of 50/60 min were implemented, namely, the first session focused on the verbalization of the demands, challenges, and difficulties of the transition, and the second and third sessions focused on the difficulties of academic adaptation and academic performance. Data from a dropout risk screening instrument and from the activities performed during sessions were analyzed. The main results point to student satisfaction with the content and the activities of the sessions and their usefulness. Students report not only high satisfaction levels with HE attendance, but also some emotional exhaustion due to academic activities. The continuity of the program is recommended with some improvements in its planning to ensure a more definitive version of the program in the next two years.
Rotenone is a naturally occurring compound shown to exhibit antiproliferative activity against various cancer cell lines, indicating its potential as a lead anticancer agent. However, its toxicity ...against normal cells has prompted further investigation and chemical modifications. In this study, a library of carbonyl group‐modified rotenone derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against MCF‐7 breast cancer cells, A549 human lung carcinoma cells, and HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells using 3‐(4, 5‐dimethylthiazolyl‐2)‐2, 5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The results showed several promising compounds that inhibited cell proliferation. Specifically, the oxime and alcohol rotenone derivatives exhibited antiproliferative activities against all 3 cancer cell lines, while the ethoxy, carbamate, and alkene derivatives are selective against MCF‐7 (IC50=5.72 μM), HCT116 (IC50=8.86 μM), and A549 (IC50=0.11 μM), respectively. SwissADME analysis showed that the physicochemical properties and drug‐likeness of the synthesized rotenone derivatives were within the set limits, suggesting the favorable characteristics of these compounds for drug development. The findings obtained in this work highlight the potential of rotenone derivatives as promising chemotherapeutic candidates.
Rotenone derivatives were synthesized through modifications of the carbonyl group and their antiproliferative activities were evaluated against various cancer cell lines (MCF‐7, A549, and HCT116). The physicochemical properties and drug‐likeness of the derivatives were evaluated using the SwissADME webtool.
The expansion of Higher Education increased the diversity of students, with heterogenous characteristics, needs, and values. Institutions, intending to preserve the mission and the transformative ...potential of the tertiary level of education, are facing and implementing policies and practices that enhance success conditions, persistence, and avoid student dropout, in order to meet the goals for sustainable development of people and societies. The present study aims to analyze the impact of personal and academic variables on students’ academic difficulties in adaption to HE, academic achievement, and dropout among first-year STEM students. From a cohort of STEM first-year students at a Portuguese public university, the participants numbered 1376. Applying the structural equation modelling, the results highlight the effect of the variables age, gender, scholarship, and grade point average on access to higher education, difficulties in adapting to higher education, and dropout decision. Understanding STEM students who have already dropped out can contribute to better identification of institutional actions to prevent and reduce its occurrence, especially in first-year students.
The intimate crosstalk between endothelial and bony cells is essential for the reconstruction of bone tissue defects. Indeed, a successful bone repair is greatly dependent on the formation of new ...blood vessels, to ensure the supply of nutrients and gases, as well as the removal of metabolites. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are involved on cells differentiation and bone vascularization aiming to develop viable bone tissue. Herein it is hypothesized that endogenous BMP-2 and VEGF bound in a parallel arrangement over a single nanofibrous substrate (NFM) can lead to a successful osteogenic and angiogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. For that, an engineered biofunctional system was developed comprising anti-BMP-2 and anti-VEGF antibodies, immobilized over an electrospun NFMs in a parallel pattern design, with the attempt to recreate the vasculature of bone tissue. The osteogenic and angiogenic potential of this engineered biofunctional system was demonstrated by culturing human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) during 21 days without exogenous induction. A chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay showed that the engineered biofunctional system, comprising bound endogenous BMP-2 and VEGF, is able to induce an increased angiogenic response. The angiogenic ability of this system, together with the osteogenic inductor BMP-2, enable obtaining an effective vascularized bone tissue engineering approach.
An engineered biofunctional system comprises endogenous BMP-2 and VEGF bound in a parallel pattern. It successfully enabled obtaining the spatial osteogenic and angiogenic differentiation of human hBM-MSCs under basal culture conditions.
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