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To elucidate the role of biological and clinical impact of aberrant promoter hypermethylation (PH) in ovarian cancer (OC). PH of PGP9.5, HIC1, AIM1, APC, PAK3, MGMT, KIF1A, CCNA1, ESR1, SSBP2, GSTP1, FKBP4 and VGF were assessed by quantitative methylation specific PCR (QMSP) in a training set. We selected two genes (VGF and PGP9.5) for further QMSP analysis in a larger independent validation (IV) set with available clinical data. Biologic relevance of VGF gene was also evaluated. PH frequency for PGP9.5 and VGF were 85% (316/372) and 43% (158/366) respectively in the IV set of samples while no PH was observed in controls. In 372 OC cases with available follow up, PGP9.5 and VGF PH were correlated with better patient survival [Hazard Ratios (HR) for overall survival (OS) were 0.59 (95% Confidence Intervals (CI)  = 0.42-0.84, p = 0.004), and 0.73 (95%CI = 0.55-0.97, p = 0.028) respectively, and for disease specific survival (DSS) were 0.57 (95%CI 0.39-0.82, p = 0.003) and 0.72 (95%CI 0.54-0.96, p = 0.027). In multivariate analysis, VGF PH remained an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR 0.61, 95%CI 0.43-0.86, p<0.005) and DSS (HR 0.58, 95%CI 0.41-0.83, p<0.003). Furthermore, PGP9.5 PH was significantly correlated with lower grade, early stage tumors, and with absence of residual disease. Forced expression of VGF in OC cell lines inhibited cell growth. Our results indicate that VGF and PGP9.5 PH are potential biomarkers for ovarian carcinoma. Confirmatory cohorts with longitudinal follow-up are required in future studies to define the clinical impact of VGF and PGP9.5 PH before clinical application.

With the expansion of electronics in recent decades, it is notorious to observe that embedded systems are increasingly necessary to improve people’s quality of life and to facilitate the diagnosis of systems in general, ranging from pacemakers to control systems. The increased use of electronic components for technological support, such as telemetry systems, electronic injection, and automotive diagnostic scanners, enhances the perspective of data analysis through an embedded system aimed at vehicular systems. Thus, this work aims to design and implement an embedded data acquisition system for the analysis of vehicle vertical dynamics. The methodology for this study was structured into several stages: mathematical modeling of a motorcycle’s mass-spring-damper system, coding for the Arduino microcontroller, computational data analysis supported by MATLAB software version 9.6, electronic prototyping of the embedded system, implementation on the vehicle, and the analysis of motorcycle vertical dynamics parameters. In addition, a mathematical modeling of the mass-spring-damper system was performed using the state-space method. The system was implemented on the Arduino microcontroller platform, enabling real-time data transfer from a motorcycle. The experimental results have successfully validated the proposed data acquisition system.

Purpose À la carte restaurants have faced increasing challenges in meeting the needs and desires of new food consumers. The purpose of this paper is to propose and test a model for evaluating the consumers’ perceived quality of à la carte restaurants and to review the impact on their attitudes and behavioural intentions. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted with 508 university students in Brazil, and the data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings The results showed that global perceived quality (GPQ), which is a multidimensional construct with nine dimensions, directly impacted emotions, the satisfaction and perceived value by consumers. This satisfaction positively affected word-of-mouth (WOM) communication and the propensity for loyalty. Price did not have a statistically significant impact on customer satisfaction. Originality/value This paper, based on the structural model herein proposed and tested, is the most complete of all available articles in the literature about à la carte restaurants, as this study contemplates a greater number of perceived quality factors. In addition, both tangible and intangible perceived quality factors were included in this tested model, which goes beyond what is typically contemplated in other such. Moreover, none of the existing articles in the existing literature simultaneously observed the relationship between perceived quality, positive and negative emotions, price, perceived value, satisfaction, WOM communication and propensity to loyalty. Finally, the questionnaire developed in this study could be used both by academics in future studies and by restaurant managers.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer of heterogeneous nature that is negative for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and growth factor human epidermal 2 (HER2) following immunohistochemical analysis. TNBC is frequently characterized by relapse and reduced survival. To date, there is no targeted therapy for this type of cancer. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery remain as the standard treatments options. The lack of a target therapy and the heterogeneity of TNBC highlight the need to seek new therapeutic options. In this study, fresh tissue samples of TNBC were analyzed with a panel of 48 driver genes (212 amplicons) that are likely to be therapeutic targets. We found intron variants, missense, stop gained and splicing variants in TP53, PIK3CA and FLT3 genes. Interestingly, all the analyzed samples had at least two variants in the TP53 gene, one being a drug response variant, rs1042522, found in 94% of our samples. We also found seven additional variants not previously reported in the TP53 gene, to the best of our knowledge, with probable deleterious characteristics of the tumor suppressor gene. We found four genetic variants in the PIK3CA gene, including two missense variants. The rs2491231 variant in the FLT3 gene was identified in 84% (16/19) of the samples, which not yet reported for TNBC, to the best of our knowledge. In conclusion, genetic variants in TP53 were found in all TNBC tumors, with rs1042522 being the most frequent (94% of TNBC biopsies), which had not been previously reported in TNBC. Also, we found two missense variants in the PIK3CA gene. These results justify the validation of these genetic variants in a large cohort, as well as the extensive study of their impact on the prognosis and therapy management of TBNC.

The introduction of various collaborative tools, made possible by the expansion of computer network systems and communications technology, has led to new methods of musical composition and improvisation. The author describes a number of recent music and sound art projects involving the use of network systems that enable geographically displaced creators to collaboratively generate shared soundscapes. Various system designs, ideas and concepts associated with this interaction paradigm are presented and classified by the author.

Creativity and collaboration are crucial to learning development in today's fast-paced educational environment. New technology can bridge humans and their natural needs through immersion in digital environments with physical objects. As knowledge and information evolve, digital interactive experiences are being explored and used to address physical and emotional issues during the learning process. This paper presents a conceptual framework design for multimodal experiences based on adaptable and flexible design patterns that use essential visual, audio, and tactile elements. The authors conducted experimental studies at three kindergarten levels using digital games. Children learned and played through multimodal activities using user-centred design principles, triggering creative behaviours. They used commercial digital games used in schools and educational curricula to assist in collecting data on how children this age interact with digital devices and real-world objects, inspiring creative behaviours.

Many students have difficulty mastering the demands of medical courses. Applying the Triads method, the present research compares the validity of three self-reported methods that measure self-study hours in a medical course. Thirty randomly selected students participated in this study. Three surveys were developed: continuous weekly records (WR) and two end-course retrospective self-reported surveys, AR (asking average hours/week during academic year) and FR (asking study frequency throughout academic year and mean hours of studying on a given day). Validity coefficients (VCs), which measure the correlation between observed and “true” self-study, were estimated using the Triads method. The estimated VC was 0.86, 0.94 and 0.87 for WR, FR and AR, respectively. Therefore, given the demands of WR and, since FR showed more accuracy than AR, we propose a novel method, FR, to retrospectively estimate self-study in a medical course.

Stick insects (Phasmatodea) in general are remarkable for presenting striking camouflage-related adaptations. Even so, a considerable number of species are colorful and present other defense mechanisms, such as the New World lineage Pseudophasmatidae. Within this family, Urucumania currently comprises two described species occurring in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, both of which have small scale-like wings. Urucumania is currently placed in Anisomorphini. However, two similar species under Pseudophasma present remarkable similarities with Urucumania species. These two species, Pseudophasma nigrovittatum and Pseudophasma dentata , are the only Pseudophasma presenting scale-like wings. Both inhabit Brazil, are known from a single sex and present a generally similar coloration pattern contrasting to that of Urucumania . Aiming to resolve whether these and other similar specimens represent distinct species, and if they belong to Urucumania rather than to Pseudophasma , we conducted a careful analysis of the external morphology of both sexes, eggs and the male genitalia. We transfer both scale-like winged Pseudophasma to Urucumania , redescribing them based on both sexes showing that the two described species are in fact distinct, and furthermore present 13 new species of Urucumania from Brazil and Bolivia: Urucumania pirulai sp. n. , U. varellai sp. n. , U. guadanuccii sp. n. , U. atilai sp. n. , U. intervalica sp. n. , U. brasil sp. n. , U. tapirape sp. n. , U. rasocatarinensis sp. n. , U. dilatata sp. n. , U. sertaneja sp. n. , U. albopunctata sp. n. , U. oriomadeirensis sp. n. and U. candanga sp. n.

Coccidioidomycosis is a respiratory fungal infection with occasional systemic dissemination. The disseminated coccidioidomycosis is considered a multifaceted disease. In medicine, disseminated coccidioidomycosis is included within a group of infectious diseases that have been referred as the great imitators. In many cases, malignancies are included in the presumptive diagnosis. In veterinary medicine, disseminated coccidioidomycosis is common in dogs. Nonetheless, despite of being a diagnostic dilemma, disseminated coccidioidomycosis is underestimated and frequently not included into differentials, even in endemic zones. Herein, we describe three cases of granulomatous inflammation caused by Coccidioides spp. which were masquerading malignancies in dogs (0.39 %). The presumptive diagnoses in these cases were osteosarcoma, lymphoma and neurofibroma, respectively. A PCR assay employing tissues in paraffin blocks resulted positive for C . posadasii in one of these cases. A comparative discussion on the ambiguous clinic-pathological presentation of disseminated coccidioidomycosis in dogs and humans is included.

The Public Sound Objects (PSOs) project consists of the development of a networked musical system, which is an experimental framework to implement and test new concepts for online music communication. The PSOs project approaches the idea of collaborative musical performances over the Internet by aiming to go beyond the concept of using computer networks as a channel to connect performing spaces. This is achieved by exploring the internet's shared nature in order to provide a public musical space where anonymous users can meet and be found performing in collective sonic art pieces. The system itself is an interface-decoupled musical instrument, in which a remote user interface and a sound processing engine reside with different hosts in an extreme scenario where a user can access the synthesizer from any place in the world using the World Wide Web. Specific software features were implemented in order to reduce the disruptive effects of network latency, such as dynamic adaptation of the musical tempo to communication latency measured in real time and consistent sound panning with the object's behaviour at the graphical user interface.