Abstract: The common testing protocol to determine the shear strength of bamboo parallel to grain is ISO 22157 (2004). However, widely documented limitations of this test procedure calls for an alternative testing protocol. This study compared ISO 22157 (2004) (TP1) and 2 alternative testing protocols proposed by Base Bahay (TP2a and 2b) in determining shear strength of bamboo parallel to grain. The study used a local bamboo known as “kawayang tinik” (Bambusa blumeana). Results showed that TP1 produced more pure shear failures at 65% compared to TP2a and TP2b at 55% each. Shear strength values between the three methods were not significantly different, although, TP2b resulted in the lowest coefficient of variation at 18%. Also, TP2b was found to be the most effective in terms of specimen preparation, ease of assembly of testing equipment, and low variability in data.

OBJECTIVES: Dengue cases range from asymptomatic to severe, eventually leading to hospitalization and death. Timely and appropriate management is critical to reduce morbidity. Since 1980, dengue has spread throughout Brazil, affecting an increasing number of individuals. This paper describes age and regional differences in dengue’s clinical presentation and associated risk of hospitalization based on more than 5 million cases reported to the Brazilian Ministry of Health from 2000-2014. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of ∼5,450,000 dengue cases, relating clinical manifestations and the risk of hospitalization to age, gender, previous infection by dengue, dengue virus serotype, years of formal education, delay to first attendance and the occurrence of dengue during outbreaks and in different Brazilian regions. RESULTS: Complicated forms of dengue occurred more frequently among those younger than 10 years (3.12% vs 1.92%) and those with dengue virus 2 infection (7.65% vs 2.42%), with a delay to first attendance >2 days (3.18% vs 0.82%) and with ≤4 years of formal education (2.02% vs 1.46%). The risk of hospitalization was higher among those aged 6-10 years old (OR 4.57; 95% CI 1.43-29.96) and those who were infected by dengue virus 2 (OR 6.36; 95% CI 2.52-16.06), who lived in the Northeast region (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.11-2.10) and who delayed first attendance by >5 days (composite OR 3.15; 95% CI 1.33-8.9). CONCLUSIONS: In Brazil, the occurrence of severe dengue and related hospitalization is associated with being younger than 10 years old, being infected by dengue virus 2 or 3, living in the Northeast region (the poorest and the second most populated) and delaying first attendance for more than 2 days.

RESUMO A elevada variabilidade do HIV-1, bem como, a ausência de mecanismos eficientes de reparo durante os estágios da replicação viral, contribuem para a rápida emergência de cepas de HIV-1 resistentes aos antirretrovirais. A pressão seletiva exercida pelas drogas, leva à fixação de mutações capazes de conferir graus variados de resistência. A presença dessas mutações constitui um dos fatores mais importantes na falha da resposta terapêutica aos medicamentos. Assim, é de fundamental importância compreender os padrões de resistência e os mecanismos a eles associados, possibilitando a escolha de um esquema terapêutico apropriado que considere a frequência e outras características das mutações. Utilizando a Rede Neural Artificial Paraconsistente, assentada na Lógica Paraconsistente Anotada Et que tem a capacidade de mensurar incertezas e inconsistências, obtivemos níveis de concordância acima de 90% quando comparado à metodologia proposta com a metodologia atual empregada para classificar os subtipos do HIV-1. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que a Rede Neural Artificial Paraconsistente pode servir como ferramenta promissora de análise.

ABSTRACT The high variability of HIV-1 as well as the lack of efficient repair mechanisms during the stages of viral replication, contribute to the rapid emergence of HIV-1 strains resistant to antiretroviral drugs. The selective pressure exerted by the drug leads to fixation of mutations capable of imparting varying degrees of resistance. The presence of these mutations is one of the most important factors in the failure of therapeutic response to medications. Thus, it is of critical to understand the resistance patterns and mechanisms associated with them, allowing the choice of an appropriate therapeutic scheme, which considers the frequency, and other characteristics of mutations. Utilizing Paraconsistents Artificial Neural Networks, seated in Paraconsistent Annotated Logic Et which has the capability of measuring uncertainties and inconsistencies, we have achieved levels of agreement above 90% when compared to the methodology proposed with the current methodology used to classify HIV-1 subtypes. The results demonstrate that Paraconsistents Artificial Neural Networks can serve as a promising tool of analysis.