Reconstruction of lithofacies using a supervised Self-Organizing Map:Application in pseudo-wells based on a synthetic geologic cross-section

Recently,machine learning(ML)has been considered a powerful technological element of different society areas.To transform the computer into a decision maker,several sophisticated methods and algorithms are constantly created and analyzed.In geophysics,both supervised and unsupervised ML methods have dramatically contributed to the development of seismic and well-log data interpretation.In well-logging,ML algorithms are well-suited for lithologic reconstruction problems,once there is no analytical expressions for computing well-log data produced by a particular rock unit.Additionally,supervised ML methods are strongly dependent on a accurate-labeled training data-set,which is not a simple task to achieve,due to data absences or corruption.Once an adequate supervision is performed,the classification outputs tend to be more accurate than unsupervised methods.This work presents a supervised version of a Self-Organizing Map,named as SSOM,to solve a lithologic reconstruction problem from well-log data.Firstly,we go for a more controlled problem and simulate well-log data directly from an interpreted geologic cross-section.We then define two specific training data-sets composed by density(RHOB),sonic(DT),spontaneous potential(SP)and gamma-ray(GR)logs,all simulated through a Gaussian distribution function per lithology.Once the training data-set is created,we simulate a particular pseudo-well,referred to as classification well,for defining controlled tests.First one comprises a training data-set with no labeled log data of the simulated fault zone.In the second test,we intentionally improve the training data-set with the fault.To bespeak the obtained results for each test,we analyze confusion matrices,logplots,accuracy and precision.Apart from very thin layer misclassifications,the SSOM provides reasonable lithologic reconstructions,especially when the improved training data-set is considered for supervision.The set of numerical experiments shows that our SSOM is extremely well-suited for a supervised lithologic reconstruction,especially to recover lithotypes that are weakly-sampled in the training log-data.On the other hand,some misclassifications are also observed when the cortex could not group the slightly different lithologies.

Photodynamic Therapy with Phthalomethyl D: Perspectives against SARS-CoV-2

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is the generation of cytotoxic agents through the dynamic interaction between a photosensitizer excited by light at a specific wavelength. When associated with phthalocyanines, they are efficient in incorporating target cells and exhibiting high rates of triplet generation. This study aimed to characterize PDT associated with the phototherapeutic agent Phthalomethyl D, developed by the authors, in the process of repair, healing and immune improvement for possible application against SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Sixty-nine mice were used, divided into 2 groups: GI, treated with ILIB laser, without a phototherapeutic agent, and subjected to surgery for viral induction;GII, same as GI plus association of Phthalomethyl D. They were divided into subgroups and reevaluated at 7, 14, and 21 days, and then divided into 3 subgroups of 6 animals each, subjected to treatment at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 5 and 7 days. Results: Both groups had a high rate of partial incision closure and acute inflammatory control. Microscopically, there was a greater amount of amorphous fundamental substance, fibrocytes, fibroblasts, and giant cells and reduction in the number of keratinocytes, in the amount of keratin, and epidermal thickness in GII than in GI. Conclusions: PDT with Phthalomethyl D stimulates the processes of healing/repair and immunomodulation during viral infection, initially favoring the inflammatory response and, after 21 days, contributing to the anti-inflammatory response profile, making this approach possible in the treatment of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Use of Corrosion Inhibitor in Solid Form to Prevent Internal Corrosion of Pipelines and Acidification Process

Use of corrosion inhibitors in solid form promotes the development of a new technique for internal corrosion protection of oil & gas pipelines and operations of oil wells acidification, because the controlled dissolution of the corrosion inhibitor forms a surface on metallic parts, a protective film that prevents or minimizes undesirable reactions to corrosion. In addition, this technique has important social and environmental benefits, ensures the operator has a lower risk of contamination when handling the product, changes the type of industrial packing, facilitates transportation, reduces solvent use and consequently reduces the waste that normally results from the use of inhibitors. The purpose of this article is to present a class of solid corrosion inhibitor tested in the laboratory and offer proposals for its application in industrial pipes such as gas and oil pipelines.

A Proof-of-Concept Assessment of the Safety and Efficacy of Intralesional Diclofenac in the Treatment of Cutaneous Neurofibromas

The objectives of this study were to assess the safety and efficacy of intralesionally administered diclofenac in the treatment of cutaneous neurofibromas in patients with NF1. This was a proof-of-concept, prospective, safety and efficacy study of the effect of intralesionally administered diclofenac 25 mg/ml given once a week to 3 target cutaneous neurofibromas for 4 consecutive weeks. Overall, there was no significant change in neurofibroma size. During the study, some treated lesions developed signs of necrosis and fell off after a few weeks, but none of the control neurofibromas fell off. There were no significant changes in patient’s vital signs. A few adverse events occurred, mostly at the injection sites. During the study, some neurofibromas developed necrosis after the diclofenac injections and eventually detached from the patient. Overall, diclofenac was well tolerated, suggesting minimal systemic exposure, which required confirmation and further studies, including bioavailability analysis.

Breast Cancer Paradox: High Curability versus High Mortality from a Gender Perspective

Despite being considered a potentially curable disease, breast cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death in women worldwide, establishing the following paradox: high curability versus high mortality. Among the conditions conducive to this situation, such as difficult access to diagnosis and treatment and social support by the State, there is the need to discuss the impact of women’s caregiving, the backbone of the female gender role, on self-care in health. Gender has a powerful effect on determining health status: it may limit different rates of exposure to certain risks, different patterns in the quest for treatment or differential impacts of the social and economic determinants of health. The study shows the results of a qualitative methodology with nine women aged 48 to 74 years with varying levels of schooling and socioeconomic status, who had breast cancer at some stage of adult life and who regularly attend a nongovernmental organization (NGO) to support women with breast cancer, in the city of Niterói (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). The participants’ discourses evidenced the idea of the primacy of the caregiving, the idealized image of the warrior woman and their self-neglect and State’s care as elements of the potential impact on the choices of these women concerning self-care, and consequently in their experiences of illness.

Alternative System of Industrial Paint Applied to Spherical Mount for Liquefied Petroleum Gas

The present article reports the application of zinc ethyl silicate paint and the use of internal and external paint schemes on carbon steel spheres for the storage of liquefied petroleum gas. The new paint scheme eliminates the steps of blasting in the field and minimizes the collection of waste generated and the environmental impact, reducing the service time onsite and therefore providing a productivity gain and better health and cleanliness at work. The results were obtained through test runs and qualified in bodies-of-proof made with the same characteristics as the sphere, that is, using the same material (carbon steel), thickness, and mechanical formation and subject to the same conditions of design and implementation process. The paint scheme was approved, qualified, and committed to the supplier’s warranty with the paint manufacturer and assembler of the storage spheres for liquefied petroleum gas.

Quality of Electroless Ni-P (Nickel-Phosphorus) Coatings Applied in Oil Production Equipment with Salinity

The corrosion resistance of nickel-phosphorus (Ni-P) coatings and their mechanical properties in seawater have led inestigations into the development of new technologies and the replacement of some special alloys in equipment used in oil production, such as valves, tubing, sucker rod joints, pumps, riser, manifolds and subsea Christmas trees. These studies began with Brenner and Riddel who developed, in the 1940s, formulations for Ni-P deposition on carbon steel without using an electric current. Joint deposition of nickel and phosphorus on a metallic surface (carbon steel) without applying an external current is accomplished using cathodic reduction with hydrogen (H) from a reducing agent (sodium hypophosphite) and nickel salts. To assure good performance of a Ni-P coating, the deposit quality must be inspected and evaluated during the chemical deposition process or in the end product. The recommended test parameters are: thickness, layer uniformity, hardness, adhesion, porosity, corrosion resistance and chemical composition of the nickel-phosphorus coating. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the Ni-P coating process, to evaluate the b?haviour of Ni-P in a saline environment using aqueous brine (3.5% - 30% sodium chloride by mass) and to present possible defects that could compromise the coating.

Sustainable Methods and Techniques in Old and New Public Constructions

This article is about the methods and techniques used in the building ＂retrofit＂ in modernist style designed by the architect Affonso Eduardo Reidy in the fifties, and also about the project of the new Rio de Janeiro MIS （Museum of Image and Sound）, under construction, by The North-American office Diller Scofidio ＋ Renfro, both located in the city of Rio de Janeiro. These constructions present a wide view of the concept of sustainability, not commonly used in public buildings in Brazil. In the building designed by Reidy, which belongs to the State of Rio de Janeiro, the regeneration to host the new headquarters of the State Department of Taxation and Finance respected its original characteristics and used smart and sustainable design techniques, as well as recyclable materials. On the other hand, the project of the new museum at Copacabana Beach was entirely planned on sustainable bases and it includes the application of building techniques concerning that purpose. This article presents a study of these two cases and evaluates the techniques and materials used in one another. Observing the principles of sustainability in construction is a pioneering initiative of the State Government. This article aims at making the scientific community aware of the needs of immediate adoption of sustainability techniques in Civil Engineering, not only in the construction of new buildings, but also in the regeneration of the existing ones, as well as the need of imperious adoption of sustainable techniques when it comes to maintainability.

The Application of Scales in the Diagnosis of Perceived Needs in the Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment

The study evaluated the use of the Mini-Mental State Examination scale (MMSE), Tinettiscale, and Motor Scale for the Elderly (EMTI) toassist in the diagnosis of potential needs observed in elderlies with Mild Cognitive Impairment. This was aquasi-experimental research, conducted in a Basic Health Unit in thecityof Rio de Janeiro in 2014. The sample population consisted of 22 elderlies aged 64 to 88 years and 86.36% females. The SAS statistical software (version 9.3.1) and Kruskal-Wallis test were used at a 95% confidence interval and a significance level of 0.05 and demonstrated significant differences in the evaluations performed before and after the intervention. The detected diagnoses were: impaired memory, the risk of falls, and willingness to improved relationships, among others. The evaluations showed MMSE results that were suggestive of cognitive impairment in 22.73% of the elderlies;the Tinetti scale showed a high risk of falls in 31.82% of theelderlies;and EMTI with 88.36 points, which was equivalent to the normal low classification. The intervention took place through ten weekly activity sessions after the initial evaluations. In the second evaluation, the Tinetti showed 59.09% of the elderlies with a moderate risk of falls and the EMTI as the normal average classification with 90.32 points. It was concluded that the scales offered diagnostic possibilities, which allowed for the implementation of necessary interventions according to the detected problems.

Experimental and Analytical Study of Torsional Vibration under Multiaxial Loading in Time Domain

The torsional vibration of power transmission shaft is a phenomenon whose analytical modeling can be represented by a differential equation of motion proposed by technical literature. The solutions of these equations need coefficients and parameters that, usually, must be experimentally estimated. This work uses a resistive electric SG （strain gage） to dynamically determine strains produced in the shaft due to harmonic oscillatory motion under multiaxial loading. This movement is simulated on a prototype specially developed for this purpose. It comprises a pulley attached to the end of a stepped cantilevered shaft, which is clamped at the opposite end. In this configuration, a cam generates a torque to the system, springs regulate the stiffness and the damping coefficient of the assembly, as well as they can be suitably adjusted to produce an underdamped condition. The main advantage, highlighted in this study, refers to a major simplification. Although the system under study shows multiple degrees of freedom （torsion and bending）, the shape and the positioning of linking SGs with the resistor bridge （Wheatstone Bridge）, allow ＂to evaluate the loading effects independently, as if only one degree of freedom of the system exists at a time domain. Strains graphs for two forms of cyclic torsional oscillation, analytical and experimental, were successfully generated.

Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection in Vehicular Networks (VANETs)

As Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) become more sophisticated, the importance of integrating data protection and cybersecurity is increasingly evident. This paper offers a comprehensive investigation into the challenges and solutions associated with the privacy implications within VANETs, rooted in an intricate landscape of cross-jurisdictional data protection regulations. Our examination underscores the unique nature of VANETs, which, unlike other ad-hoc networks, demand heightened security and privacy considerations due to their exposure to sensitive data such as vehicle identifiers, routes, and more. Through a rigorous exploration of pseudonymization schemes, with a notable emphasis on the Density-based Location Privacy (DLP) method, we elucidate the potential to mitigate and sometimes sidestep the heavy compliance burdens associated with data protection laws. Furthermore, this paper illuminates the cybersecurity vulnerabilities inherent to VANETs, proposing robust countermeasures, including secure data transmission protocols. In synthesizing our findings, we advocate for the proactive adoption of protective mechanisms to facilitate the broader acceptance of VANET technology while concurrently addressing regulatory and cybersecurity hurdles.

A Large Vaginal Bulge Might Not Be a Genital Prolapse

Vaginal tumors, whether benign or malignant, are rare. They include fibroepithelial polyps (FEPs), which are benign lesions originating in mesenchymal cells, comprised of a core of connective tissue covered by squamous epithelium. They are usually small and asymptomatic. When symptomatic or very large, they may cause bleeding, genital discomfort or the presence of a bulge in the vagina. In the last case, they may be mistaken for a genital prolapse. Although their physiopathology is still not clearly understood, the presence of hormonal receptors and the occurrence of FEPs during the use of hormone therapy or pregnancy suggest that changes in the stroma of these lesions may be induced by hormones. We report on the case of a patient who presented with a vaginal bulge and was referred to the urogynecology outpatient ward with a diagnosis of genital prolapse, which had actually a large fibroepithelial polyp on the posterior vaginal wall.

Analysis of Radium Isotopes in Surface Waters nearby a Phosphate Mining with NORM at Santa Quiteria,Brazil

The radium isotopes 226Ra and 228Ra were analyzed in surface water at six points in the neighborhood of a mine of phosphate, associated with uranium, in the region of Santa Quitéria, state of Ceará, Brazil. Water samples were collected during twenty months, filtered and the concentrations of activity determined in the soluble and particulate phases. The results were analyzed using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for ordination of environmental data, and also by ANOVA, Tukey and Z tests to compare sets of data considering the radionuclides, the two analyzed phases and the six collecting points. The PCA identified four groups that included all collecting points, using aggregation features such as radionuclide and analyzed phase. The first group is composed by the samples of 226Ra in the soluble phase;the second group by samples of 226Ra in the particulate phase;the third one by 228Ra in the soluble phase, and finally, the fourth group by 228Ra in the particulate phase. This last group has two discrepant points (01 and 06). Statistical analysis identified differences between the concentrations of activity of radionuclides (228Ra higher than 226Ra) and in analyzed phases (soluble phase higher than the particulate one) but showed no differences between sampled points.

International Recommendations on Calculation of Absorbed Dose in Biota:A Comprehensive Revue

Since the early times, radioprotection has been focused on the human being. Currently this approach has changed, being now also necessary to take care of the protection of the environment from unwanted effects of ionizing radiation. To this end, several institutions (UNSCEAR, ICRP, IAEA, DOE, ACRP) and consortia of institutions (FASSET, ERICA) have established procedures in order to protect the biota of such effects. Developed procedures are based on the calculation of the absorbed dose in biota (ICRP, DOE, IAEA), or on environmental risk assessment―ERA (DOE, ACRP, FASSET, ERICA);but even in this latter approach the parameters used are related to the absorbed doses in biota. The calculation of dose is the standard procedure in human radioprotection, and this points such an approach as the most interesting for providing a convergence between human and nonhuman (= biota) radioprotections. On the other hand, the ERA approach is easier to apply, because this methodology is used in several countries for non-radioactive contamination assessments. Since the world radioprotection system follows a number of institutions (UNSCEAR, ICRP, IAEA and regulatory institutions of member countries) that use dose calculation, this appears to be the way for biota radioprotection. We here review and comment the evolution of the concepts and approaches of the recommendations for radioprotection of non-human biota.

Challenges for the Characterization of Genetically Modified Animals by the qPCR Technique in the Era of Genomic Editing

Characterization of genetically modified organisms through determina­tion of zygosity and transgene integration concerning both copy number and genome site is important for breeding a transgenic line and the use of these organisms in the purpose for which it was obtained.Southern blot,fluorescence in situ hybridization or mating are demanding and time-consuming techniques traditionally used in the characterization of transgenic organisms and,with the exception of mating,give ambiguous results.With the emergence of the real-time quantitative PCR technology,different applications have been described for the analysis of transgenic organisms by determination of several parameters to transgenic analysis.However,the accuracy in quantitation by this method can be influenced in all steps of analysis.This review focuses on the aspects that influence pre-analytical steps(DNA extraction and DNA quantification methods),quantification strategies and data analysis in quantification of copy num­ber and zygosity in transgenic animals.

Release of Uranium by an Ore Treatment Unit at Caldas,MG,Brazil

This study aims to assess the behavior of the release of Unat (i.e. uranium isotopes in natural relative abundance) from the release of water treated by the Ore Treatment Unit (UTM) in Caldas, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, during the years 1999 to 2009. During this period, the unit showed no industrial activity, except between 2004 and 2005, when UTM operated 400 tons of monazite in a process to obtain rare earths. Unat was analyzed by spectrophotometry once per week in the effluent waters at sampling point 014. Two fractions were considered for analysis: the soluble one (that passes through a 0.45 μm filter) and the particulate one (retained on a 0.45 μm filter). Statistical analyses were performed: the “Z” test and Pearson’s r2 correlation index. The values for the soluble fraction were consistently lower than those of the particulate fraction and no statistically significant correlation was observed between the soluble and particulate fractions. However, the particulate and the total fractions (the sum of soluble and particulate) strongly correlated.

Endometriosis and Its Relationship with Depression

INTRODUCTION: There is evidence that the physical and psychic pain resulting from endometriosis is responsible for depression, and that one disease would complicate the other. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to detect depressive symptoms in women diagnosed with endometriosis, comparing them with those without the disease, and to evaluate if there is a relationship between the presence of current depressive symptoms and in childhood/adolescence. METHODS: Were done Beck’s Depression Inventory for adults and an adaptation of the infant, both self-applied. RESULTS: Of the women with endometriosis, 66% had symptoms of depression in the Beck’s Inventory, while in the control group, 58% had some degree of depression, but Fisher’s exact test showed that it was not possible to identify the relationship between endometriosis and depression (p = 0.423). CONCLUSION: The entity endometriosis has no relation to present or past depressive symptoms. When depressed, women with endometriosis tend to have mild symptoms for reasons not yet known, requiring further research on the subject.

Nutritional,rheological and sensory properties of butter processed with different mixtures of cow and sheep milk cream

This study assessed the quality parameters and consumer perception and behavior of butter processed with different ratios of cow and sheep milk cream.Cow milk cream butter(CMCB)showed lower moisture content and higher fat content,smaller fat globules,and higher concentrations of long-chain saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids,resulting in improved potential health indices.In addition,CMCB showed yellow color,little salt,and butter taste as the main sensory characteristics,resulting in grateful and good digestibility perceptions.Sheep milk cream addition improved the rheological properties of the products(lower viscosity,consistency index,and rigidity(J0),and higher fluidity and viscoelastic behavior(J1)),mainly due to the increased concentrations of short-chain and medium-chain saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids.However,sheep milk cream butter(SMCB)was characterized by a greasy and striking aroma,with a lower perception of good digestibility and good appearance,and a higher bitter taste.The association of cow and sheep milk cream could be an exciting option to obtain products with improved fatty acid profiles,health indices,and yet maintain desired rheological and sensory properties.The formulation with 60%sheep milk cream and 40%cow milk cream would be the suggested combination.

Rainfall variability in the Brazilian northeast biomes and their interactions with meteorological systems and ENSO via CHELSA product

Brazilian biomes are home to a significant portion of the world’s biodiversity,with a total of 14%of existing species and still concentrate 20%of the world’s water resources.However,changes in biomes have a direct impact on rainfall patterns and water recycling.Based on this,the objective was to evaluate the variability of rainfall in the four existing biomes in the Northeast Brazil(NEB)and their interaction with the ENSO climate variability mode and regional scale meteorological systems via CHELSA product.For this,monthly rainfall data were used from 1979 to 2013,with a spatial resolution of 1 km×1 km of the CHELSA product,and seasonal and annual rainfall patterns were extracted via boxplot.It was found that the rainy season in the Amazon,Caatinga and Cerrado biomes occurred between January and April,with varying intensities,except for the Atlantic Forest.Such seasonality patterns are associated with the NEB meteorological systems,with emphasis on ITCZ(all Biomes),UTCV(Amazon,Caatinga and Cerrado),Frontal Systems(extreme south of Caatinga,Cerrado and Atlantic Forest)and EWD/TWD in the(Atlantic Forest).In the inter-annual scale,the remarkable influence of ENSO was verified,mainly in the years 1983,1985,1989,1993,1998,2009 and 2012.It is noteworthy that 1985 was the wettest year of the period,with a surplus in all biomes,while the driest year differs between the Amazon(1983),Atlantic Forest and Caatinga(1993)and Cerrado(2012)biomes.The study via orbital product in NEB showed that anthropogenic processes and natural variability interfere with the forms of rain interception in the biomes and hence in rainfall patterns and water recycling in NEB.