Evidence Of Interference Research Articles

The Management of Government Grant-Aided Primary Schools in Goma Sub-County, Mukono District, Uganda: Implications on School Performance and Stability

The study explored the management of the government grant-aided primary schools in Goma sub-county, Mukono District. It specifically focused on the administration of schools, management of voluntary contributions, and the relationship between the school administration and the stakeholders. The exploratory research design was adopted to select ten headteachers, ten members of the foundation bodies, ten School Management Committee (SMC) members, and two officials from the District Education office. Data was collected through face to face interviews, document review and observations. The findings reveal that: (i) the SMCs lack the necessary competences and commitment to play effectively their administrative roles; (ii) the teacher support supervision by both the district education inspectors and headteachers is insufficient; (iii) the voluntary contributions towards midday meals and other administrative costs are inadequate; (iv) parents in rural schools are not as supportive as expected; and (v) there is evidence of interference by foundation bodies in the administration of schools. Therefore, the study recommends that: (i) government should revise the Education Act of 2008 to include the minimum qualification of an Advance Level certificate for SMC members to ensure competence to perform effectively their administrative and supervisory roles; (ii) government should increase the capitation grant to cater for the mid-day meals and other administrative costs; (iii) the SMCs, the Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and the church should sensitize the communities on the importance of voluntary contributions; and (iv) the District Education authorities should organize training workshops for the headteachers and the members of the SMC on the roles of various stakeholders as stipulated in the Education Act of 2008 to minimize conflict.

Evaluation of the ARK Diagnostics immunoassay for qualitative detection of xylazine in urine.

Xylazine exposure is common in some US cities, but a commercial assay for routine laboratory testing for xylazine is not currently available. We evaluated a pre-release version of the ARK Diagnostics immunoassay for qualitative detection of xylazine/4-hydroxyxylazine in urine. Studies were conducted using either the semi-quantitative assay application (A. Roche Cobas 503 analyzer) or the qualitative assay application (B. Beckman Coulter AU480 analyzer). Study specimens consisted of deidentified patient urine samples submitted for routine drugs-of-abuse testing. Measurements of xylazine (X) were performed by LC-MS-MS to obtain X-NEGATIVE (X <10 ng/mL) and X-POSITIVE (X ≥10 ng/mL). The semi-quantitative ARK assay was calibrated with a 10 ng/mL cutoff for ARK-POSITVE. For (A): among 74 X-POSITIVE samples, there was 1 ARK-NEGATIVE result (false-negative rate = 1.4%); among 78 X-NEGATIVE samples by LC-MS-MS, there were 0% ARK-POSITIVE results (false-positive rate = 0%). For (B), among 74 X-POSITIVE samples, there were 0 ARK-NEGATIVE results (false-negative rate = 0%); among 78 X-NEGATIVE samples there was 1 ARK-POSITIVE sample (false-positive rate = 1.3%). Common sources of interferences were investigated without evidence of interference. The ARK xylazine/4-OH-xylazine immunoassay was found to be suitable for routine use in screening patient urine samples for presence of xylazine >10 ng/mL.

Smart dual imprinted Origami 3D-ePAD for selective and simultaneous analysis of vanillylmandelic acid and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid carcinoid cancer biomarkers using graphene quantum dots coated with dual molecularly imprinted polymers

Measuring the levels of the biomarkers vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and 5-Hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) is a valuable tool for clinical diagnosis not only of neuroblastoma or carcinoid syndrome, but also of essential hypertension, depression, migraine, and Tourette's syndrome. Herein, we explore using graphene quantum dots (GQDs) coated with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) as novel dual-imprinted sensors for selective and simultaneous determination of VMA and 5-HIAA in urine and plasma samples. The dual-MIP was successfully coated on the GQDs core via co-polymerization of (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), acting as functional and cross-linking monomers, respectively. In addition, we successfully created the dual imprinted VMA and 5-HIAA shell on the GQDs' core via a one-pot synthesis. We fabricated a facile and ready-to-use Origami three-dimensional electrochemical paper-based analytical device (Origami 3D-ePAD) for simultaneous determination of VMA and 5-HIAA using a GQDs@dual-MIP modified graphene electrode (GQDs@dual-MIP/SPGE). The Origami 3D-ePAD was designed to form a voltammetric cell on a three-layer foldable sheet with several advantages. For example, they were quickly assembled and enhanced the device's physical durability with the hydrophobic backup sheet. The developed dual imprinted Origami 3D-ePAD leads to substantially enhanced sensitivity and selectivity to electrochemical signal amplification generated from increasing the electrode-specific surface area, electrocatalytic activity, and the large numbers of dual imprinted sites for VMA and 5-HIAA detection. The synthetic recognition sites are highly selective for 5-HIAA and VMA molecules with an imprinting factor of 8.46 and 7.10, respectively. Quantitative analysis relying on square wave voltammetry reveals excellent linear dynamic ranges of around 0.001–25 μM, with detection limits of 0.023 nM for 5-HIAA and 0.047 nM for VMA (3Sb, n = 3). The Origami 3D-ePAD provides high accuracy and precision (i.e., recovery values of 5-HIAA ranged from 82.98 to 98.40 %, and VMA ranged from 83.28 to 104.39 %), and RSD less than 4.37 %) in urine and plasma samples without any evidence of interference. Hence, it is well suited as a facile and ready-to-use disposable device for point-of-care testing. It is straightforward, cost-effective, reproducible, and stable. Furthermore, it allows for rapid analysis (analysis time ∼20s) useful in medical diagnosis and other relevant fields.

Co-transport of Microplastics and a surrogate for Human Enteric Viruses in a saturated column packed with Quartz Sand

Groundwater can be contaminated with infective human enteric viruses from various sources, such as wastewater treatment plant discharge, landfills, septic tanks, agricultural practices, and artificial groundwater recharge. Anthropogenic pollutants, such as microplastics, may exhibit an affinity to transport biocolloids (bacteria, viruses) further and reduce their degradation rates in the natural environment. Human enteric viruses (poliovirus, hepatitis A, rotavirus, and adenovirus) can adsorb to the abiotic surface of microplastics and are simultaneously present in wastewater discharge. These newly formed clumps of pathogens and microplastics could penetrate deeper into soils as vectors for preferential flow and threaten groundwater systems, triggering a higher risk for drinking water and possibly followed by a disease outbreak. The mechanisms behind the adsorption of human enteric viruses on microplastic surfaces and their potential role in prolonging virus survival and promoting environmental transport remain unclear. This study aims to explore the possibility of co-transport of microplastics and human enteric viruses in saturated porous media, using PRD1 bacteriophage as a surrogate. PRD1 bacteriophages have been widely used as surrogates of rotavirus because they share many fundamental properties and features. Column experiments were performed using quartz sand (soil grain size: 0.60 - 1.30 mm) as a porous media in a 30 cm long and 7 cm diameter column. The column experiments were conducted by maintaining Darcy velocity of 2.65 m/day. Three different influent solution scenarios were considered in the experiments: PRD1 mixed with microplastics, PRD1 alone, and microplastics alone. The enumeration of PRD1 in the effluent solution was performed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) as well as the culture method, in order to differentiate between infective and inactive virus transport. Microplastics were quantified using Solid-Phase Cytometry (SPC). Results were analyzed by calculating the collision and sticking efficiencies of the microplastics and PRD1 using the classical colloid filtration theory and Hydrus 1D modeling tool. There was no evidence of interference or inhibition of microplastics on the performance of qPCR and DNA extraction in the methodological setup. Additionally, the efficacy of qPCR and DNA extraction methods did not yield significantly different results across any of the influent solution conditions. Preliminary results suggest that the presence of microplastics enhanced the transport of PRD1, which led to reduced attachment of PRD1 in the porous media. The concentration of infective phages showed a delayed sharp increase, indicating that there may be a sorption mechanism that delays their breakthrough. It is possible that a portion of the active phages possess a higher sticking efficiency and that population heterogeneity contributes to this phenomenon. A comprehensive understanding of the processes that govern virus transport with globally distributed microplastics is crucial for protecting public health.

Investigating the automaticity of links between body perception and trait concepts

ABSTRACT Social cognition has been argued to rely on automatic mechanisms, but little is known about how automatically the processing of body shapes is linked to other social processes, such as trait inference. In three pre-registered experiments, we tested the automaticity of links between body shape perception and trait inference by manipulating cognitive load during a response-competition task. In Experiment 1 (N = 52), participants categorised body shapes in the context of compatible or incompatible trait words, under high and low cognitive load. Bayesian multi-level modelling of reaction times indicated that interference caused by the compatibility of trait cues was insensitive to concurrent demands placed on working memory resources. These findings indicate that the linking of body shapes and traits is resource-light and more “automatic” in this sense. In Experiment 2 (N = 39) and 3 (N = 70), we asked participants to categorise trait words in the context of task-irrelevant body shapes. Under these conditions, no evidence of interference was found, regardless of concurrent load. These results suggest that while body shapes and trait concepts can be linked in an automatic manner, such processes are sensitive to wider contextual factors, such as the order in which information is presented.

PO-04-010 USE OF A LEADLESS PACEMAKER WITH BILATERAL DEEP BRAIN STIMULATORS

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a critical tool for the treatment of advanced, drug-refractory Parkinson’s disease using high-frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus and globus pallidus internus. In patients with cooccurring needs for cardiac pacing, there is risk of electrical interference leading to oversensing. To minimize interaction, device manufacturers recommend a minimum distance of 6 inches between generators, which is not feasible with standard pacemaker (PPM) placement in the setting of bilateral DBS. In this case, we demonstrate leadless PPM placement in a patient with bilateral DBS and show absence of electrical interference with various DBS configurations and output. Demonstrate safety and efficacy of leadless pacemaker placement without electrical interference in patient with DBS n/a A 63 year-old female with history of Parkinson’s disease with bilateral DBS placement in 2015 presented with recurrent syncope. Patient was standing and washing dishes when she suddenly lost consciousness without prodrome. Telemetry demonstrated sinus rhythm with intermittent symptomatic junctional bradycardia. Transthoracic echocardiogram demonstrated normal ejection fraction with normal valve function. Reversible causes of syncope were ruled out and decision was made to implant a PPM. Given risk of interference with a standard PPM, a MICRA AV leadless PPM was implanted 4.8cm from the left DBS generator and programmed in VDD mode (Panel 1). To test for interference, bilateral DBS were programmed to unipolar stimulation with maximum output (5V at 135Hz and 2V at 185Hz). There was no evidence of noise or interference on MICRA AV EGM (Panel C) despite noise on surface ECG leads (Panel B). Patient’s symptoms improved with pacing and follow up device check showed no complications or interference. We demonstrate successful implant of a leadless PPM with AV synchrony (Micra AV) in patient with bilateral DBS. Despite placement less than 6 inches from DBS generators, there was no evidence of interference at maximum DBS voltage and frequency in both unipolar and bipolar configurations. Leadless PPM should be considered first line for patients with DBS, with appropriate pacing and absence of interference through a range of therapeutic outputs.

Development, Validation, and Utilization of a Luminex-Based SARS-CoV-2 Multiplex Serology Assay.

SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing is important for seroprevalence studies and for evaluating vaccine immune responses. We developed and validated a Luminex bead-based multiplex serology assay for measuring IgG levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against full-length spike (S), nucleocapsid (N), and receptor-binding domains (RBDs) of wild-type, RBD N501Y mutant, RBD E484K mutant, RBD triple mutant SARS-CoV-2 proteins, Sars-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, and common human coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, OC43, 229E, HKU1, and NL63. Assay cutoff values, sensitivity, and specificity were determined using samples from 160 negative controls and 60 PCR-confirmed, SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. The assay demonstrated sensitivities of 98.3%, 95%, and 100% and specificities of 100%, 99.4%, and 98.8% for anti-(S), -N, and -RBD, respectively. Results are expressed as IgG antibody concentrations in BAU/mL, using the WHO international standard (NIBSC code 20/136) for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. When the multiplex assay was performed and compared with singleplex assays, the IgG antibody measurement geometric mean ratios were between 0.895 and 1.122, and no evidence of interference was observed between antigens. Lower and upper IgG concentration limits, based on accuracy (between 80% and 120%), precision (percent relative standard deviation, ≤25%), and sample dilutional linearity (between 75% and 125%), were used to establish the assay range. Precision was established by evaluating 24 individual human serum samples obtained from vaccinated and SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. The assay provided reproducible, consistent results with typical coefficients of variation of ≤20% for all assays, irrespective of the run, day, or analyst. Results indicate the assay has high sensitivity and specificity and thus is appropriate for use in measuring SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in infected and vaccinated individuals. IMPORTANCE The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic resulted in the development and validation of multiple serology tests with variable performance. While there are multiple SARS-CoV-2 serology tests to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, the focus is usually either on only one antigen at a time or multiple proteins from only one SARS-CoV-2 variant. These tests usually do not evaluate antibodies against viral proteins from different SARS-CoV-2 variants or from other coronaviruses. Here, we evaluated a multiplex serology test based on Luminex technology, where antibodies against multiple domains of SARS-CoV-2 wild type, SARS-CoV-2 mutants, and common coronavirus antibodies are detected simultaneously in a single assay. This Luminex-based multiplex serology assay can enhance our understanding of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination.

Faces, English words and Chinese characters: a study of dual-task interference in mono-and bilingual speakers.

The many-to-many hypothesis suggests that face and visual-word processing tasks share neural resources in the brain, even though they show opposing hemispheric asymmetries in neuroimaging and neuropsychologic studies. Recently it has been suggested that both stimulus and task effects need to be incorporated into the hypothesis. A recent study found dual-task interference between face and text functions that lateralized to the same hemisphere, but not when they lateralized to different hemispheres. However, it is not clear whether a lack of interference between word and face recognition would occur for other languages, particularly those with a morpho-syllabic script, like Chinese, for which there is some evidence of greater right hemispheric involvement. Here, we used the same technique to probe for dual-task interference between English text, Chinese characters and face recognition. We tested 20 subjects monolingual for English and 20 subjects bilingual for Chinese and English. We replicated the prior result for English text and showed similar results for Chinese text with no evidence of interference with faces. We also did not find interference between Chinese and English text. The results support a view in which reading English words, reading Chinese characters and face identification have minimal sharing of neural resources.

Facile and Compact Electrochemical Paper-Based Analytical Device for Point-of-Care Diagnostic of Dual Carcinogen Oxidative Stress Biomarkers through a Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Coated on Graphene Quantum-Dot Capped Gold.

Nanoscale imprinting significantly increases the specific surface area and recognition capabilities of a molecularly imprinted polymer by improving accessibility to analytes, binding kinetics, and template removal. Herein, we present a novel synthetic route for a dual molecularly imprinted polymer (dual-MIP) of the carcinogen oxidative stress biomarkers 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) and 4-nitroquinolin-N-oxide (4-NQO) as coatings on graphene quantum-dot capped gold nanoparticles (GQDs-AuNPs). The dual-MIP was successfully coated on the GQDs-AuNPs core via a (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) linkage and copolymerization with the 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTMS) functional monomer. In addition, we fabricated a facile and compact three-dimensional electrochemical paper-based analytical device (3D-ePAD) for the simultaneous determination of the dual biomarkers using a GQDs-AuNPs@dual-MIP-modified graphene electrode (GQDs-AuNPs@dual-MIP/SPGE). The developed dual-MIP device provides greatly enhanced electrochemical signal amplification due to the improved electrode-specific surface area, electrocatalytic activity, and the inclusion of large numbers of dual-imprinted sites for 3-NT and 4-NQO detection. Quantitative analysis used square wave voltammetry, with an oxidation current appearing at -0.10 V for 4-NQO and +0.78 V for 3-NT. The dual-MIP sensor revealed excellent linear dynamic ranges of 0.01 to 500 μM for 3-NT and 0.005 to 250 μM for 4-NQO, with detection limits in nanomolar levels for both biomarkers. Furthermore, the dual-MIP sensor for the simultaneous determination of 3-NT and 4-NQO provides high accuracy and precision, with no evidence of interference from urine, serum, or whole blood samples.

Word learning in the context of semantic prior knowledge: evidence of interference from feature-based neighbours in children and adults

ABSTRACT The presence of phonological neighbours facilitates word-form learning, suggesting that prior phonological knowledge supports vocabulary acquisition. We tested whether prior semantic knowledge similarly benefits word learning by teaching 7-to-10-year-old children (Experiment 1) and adults (Experiment 2) pseudowords assigned to novel concepts with low or high semantic neighbourhood density according to feature norms. Form recall, definition recall, and semantic categorisation tasks were administered immediately after training, the next day, and one week later. Across sessions, pseudowords assigned to low-density (versus high-density) semantic neighbourhood concepts elicited better word-form recall (for adults) and better meaning recall (for children). Exploratory cross-experiment analyses demonstrated that the neighbourhood influence was most robust for recalling meanings. Children showed greater gains in form recall than adults across the week, regardless of links to semantic knowledge. While the results suggest that close semantic neighbours interfere with word learning, we consider alternative semantic dimensions that may be beneficial.

Traditional and European Oriented Principles in the Codification of Administrative Procedures in Central Eastern Europe

The demanding and changing societal environment brings the necessity of public administration reforms in various aspects. This is even more emphasised in Central Eastern Europe (CEE), which can be attributed to the still ongoing transition. Administrative procedures and their codification change over time, which also applies to the basic principles related thereto. The article presents the development of such principles in national APAs of Slovenia (from 1999), Czech Republic (2004), Croatia (2009), and Hungary (2016), in line with EU development guidelines, particularly Art. 41 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights that envisages the right to good administration. The basic principles embedded in national APAs constitute value-based guidelines that apply both to the drafting and to the interpretation of rules relevant for any type of administrative decision and any stage of procedure. The author finds that more recent APAs in Central Eastern Europe present an evident trend towards governing the administrative procedure and the basic principles more comprehensively, with due account of the more contemporary elements, such as proportionality among principles and cooperation among authorities. Another common denominator is complementing the traditional Rechtsstaat principles with more modern ones, in the sense of greater partnership among all stakeholders in administrative relationships. This points to a positive surpassing of historical legacies of European development, although at the same time there is evidence of interference with the administrative procedure as a tool of democracy, mainly as a result of political aspirations or trends to increase the efficiency of public policies. Hence, in the Member States, classical and modern principles should be codified and interpreted holistically, in the light of the values of the EU

Evaluation of transmissivity in a fractured aquifer—the Nyanzari wellfield, Burundi

Due to population growth, the city of Gitega in the central part of Burundi is lacking drinking water. Therefore, the national urban water supply company decided to expand the Nyanzari wellfield by drilling additional wells.Two additional wells were drilled to 80 m (F7.2) and 85 m (F8bis) depths. Step tests followed by 72-hours aquifer tests were performed in each well. Results indicate bilinear flow followed by linear flow and radial flow in F7.2. No reaction was observed in observation wells. Fracture-matrix transmissivity was estimated at 3 · 10−4 m2/s. In the case of F8bis, linear flow in an infinite flow fracture followed by radial flow was visible. Reaction was measured in observation wells. Transmissivity was estimated at 3.3 · 10−3 m2/s.Both wells lie no more than 300 m apart, but no evidence of interference between them was depicted during the tests. It appears that two independent fracture systems prevail in the wellfield.

Oxidative Stress in Takotsubo Syndrome-Is It Essential for an Acute Attack? Indirect Evidences Support Multisite Impact Including the Calcium Overload-Energy Failure Hypothesis.

Indirect evidences in reviews and case reports on Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) support the fact that the existence of oxidative stress (OS) might be its common feature in the pre-acute stage. The sources of OS are exogenous (environmental factors including pharmacological and toxic influences) and endogenous, the combination of both may be present, and they are being discussed in detail. OS is associated with several pathological conditions representing TTS comorbidities and triggers. The dominant source of OS electrones are mitochondria. Our analysis of drug therapy related to acute TTS shows many interactions, e.g., cytostatics and glucocorticoids with mitochondrial cytochrome P450 and other enzymes important for OS. One of the most frequently discussed mechanisms in TTS is the effect of catecholamines on myocardium. Yet, their metabolic influence is neglected. OS is associated with the oxidation of catecholamines leading to the synthesis of their oxidized forms – aminochromes. Under pathological conditions, this pathway may dominate. There are evidences of interference between OS, catecholamine/aminochrome effects, their metabolism and antioxidant protection. The OS offensive may cause fast depletion of antioxidant protection including the homocystein-methionine system, whose activity decreases with age. The alteration of effector subcellular structures (mitochondria, sarco/endoplasmic reticulum) and subsequent changes in cellular energetics and calcium turnover may also occur and lead to the disruption of cellular function, including neurons and cardiomyocytes. On the organ level (nervous system and heart), neurocardiogenic stunning may occur. The effects of OS correspond to the effect of high doses of catecholamines in the experiment. Intensive OS might represent “conditio sine qua non” for this acute clinical condition. TTS might be significantly more complex pathology than currently perceived so far.

High Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation in a Patient with Bilateral Cochlear Implants

BACKGROUND: High-frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF-SCS) has become very popular in the management of chronic pain worldwide. As it relies on generating high-frequency electrical impulses, there is a risk of interference with other devices such as cochlear implants that utilize similar principles. A literature search did not reveal any case reports of HF-SCS implantation in a patient with cochlear implants. CASE REPORT: A 75-year-old White woman with a history of bilateral cochlear implants (Cochlear Americas Nucleus® with cp910 processor) for severe sensorineural hearing loss presented to our chronic pain clinic with lumbosacral radiculopathy. The patient underwent a HF-SCS trial with entry point at the L1-L2 space and the leads positioned at the top and bottom of T8. The patient did not experience any auditory interference with her Cochlear implant at triple the average SCS stimulation strength. During the follow-up visit the next week, the patient reported nearly 80% symptomatic pain relief and significant functional improvement. There was no change in her hearing and no evidence of interference. The patient ultimately underwent percutaneous SCS paddle electrode placement and at 3 months, continues to have excellent pain relief without any auditory interactions. CONCLUSION: We successfully implanted a HF-SCS at the thoracic level in a patient with bilateral cochlear implants without any auditory interference. KEY WORDS: Cochlear implant, lumbar radiculopathy, spinal cord stimulation

Combining mental and physical stress: Synergy or interference?

Both cognitive stressors (such as mental arithmetic tasks) and physical stressors (such as the cold pressor test, CP) are among the most widely employed tools in acute stress research, and there is growing evidence for a high degree of stimulus-response specificity, rather than uniformity, in the human stress response. However, little is known about potential synergistic or interfering effects during concurrent administration. While cognitive tasks have been hypothesized to attenuate pain perception during CP, they are also thought to enhance physiological reactivity. Conversely, physical stress might interfere with effective stress induction by cognitive challenges. To address these questions, 56 participants underwent either the CP (3-min ice-water immersion of feet) or a warm-water control condition. In half of the sample, the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT) was performed simultaneously (fully crossed interventions). Salivary cortisol, cardiovascular parameters, and subjective ratings as well as voice pitch (F0) were assessed. Results show that cortisol responses, self-reported pain and subjective arousal were mainly driven by cold exposure, which also led to increased F0. The PASAT incrementally enhanced cardiovascular reactions, but did not affect pain ratings nor cortisol responses to the CP. However, intra-individual concordance between elevated blood pressure and other reactivity measures was enhanced by PASAT administration during the CP. Importantly, performance decrements in the mental-arithmetic task were not associated with diminished stress responses. In conclusion, our results speak against any strong interference when administering cognitive and painful physical stressors simultaneously, pointing rather to specific additive effects, particularly regarding cardiovascular reactivity.

Estudo de Eventos – Análise das decisões do Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica em fusões e aquisições nos setores de energia elétrica e telecomunicações

Diante das situações que o mercado financeiro pode passar, fusões e aquisições têm grandes impactos na eficiência de mercado, como abordado na teoria clássica das finanças. Diante disso, o seguinte trabalho se baseia na Hipótese de Mercados Eficientes para a aplicação do método de Estudo de Eventos para a análise de Fusões e Aquisições (F&amp;A) dos setores regulados de Energia Elétrica e Telecomunicações no Brasil, a fim de verificar se as decisões de permissão das fusões por parte do Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE) foram assertivas e se não tiveram impacto anticompetitivo no mercado. Para cada setor foi utilizado uma variação do método do Estudo de Eventos quanto as janelas de tempo analisadas, mas sua metodologia foi mantida. Para o setor de Energia elétrica foi contemplado as fusões de Enel x CELG, de 2017, e Enel x Eletropaulo, de 2018, e para o setor de Telecomunicações foi analisado a aquisição Telefônica x GVT, de 2018. Com a aplicação do método não há evidência de interferência no mercado competitivo, na ótica do mercado de capitais, para todos os eventos contemplados, mostrando assim que as decisões do CADE se mostraram corretas e o mercado se comportou de maneira eficiente.

Emotion processing in depression and anxiety disorders in older adults: systematic review.

Emotional cognition and effective interpretation of affective information is an important factor in social interactions and everyday functioning, and difficulties in these areas may contribute to aetiology and maintenance of mental health conditions. In younger people with depression and anxiety, research suggests significant alterations in behavioural and brain activation aspects of emotion processing, with a tendency to appraise neutral stimuli as negative and attend preferentially to negative stimuli. However, in ageing, research suggests that emotion processing becomes subject to a 'positivity effect', whereby older people attend more to positive than negative stimuli. This review examines data from studies of emotion processing in Late-Life Depression and Late-Life Anxiety to attempt to understand the significance of emotion processing variations in these conditions, and their interaction with changes in emotion processing that occur with ageing. We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. Articles that used an emotion-based processing task, examined older persons with depression or an anxiety disorder and included a healthy control group were included. In Late-Life Depression, there is little consistent behavioural evidence of impaired emotion processing, but there is evidence of altered brain circuitry during these processes. In Late-Life Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress disorder, there is evidence of interference with processing of negative or threat-related words. How these findings fit with the positivity bias of ageing is not clear. Future research is required in larger groups, further examining the interaction between illness and age and the significance of age at disease onset.

The 36th International ISBT Congress, Virtual meeting, 12-16 December 2020.

Background: The five antigens of the Yt blood group system are located on the membrane GPI‐linked erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE‐E), which is implicated in a range of clinical issues, including sleep apnoea and neurotoxin poisoning. Conformational changes associated with different Yt antigens, as well as the storage of red cells, may affect AChE‐E activity. Direct analysis of AChE‐E presents unique challenges that may be overcome by electrochemical measurement using low‐cost electron‐mediated screen‐printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) under suitable amperometric conditions. Aims: We present the electrochemical analysis of AChE‐E activity of five different Yt phenotypes, the effect on AChE‐E of red cell refrigeration over a four‐week timeframe and storage by freezing. The efficacy of electron‐mediated SPCEs is examined in relation to the potential interferences and electrode‐fouling. Methods: SPCEs containing the electron mediator (cobalt phthalocyanine) were manufactured on a plastic substrate, each in association with a screen‐printed Ag/AgCl counter/reference electrode in a two‐electrode format. Whole blood samples were initially washed to remove butyrylcholinesterase and resuspended in PBS. AChE‐E activity was assessed at 37⁰C using chronoamperometry at + 0 mV following the addition of acetylthiocholine chloride to the cell suspension. Ten Yt(a+b‐) and four Yt(a‐b+) donor samples were tested after collection and at two and four weeks storage at 4⁰C. Five Yt(a+b‐) and twenty Yt(a‐b+) were tested following freezing in liquid nitrogen. Samples with confirmed rare Yt phenotypes were evaluated to determine if the phenotype effected AChE‐E activity. The assay longevity and electrode viability were examined using eight of the samples representing the different Yt phenotypes over an extended duration of measurement. Results: SPCEs gave a consistent response in all samples tested without evidence of interference or fouling by the adherence of the cells to the electrode surface. The sensors were shown to operate continuously for a minimum of 60 minutes until the substrate became limiting. The reproducibility of the sensors (six replicates each of five samples) was 14% (RSD), which is typical for SPCEs in biological samples. An optimal assay duration of 120 seconds was selected. Compared to fresh samples, storage by freezing resulted in a loss of approximately 40% AChE‐E activity in Yt(a+b‐), whereas Yt(a‐b+) samples showed a 40% increase in enzyme activity. These differences occurred despite the almost identical conformation of the Yta and Ytb AChE‐E structure as studied by molecular dynamic calculations. Samples stored at 4⁰C showed a significant deterioration in AChE‐E activity within the first 14 days; a reduction of 35% for Yt(a+b‐) and 28% for Yt(a‐b+) (P < 0.01), followed by no significant change between 14 and 28 days of storage. The effect of rare Yt phenotypes was examined using stored frozen samples. AChE‐E activity differed markedly when compared to Yt(a+b‐); 82% higher in Yt(a‐b+) samples, 39% in YTLI– and 210% in YTOT–. An exception was YTEG–, which remained comparable to Yt(a+b‐). Summary/Conclusions: Mediated SPCEs were used effectively in the electrochemical measurement of AChE‐E activity, showing their potential for rapid low‐cost analysis of red cells. We showed that the activity of the enzyme was reduced with refrigeration, although the consequences of freezing were more varied in terms of Yt phenotype.

Deep Brain Stimulation in Patients With Concomitant Cardiac Pacemakers: A Case Series.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a treatment modality increasingly utilized in the management of neurological and psychiatric conditions. Neurosurgical technical considerations and contraindications have yet to be thoroughly characterized in the literature. The patient population for DBS includes many elderly patients with multiple comorbidities who require treatments and investigations that expose them to electromagnetic fields of varying strengths and durations, including other implanted electromodulatory devices. To determine if clinically significant interference arises between DBS and cardiac pacemaker systems. Here we audited 8 patients, mean age 72, with cardiac pacemakers and DBS implanted from 2007 to 2015. We investigated details of their neurological and electrocardiological treatment and progress and sought evidence for interference between the two systems. We found no evidence of DBS dysfunction, and only one case of abnormal pacemaker interrogation 2 yr post-DBS implantation was found, which was thought to be secondary to a medication issue rather than neuromodulation interference. Our research reassures the clinician that pacemakers and DBS systems do not appear to affect one another and provides guidance on minimizing possibility of this.

Neural Evidence for Interference in Contextual Cueing

Neural Evidence for Interference in Contextual Cueing