This paper assesses Brazil's real convergence (1822–2019) through unit root tests and Markov Regime-Switching (MS) models in three different scenarios: towards (i) other six Latin American countries (LA6); (ii) Portugal; and (iii) the technological frontier country, the US. The extended unit root test results favour Brazil's very long-run real convergence towards LA6 and Portugal, but not the US. The estimated MS models, involving two different regimes, real convergence and real non-convergence/divergence, capture institutional quality's positive effect in promoting Brazil's real convergence.

This paper presents a comprehensive review of evolutionary algorithms that learn an ensemble of predictive models for supervised machine learning (classification and regression). We propose a detailed four-level taxonomy of studies in this area. The first level of the taxonomy categorizes studies based on which stage of the ensemble learning process is addressed by the evolutionary algorithm: the generation of base models, model selection, or the integration of outputs. The next three levels of the taxonomy further categorize studies based on methods used to address each stage. In addition, we categorize studies according to the main types of objectives optimized by the evolutionary algorithm, the type of base learner used and the type of evolutionary algorithm used. We also discuss controversial topics, like the pros and cons of the selection stage of ensemble learning, and the need for using a diversity measure for the ensemble’s members in the fitness function. Finally, as conclusions, we summarize our findings about patterns in the frequency of use of different methods and suggest several new research directions for evolutionary ensemble learning.

The Subglacial Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access (SALSA) Project accessed Mercer Subglacial Lake using environmentally clean hot-water drilling to examine interactions among ice, water, sediment, rock, microbes and carbon reservoirs within the lake water column and underlying sediments. A ~0.4 m diameter borehole was melted through 1087 m of ice and maintained over ~10 days, allowing observation of ice properties and collection of water and sediment with various tools. Over this period, SALSA collected: 60 L of lake water and 10 L of deep borehole water; microbes >0.2 μm in diameter from in situ filtration of ~100 L of lake water; 10 multicores 0.32–0.49 m long; 1.0 and 1.76 m long gravity cores; three conductivity–temperature–depth profiles of borehole and lake water; five discrete depth current meter measurements in the lake and images of ice, the lake water–ice interface and lake sediments. Temperature and conductivity data showed the hydrodynamic character of water mixing between the borehole and lake after entry. Models simulating melting of the ~6 m thick basal accreted ice layer imply that debris fall-out through the ~15 m water column to the lake sediments from borehole melting had little effect on the stratigraphy of surficial sediment cores.

Astrophysics Telescope for Large Area Spectroscopy Probe is a concept for a National Aeronautics and Space Administration probe-class space mission that will achieve ground-breaking science in the fields of galaxy evolution, cosmology, Milky Way, and the Solar System. It is the follow-up space mission to Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), boosting its scientific return by obtaining deep 1–4 μm slit spectroscopy for ∼70% of all galaxies imaged by the ∼2 000 deg2 WFIRST High Latitude Survey at z > 0.5. Astrophysics Telescope for Large Area Spectroscopy will measure accurate and precise redshifts for ∼200 M galaxies out to z < 7, and deliver spectra that enable a wide range of diagnostic studies of the physical properties of galaxies over most of cosmic history. Astrophysics Telescope for Large Area Spectroscopy Probe and WFIRST together will produce a 3D map of the Universe over 2 000 deg2, the definitive data sets for studying galaxy evolution, probing dark matter, dark energy and modifications of General Relativity, and quantifying the 3D structure and stellar content of the Milky Way. Astrophysics Telescope for Large Area Spectroscopy Probe science spans four broad categories: (1) Revolutionising galaxy evolution studies by tracing the relation between galaxies and dark matter from galaxy groups to cosmic voids and filaments, from the epoch of reionisation through the peak era of galaxy assembly; (2) Opening a new window into the dark Universe by weighing the dark matter filaments using 3D weak lensing with spectroscopic redshifts, and obtaining definitive measurements of dark energy and modification of General Relativity using galaxy clustering; (3) Probing the Milky Way’s dust-enshrouded regions, reaching the far side of our Galaxy; and (4) Exploring the formation history of the outer Solar System by characterising Kuiper Belt Objects. Astrophysics Telescope for Large Area Spectroscopy Probe is a 1.5 m telescope with a field of view of 0.4 deg2, and uses digital micro-mirror devices as slit selectors. It has a spectroscopic resolution of R = 1 000, and a wavelength range of 1–4 μm. The lack of slit spectroscopy from space over a wide field of view is the obvious gap in current and planned future space missions; Astrophysics Telescope for Large Area Spectroscopy fills this big gap with an unprecedented spectroscopic capability based on digital micro-mirror devices (with an estimated spectroscopic multiplex factor greater than 5 000). Astrophysics Telescope for Large Area Spectroscopy is designed to fit within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration probe-class space mission cost envelope; it has a single instrument, a telescope aperture that allows for a lighter launch vehicle, and mature technology (we have identified a path for digital micro-mirror devices to reach Technology Readiness Level 6 within 2 yr). Astrophysics Telescope for Large Area Spectroscopy Probe will lead to transformative science over the entire range of astrophysics: from galaxy evolution to the dark Universe, from Solar System objects to the dusty regions of the Milky Way.

Le code de la santé publique et notamment l’arrêté du 11 janvier 2007, relatif auxlimites et références de qualité des eaux brutes et des eaux destinées à la consommationhumaine, fixe quatre indicateurs de la qualité radiologique des eaux du robinet(l’activité αglobale, l’activité β globale, l’activité du tritium et la dose totaleindicative), ainsi que des valeurs guides et des références de qualité. Les chroniquesissues de la surveillance des eaux filtrées du Rhône aval montrent que, si laradioactivité d’origine naturelle demeure bien évidemment constante au cours du temps, lesniveaux de contamination radioactive d’origine artificielle ont fortement diminué à partirdu début des années 90, de 10 à 100 fois suivant les radionucléides. Les donnéessoulignent également qu’aucune des limites d’activités α globale, β globale et en tritium n’aété dépassée dans l’eau filtrée du Rhône aval au cours de l’ère industrielle nucléaire.Les doses totales indicatives (DTI) calculées à partir des prélèvements d’eau filtrée duRhône aval (canal Philippe Lamour – Réseau hydraulique régional propriété de la régionLanguedoc Roussillon géré par BRL), de l’Orb et de l’Hérault effectués en 2011 sont trèsinférieures à la valeur de référence de 100 μSv/an. La contribution à la DTI des radionucléidesartificiels détectés dans ces hydrosystèmes est en outre négligeable (<0,01 %).

Une étude radioécologique a été menée sur les canaux rhodaniens du réseau hydraulique régional propriété de la région Languedoc Roussillon, gérés par BRL. Ces canaux transfèrent de l’eau du fleuve Rhône vers les territoires des départements du Gard et de l’Hérault à des fins d’irrigation et de production d’eau potable. Nos résultats montrent que les caractéristiques hydrauliques intrinsèques des canaux de transport d’eau influent sur la distribution solide/solution des éléments traces en transit et par conséquent sur leur transfert vers les milieux récepteurs. Si les concentrations en phase dissoute (eau filtrée) sont conservées, les concentrations en phase particulaire (matières en suspension et sédiments) sont significativement modifiées au cours du transit. Outre la ségrégation granulométrique des particules entre l’amont et l’aval du système, ces résultats sont très probablement liés à la production biologique autochtone (phyto et zooplancton). Ces résultats originaux soulignent le caractère atypique des canaux de transport d’eau quant au transfert des éléments potentiellement contaminants.

Canadian cases and outbreaks of illness caused by Listeria monocytogenes between 1995 and 2004 were assessed. Isolates (722 total) were characterized by serotyping, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed to provide a means of detecting case clusters. Rates of listeriosis remained fairly consistent during the period of study, and patient characteristics were similar to those seen in studies of other populations. Most isolates were obtained from blood and cerebrospinal fluid, although during some outbreak investigations isolates were also obtained from stools. Serotype 1/2a predominated in isolates from patients in Canada, followed by serotypes 4b and 1/2b. Outbreaks caused by L. monocytogenes that occurred during the period of study were caused by isolates with serotypes 1/2a and 4b. A retrospective analysis of PFGE data uncovered several clusters that might have represented undetected outbreaks, suggesting that comprehensive prospective PFGE analysis coupled with prompt epidemiological investigations might lead to improved outbreak detection and control.

The suggestion that mosquitoes can discriminate ABO blood group status in man was re-examined and an attempt made to determine recognition mechanisms.

Host choice was assessed in the laboratory by recording landings on and blood-meals taken from the forearms of pairs of human volunteers in a 10-min exposure to 20 females of species A of the Anopheles gambiae complex, and an alternative procedure, which did not involve mosquitoes probing the host's skin, was developed and evaluated. The presence of weals on the host's skin was found to be an unreliable indicator of probing or feeding activity by mosquitoes. The effect of thermally induced sweating was also investigated.

No effect of ABO blood group status on host choice was found. Mosquitoes did, however, show a highly significant preference to land and feed on a subject when thermogenic sweating was induced. Secretor substances in the sweat did not influence host selection.

The predictive value of host variables such as MN blood group, skin temperature and humidity, skin colour and forearm hair density in determining host choice was examined. Very little of the observed variation in mosquito activity could be accounted for by these host variables within the ranges used.

Genotyping was used to analyse Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from sink drains and 15 intubated patients as part of a 3-month prospective study of strain transmission in a medical-surgical intensive care unit. Ninety percent of all washbasin drains were persistently contaminated with several P. aeruginosa genotypes. In 60% (9/15) of the patients, P. aeruginosa colonization or infection was hospital-acquired: P. aeruginosa strains isolated from these patients were present in hospital sinks or in other patients before their admission. Since all patients were immobile, personnel were the probable route of transmission of P. aeruginosa in the hospital. The mechanism of strain transmission from sinks to hands during hand washing was investigated in a children's hospital. When P. aeruginosa was present at densities of > 105/c.f.u. per ml in sink drains, hand washing resulted in hand contamination with P. aeruginosa via aerosol generation in the majority of experiments or P. aeruginosa was detected using an air sampler above the washing basin. High P. aeruginosa cfu were present at 4.30 h in the eight sinks (5.4 × 105−7.0 × 1010 c.f.u./ml), whereas at 13.00 h P. aeruginosa c.f.u. were significantly lower (3.1 × 102−8.0 × 105 c.f.u. / ml). These data reveal that the danger of bacterial contamination of hands during hand washing is highest in the morning. The identified transmission routes demand more effective hygienic measures in hospital settings particularly concerning personnel hands and sink drains.

Three hundred and fifty-eight stool and 131 sputum specimens from 40 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and 100 toilet sinks were investigated for occurrence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; 67% (21/31) of the patients with chronic P. aeruginosa lung infections carried the organism repeatedly in the stool but the organism was found only once in the stools of nine uninfected patients. P. aeruginosa stool carriage was correlated to high P. aeruginosa numbers in patients' sputa. Typing of P. aeruginosa with a DNA probe showed identity of sputum and stool strains. Seven patients repeatedly carried additional stool strains, not found in the sputum, suggesting intestinal colonization. No differences were seen in the clinical state of patients with P. aeruginosa-negative stool samples and patients with positive stool samples. Toilets in households of P. aeruginosa-infected CF patients were significantly more often contaminated with P. aeruginosa (42%) than toilets in households of non-infected CF patients (20%; P < 0·03). The study shows that P. aeruginosa-infected CF patients may harbour the organisms also in the intestinal tract, and may spread the bacteria into toilets.

Plusieurs laboratoires et centres techniques ont commencé à travailler sur la possibilité de réaliser des composés multimatériaux via la Métallurgie des Poudres. Dans un tel cas, ce procédé permet d'éviter le problème de l'assemblage et d'obtenir une production aux cotes. Les compressions dynamique (CGV) et conventionnelle sont deux voies possibles qui pourront être comparées grâce à une presse de laboratoire instrumentée pour l'analyse des phénomènes. Pour certaines poudres, la CGV permet d'améliorer les propriétés à vert et de modifier favorablement les conditions de frittage. La compression est suivie d'un frittage conventionnel. Différents types de poudres (poudres métalliques, poudres dures mais également des poudres céramiques) sont utilisés dans ce projet permettant ainsi de proposer de nombreuses applications. Cette présentation montre les premiers résultats obtenus par le groupe de recherche.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to compare the effect of a 15-week weight-reducing programme ( − 2900 kJ/d) coupled with a calcium plus vitamin D (calcium+D) supplementation (600 mg elemental calcium and 5 μg vitamin D, consumed twice a day) or with a placebo, on body fat and on spontaneous energy/macronutrient intake. Sixty-three overweight or obese women (mean age 43 years, mean BMI 32 kg/m2) reporting a daily calcium intake < 800 mg participated in present study. Anthropometric variables, resting energy expenditure and spontaneous energy intake were measured before and after the 15-week programme. The calcium+D supplementation induced no statistically significant increase in fat mass loss in response to the programme. However, when analyses were limited to very low-calcium consumers only (initial calcium intake ≤ 600 mg/d, n 7 for calcium+D, n 6 for placebo), a significant decrease in body weight and fat mass (P < 0·01) and in spontaneous dietary lipid intake (P < 0·05) was observed in the calcium+D but not in the placebo group. In very low-calcium consumers, change in fat mass was positively correlated with change in lipid intake. During the weight-reducing programme, a calcium+D supplementation was necessary in female overweight/obese very low-calcium consumers to reach significant fat mass loss that seemed to be partly explained by a decrease in lipid intake. We propose that this change in lipid intake could be influenced by a calcium-specific appetite control.

To estimate the magnitude and distribution of self-reported, acute gastrointestinal illness in a Canadian-based population, we conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional telephone survey of approximately 3500 randomly selected residents of the city of Hamilton (Ontario, Canada) from February 2001 to February 2002. The observed monthly prevalence was 10% (95% CI 9·94–10·14) and the incidence rate was 1·3 (95% CI 1·1–1·4) episodes per person-year; this is within the range of estimates from other developed countries. The prevalence was higher in females and in those aged <10 years and 20–24 years. Overall, prevalence peaked in April and October, but a different temporal distribution was observed for those aged <10 years. Although these data were derived from one community, they demonstrate that the epidemiology of acute gastrointestinal illness in a Canadian-based population is similar to that reported for other developed countries.

Summary

Background and objective: Changes in the middle latency auditory evoked response following the administration of opioids have been shown. However, it remains unclear as to whether these changes are due to a direct depressant effect of opioids on the middle latency auditory evoked response itself, or an indirect effect on account of their action in attenuating central nervous system arousal associated with noxious stimuli. By comparing changes in the middle latency auditory evoked response in intubated and non-intubated patients, receiving saline or remifentanil in different doses, this study attempts to answer this question.

Methods: Fifty-four patients were anaesthetized with isoflurane and nitrous oxide (0.9 MAC) and randomized to 1–6 groups. Groups 1–3 received a bolus injection of either saline 0.9%, low-dose remifentanil (1 μg kg−1) or high-dose remifentanil (3 μg kg−1) prior to intubation of the trachea. Groups 4–6 were not intubated following the bolus injection.

Results: Pa and Nb amplitudes of the middle latency auditory evoked response increased by 82% and 79% with intubation in the saline group (P < 0.005) and these changes were not seen in the patients given remifentanil. There was a significant linear trend for the reduction in Pa and Nb amplitude with increasing remifentanil dose (P < 0.05). In the absence of endotracheal intubation remifentanil had no effect on either the amplitudes or latencies of the waves Pa and Nb and there was no effect of dose. For the haemodynamic measurements remifentanil attenuated the pressor response to intubation (P < 0.001) and had a significant dose-related effect (P < 0.001) in the absence of intubation.

Conclusions: We demonstrated an effect of remifentanil on both the middle latency auditory evoked response and haemodynamic changes to endotracheal intubation. For the non-intubated patients there was only an effect of remifentanil on the haemodynamic measurements. This suggests that remifentanil has an effect on the middle latency auditory evoked response in attenuating the arousal associated with intubation of the trachea but has no effect in the absence of a stimulus.

To identify risk factors for sporadic Salmonella Typhimurium definitive phage-type 104 (DT104) and non-DT104 diarrhoeal illness in Canada, we conducted a matched case-control study between 1999 and 2000. Cases were matched 1[ratio ]1 on age and province of residence. Multivariate analysis suggested that recent antibiotic use [odds ratio (OR) 5·2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·8–15·3], living on a livestock farm (OR 4·9, 95% CI 1·9–18·9), and recent travel outside Canada (OR 4·1, 95% CI 1·2–13·8) are independent risk factors for DT104 illness. Similar analyses suggested that recent travel outside North America is a sizable risk factor for non-DT104 illness (OR 66·8, 95% CI 6·7–665·3). No food exposure was a risk factor in either analysis. Educating health-care providers and the public about appropriate antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance is important. Appropriate administration of antibiotics to livestock, particularly cattle, and hygienic measures such as handwashing after contact with farm animals may reduce risk. Travel represents an important and probably underestimated risk factor for sporadic illness with S. Typhimurium. Improved national surveillance and detailed investigation of travel-related illness are required.