Social Intelligence Design in Ambient Intelligence

This Special Issue of AI and Society contains a selection of papers presented at the 6th Social Intelligence Design Workshop held at ITC-irst, Povo (Trento, Italy) in July 2007. Being the 6th in a series means that there now is a well-established and also a growing research area. The interest in this research area is growing because, among other things, current computing technology allows other than the traditional efficiency-oriented applications associated with computer science and interface technology. For example, in Ambient Intelligence (AmI) applications we look at sensor-equipped environments and devices (robots, smart furniture, virtual humans and pets) that support their human inhabitants during their everyday activities. These everyday activities also include computer-mediated communication, collaboration and community activities

Port Authorities as cluster managers: the case of the Ligurian ports

The paper analyses the role of Port Authorities as cluster managers able to generate resources for investments with benefits for the intermodal transport chain as a whole. Assessment is made of Port Authority initiatives to foster the development of intermodality and the creation of dry ports. The framework proposed is then applied to the case of the Ligurian ports, which compete less as individual structures than as nodal points within integrated logistic chains. We argue that the integration of the land logistic interface may prove beneficial to the Ligurian ports, and that this can be achieved only if the Port Authorities act as cluster managers

Catalytic activity of Pt_(38) in the oxygen reduction reaction from first-principles simulations

The activity of truncated octahedral Pt_(38) clusters as a catalyst in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is investigated via first-principles simulations. Three catalytic steps: O_2 dissociation (O_(2ads) → 2_O_(ads)), O hydration (O_(ads) + H_2O_(ads) → 2OH_(ads)), and H_2O formation (OH_(ads) + H_(ads) → H_2O_(ads)) are considered, in which all reactant species are co-adsorbed on the Pt_(38) cluster according to a Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism. The minimum structures and saddle points for these different steps are then calculated at the density-functional theory (DFT) level using a gradient-corrected exchange–correlation (xc-)functional and taking into account the effect of the solvent via a self-consistent continuum solvation model. Moreover, first-principles molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations in which the H_2O solvent is explicitly described are performed to explore dynamic phenomena such as fast hydrogen transfer via meta-stable hydronium-type configurations and their possible role in ORR reaction paths. By comparing the present findings with previous results on the Pt(111) surface, it is shown that in such a nanometer-size cluster the rate-determining-step (rds) corresponds to H_2O formation, at variance with the extended surface in which O hydration was rate-determining, and that the overall reaction barrier is actually increased with respect to the extended system. This is in agreement with and rationalizes experimental results showing a decrease of ORR catalytic activity in the nanometer-size cluster range

Topographical localisation of glucidic residues and their variations in the canine zona pellucida during folliculogenesis.

In the present ultrastructural study, horseradish peroxidase-labelled lectins, in conjunction with antiperoxidase antibody and protein A-gold, were used to characterise and localise the oligosaccharide sequences of zona pellucida glycoproteins at different stages of follicular development in the canine ovary. Deacetylation and sialidase digestion were also performed before lectin cytochemistry. The zona pellucida of oocytes present in unilaminar primary follicles reacts with WGA- and RCA-I-lectins. The zona pellucida of oocytes present in bilaminar and trilaminar secondary follicles displays positivity to WGA, RCA-I, Con-A, UEA-I, and sialidase/SBA. This labelling pattern persists in the zona pellucida of oocytes present in antral tertiary follicles with the exception of WGA and RCA-I reactive sites which are differently distributed throughout the zona pellucida. The topographical distribution of these carbohydrates is not uniform throughout the zona pellucida, indicating the regionalization of oligosaccharide chains within three concentric bands of the zona matrix: an inner surface close to the oocyte plasma membrane, an intermediate portion and an outer layer in contact with the follicular cells. Our results demonstrated variations in the presence and distribution of the carbohydrate residues in the canine zona pellucida during different stages of follicular growth. We also observed the presence of vesicles in both the ooplasm and granulosa cells, showing a similar lectin binding pattern to that of the zona pellucida

Spinal direct current stimulation modulates the activity of gracile nucleus and primary somatosensory cortex in anaesthetized rats

Afferent somatosensory activity from the spinal cord has a profound impact on the activity of the brain. Here we investigated the effects of spinal stimulation using direct current, delivered at the thoracic level, on the spontaneous activity and on the somatosensory evoked potentials of the gracile nucleus, which is the main entry point for hindpaw somatosensory signals reaching the brain from the dorsal columns, and of the primary somatosensory cortex in anaesthetized rats. Anodal spinal direct current stimulation (sDCS) increased the spontaneous activity and decreased the amplitude of evoked responses in the gracile nucleus, whereas cathodal sDCS produced the opposite effects. At the level of the primary somatosensory cortex, the changes in spontaneous activity induced by sDCS were consistent with the effects observed in the gracile nucleus, but the changes in cortical evoked responses were more variable and state dependent. Therefore, sDCS can modulate in a polarity-specific manner the supraspinal activity of the somatosensory system, offering a versatile bottom-up neuromodulation technique that could potentially be useful in a number of clinical applications

Analysis of short-term blood pressure variability in pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma patients

Data on short-term blood pressure variability (BPV), which is a well-established cardiovascular prognostic tool, in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) patients is still lack and conflicting. We retrospectively evaluated 23 PPGL patients referred to our unit from 2010 to 2019 to analyze 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24-h ABPM)-derived markers of short-term BPV, before and after surgical treatment. PPGL diagnosis was assessed according to guidelines and confirmed by histologic examination. The 24-h ABPM-derived markers of short-term BPV included: circadian pressure rhythm; standard deviation (SD) and weighted SD (wSD) of 24-h, daytime, and night-time systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP); average real variability (ARV) of 24-h, daytime, and night-time systolic and diastolic BP. 7 males and 16 females of 53 ± 18 years old were evaluated. After surgical resection of PPGL we found a significant decrease in 24-h systolic BP ARV (8.8 ± 1.6 vs. 7.6 ± 1.3 mmHg, p < 0.001), in 24-h diastolic BP ARV (7.5 ± 1.6 vs. 6.9 ± 1.4 mmHg, p = 0.031), and in wSD of 24-h diastolic BP (9.7 ± 2.0 vs 8.8 ± 2.1 mmHg, p = 0.050) comparing to baseline measurements. Moreover, baseline 24-h urinary metanephrines significantly correlated with wSD of both 24-h systolic and diastolic BP. Our study highlights as PPGL patients, after proper treatment, show a significant decrease in some short-term BPV markers, which might represent a further cardiovascular risk factor

Analysis of Bone Architecture in Rodents Using Micro-Computed Tomography.

This chapter describes the use of micro-computed tomography scanning for analyzing bone structure, focussing on rodent bone. It discusses sample preparation, the correct setup of the scanner, the impact of some of the important scanner settings and new applications

Multi-lamellar vesicle formation in a long-chain nonionic surfactant: C16E4/D2O system

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Circadian Activity Rhythms for Mothers with an Infant in ICU

Circadian rhythms influence sleep and wakefulness. Circadian activity rhythms (CAR) are altered in individuals with dementia or seasonal affective disorder. To date, studies exploring CAR and sleep in postpartum women are rare. The purpose of this report is to describe relationships between CAR, sleep disturbance, and fatigue among 72 first-time mothers during their second week postpartum while their newborn remain hospitalized in intensive care unit. Seventy-two mothers were included in this secondary data analysis sample from three separate studies. Participants completed the general sleep disturbance scale (GSDS), numerical rating scale for fatigue, and a sleep diary. The objective sleep data included total sleep time (TST), wake after sleep onset (WASO), and CAR determined by the circadian quotient (amplitude/mesor) averaged from at least 48-h of wrist actigraphy monitoring. The TST of mothers who self-reported as poor sleepers was 354 min (SEM = 21.9), with a mean WASO of 19.5% (SEM = 2.8). The overall sleep quality measured by the GSDS was clinically, significantly disrupted (M = 5.5, SD = 1.2). The mean score for morning fatigue was 5.8 (SD = 2.0), indicating moderate fatigue severity. The CAR was 0.62 (SEM = 0.04), indicating poor synchronization. The self-reported good sleepers (GSDS < 3) had better CAR (M = 0.71, SEM = 0.02) than poor sleepers (GSDS > 3) (t[70] = 2.0, p < 0.05). A higher circadian equation was associated with higher TST (r = 0.83, p < 0.001), less WASO (r = −0.50, p < 0.001), lower self-reported sleep disturbance scores (r = −0.35, p = 0.01), and less morning fatigue (r = −0.26). Findings indicate that mothers with a hospitalized infant have both nocturnal sleep problems and disturbed circadian activity rhythms. Factors responsible for these sleep and rhythm disturbances, the adverse effects on mother's physical and mental well-being, and mother–infant relationship require further study