An automatic tool flow for the combined implementation of multi-mode circuits

A multi-mode circuit implements the functionality of a limited number of circuits, called modes, of which at any given time only one needs to be realised. Using run-time reconfiguration of an FPGA, all the modes can be implemented on the same reconfigurable region, requiring only an area that can contain the biggest mode. Typically, conventional run-time reconfiguration techniques generate a configuration for every mode separately. To switch between modes the complete reconfigurable region is rewritten, which often leads to very long reconfiguration times. In this paper we present a novel, fully automated tool flow that exploits similarities between the modes and uses Dynamic Circuit Specialization to drastically reduce reconfiguration time. Experimental results show that the number of bits that is rewritten in the configuration memory reduces with a factor from 4.6X to 5.1X without significant performance penalties

ML-MAS : a Hybrid AI Framework for Self-Driving Vehicles

Postprin

Urotensin II-Induced Increase in Myocardial Distensibility Is Modulated by Angiotensin II and Endothelin-1

Endogenous regulators, such as angiotensin-II (AngII), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and urotensin-II (U-II) are released from various cell types and their plasma levels are elevated in several cardiovascular diseases. The present study evaluated a potential crosstalk between these systems by investigating if the myocardial effects of U-II are modulated by AngII or ET-1. Effects of U-II (10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6) M) were tested in rabbit papillary muscles in the absence and in the presence of losartan (selective AT, receptor antagonist), PD-145065 (nonselective ET-1 receptors antagonist), losartan plus PD-145065, AngII or ET-1. U-II promoted concentration-dependent negative inotropic and lusitropic effects that were abolished in all experimental conditions. Also, U-II increased resting muscle length up to 1.008 +/- 0.002 L/L(max). Correcting it to its initial value resulted in a 19.5 +/- 3.5 % decrease of resting tension, indicating increased muscle distensibility. This effect on muscle length was completely abolished in the presence of losartan and significantly attenuated by PD-145065 or losartan plus PD-145065. This effect was increased in the presence of AngII, resulting in a 27.5 +/- 3.9 % decrease of resting tension, but was unaffected by the presence of ET-1. This study demonstrated an interaction of the U-II system with the AngII and ET-1 systems in terms of regulation of systolic and diastolic function

“[...] Que de polícia só tem o título, constando apenas de pobres crianças”: a (re)organização da polícia no pós-Guerra do Paraguai

In this paper I study the changes in the Police Corps of the Province of Rio Grande do Sul, in the south of Brazil, after the Paraguayan War, in the period before the formation of the Police Force. The Police Force, which was created in 1873, had as its main feature the establishment of police stations throughout the hinterland, unlike the Police Corps, which was centralized in the capital of the province. Thus, on the basis of reports of the provincial presidents and official letters of local chief police officers to the police heads, as well as national documents, such as reports of the ministers of Justice, I describe the dynamics of these changes in the understanding of the police organization and certain characteristics of the police activities in this period in the city of Pelotas, located in the south of Rio Grande do Sul.Key words: police, Paraguay War, Rio Grande do Sul, Pelotas.Neste artigo, procuro mapear as transformações no Corpo Policial da província do Rio Grande do Sul após a Guerra do Paraguai, no período anterior à formação da Força Policial. A Força Policial, criada em 1873, terá como fundamental característica a fixação de seções policiais pelo interior, diferentemente da forma como estava organizado o Corpo Policial, centralizado na capital. Assim, a partir dos relatórios dos presidentes da província, dos ofícios dos delegados aos chefes de polícia, dialogando também com a documentação de âmbito nacional, como os relatórios dos ministros da Justiça, pretendo mostrar a dinâmica destas transformações de entendimento da organização policial. Buscarei também relacionar algumas características do policiamento deste período na cidade de Pelotas, localizada na região sul do Rio Grande do Sul.Palavras-chave: polícia, Guerra do Paraguai, Rio Grande do Sul, Pelotas.

“[...] Que de polícia só tem o título, constando apenas de pobres crianças”: a (re)organização da polícia no pós-Guerra do Paraguai

In this paper I study the changes in the Police Corps of the Province of Rio Grande do Sul, in the south of Brazil, after the Paraguayan War, in the period before the formation of the Police Force. The Police Force, which was created in 1873, had as its main feature the establishment of police stations throughout the hinterland, unlike the Police Corps, which was centralized in the capital of the province. Thus, on the basis of reports of the provincial presidents and official letters of local chief police officers to the police heads, as well as national documents, such as reports of the ministers of Justice, I describe the dynamics of these changes in the understanding of the police organization and certain characteristics of the police activities in this period in the city of Pelotas, located in the south of Rio Grande do Sul.Key words: police, Paraguay War, Rio Grande do Sul, Pelotas.Neste artigo, procuro mapear as transformações no Corpo Policial da província do Rio Grande do Sul após a Guerra do Paraguai, no período anterior à formação da Força Policial. A Força Policial, criada em 1873, terá como fundamental característica a fixação de seções policiais pelo interior, diferentemente da forma como estava organizado o Corpo Policial, centralizado na capital. Assim, a partir dos relatórios dos presidentes da província, dos ofícios dos delegados aos chefes de polícia, dialogando também com a documentação de âmbito nacional, como os relatórios dos ministros da Justiça, pretendo mostrar a dinâmica destas transformações de entendimento da organização policial. Buscarei também relacionar algumas características do policiamento deste período na cidade de Pelotas, localizada na região sul do Rio Grande do Sul.Palavras-chave: polícia, Guerra do Paraguai, Rio Grande do Sul, Pelotas.

O livro que sobrou: presos escravos em Pelotas (1862-78)

Nesta comunicação pretendemos abordar o banco de dados construído a partir das informações contidas no livro de Entrada e Saída de presos escravos da Cadeia de Pelotas. Tomaremos como perspectiva de comparação o trabalho de Thomas Holloway sobre o policiamento no Rio de Janeiro. Utilizaremos as categorias analíticas construídas pelo autor como fio condutor de nossa reflexão sobre Pelotas. Além disso, cruzaremos os contextos destas duas cidades, Pelotas e Rio de Janeiro, tentando perceber similitudes e dessemelhanças dos dados abordados

Coupling and pathway control of coenzyme Q redox state and respiration in isolated mitochondria

Redox states of the mitochondrial coenzyme Q pool, which reacts with the electron transfer system, reflect the balance between (1) reducing capacities of electron flow from fuel substrates converging at the Q-junction, (2) oxidative capacities downstream of Q to O2, and (3) the load on the OXPHOS system utilizing or dissipating the protonmotive force. A three-electrode sensor (Rich 1988; Moore et al 1988) was implemented into the NextGen-O2k to monitor continuously the redox state of CoQ2 added as a Q-mimetic simultaneously with O2 consumption. The Q-Module was optimized for high signal-to-noise ratio, minimum drift, and minimum oxygen diffusion. CoQ2 equilibrates in the same manner as Q at Complexes CI, CII and CIII. The CoQ2 redox state is monitored amperometrically with the working electrode, which is poised at CoQ2 redox peak potentials determined by cyclic voltammetry. The voltammogram also provides quality control of the Q-sensor and reveals chemical interferences. The CoQ2 redox state and O2 consumption were measured simultaneously in isolated mouse cardiac and brain mitochondria. CoQ2 ― and by implication mitochondrial Q ― was more oxidized when O2 flux was stimulated by coupling control: when energy demand increased from LEAK to OXPHOS and electron transfer capacities in the succinate pathway. In contrast, CoQ2 was more reduced when O2 flux was stimulated by pathway-control of electron input capacities, increasing from the NADH (N)- to succinate (S)-linked pathway which converge at the Q-junction, with CI-Q-CIII and CII-Q-CIII segments, respectively. N- and S- respiratory pathway capacities were not completely additive, compatible with partitioning of Q intermediary between the solid-state and liquid-state models of supercomplex organization. The direct proportionality of CoQ2 reduction and electron input capacities through the CI-Q-CIII and CII-Q-CIII segments suggests that CoQ2 is accurately mimicking mitochondrial Q-redox changes

Neurohormonal modulation: The new paradigm of pharmacological treatment of heart failure

The current paradigm of medical therapy for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is triple neurohormonal blockade with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), a beta-blocker (BB) and a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA). However, three-year mortality remains over 30%. Stimulation of counter-regulatory systems in addition to neurohormonal blockade constitutes a new paradigm, termed neurohormonal modulation. Sacubitril/valsartan is the first element of this new strategy. PARADIGM-HF was the largest randomized clinical trial conducted in HFrEF. It included 8442 patients and compared the efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan versus enalapril. The primary endpoint was the composite of cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization due to HF, which occurred in 914 (21.8%) patients receiving sacubitril/valsartan and in 1117 (26.5%) patients receiving enalapril (HR 0.8, 95% CI 0.73-0.87, p=0.0000002; NNT 21). Sacubitril/valsartan reduced both primary endpoint components, as well as sudden cardiac death, death due to worsening HF, and death from all causes. Patients on sacubitril/valsartan reported less frequent deterioration of HF and of quality of life, and discontinued study medication less frequently because of an adverse event. PARADIGM-HF demonstrated the superiority of sacubitril/valsartan over enalapril, with a 20% greater impact on cardiovascular mortality compared to ACEIs. Accordingly, in 2016, the European (ESC) and American (ACC/AHA/HFSA) cardiology societies simultaneously issued a class I recommendation for the replacement of ACEIs by sacubitril/valsartan in patients resembling PARADIGM-HF trial participants.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A comunidade negra na fronteira entre Brasil e Uruguai: uma análise sobre o Pós-Abolição por meio dos Clubes Negros de Jaguarão e Melo em meados do século XX

Estudos recentes têm ampliado as abordagens da experiência histórica da comunida-de negra na fronteira entre Brasil e Uruguai,contribuindo para as análises do campo de estudosdo Pós-Abolição. Neste texto, buscaremos analisar as experiências de clubes sociais negrosdas cidades fronteiriças de Melo (Uruguai) e Jaguarão (Brasil) durante a primeira metade doséculo XX.Os clubes sociais negros da cidade de Jaguarão,Clube 24 de Agosto (1918) e ClubeRecreativo Gaúcho (1932),e da cidade de Melo,Centro Uruguay (1923), foram fundamentaisna luta por cidadania,apresentando elementos importantes para a compreensão do processo deracialização em uma região de fronteiras nacionais.Temas como educação e letramento, redespolíticas e representações de gênero serão abordados pelo artigo. Entre as fontes selecionadasestão aquelas produzidas pelos próprios grupos, com ênfase na imprensa negra e em atas dediretorias, além de diálogo com historiografia sobre Pós-Abolição nas Américas

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in healthcare workers: The experience of a Portuguese COVID-19 front-line hospital during the 1st pandemic wave

Background: Healthcare workers (HCW) are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we describe the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in HCW who work daily at a COVID-19 front-line hospital in Portugal. Methods: To this end, the seroprevalence of 1027 HCW, assessed after the peak of the first pandemic wave, was determined using the following immunoassays: Euroimmun Anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA IgG (Euroimmun, Luebeck, Germany), Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG (Abbott Laboratories, Chicago), and Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV–2 Total (Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland). Results: We found a 2.7% seroprevalence, very close to the one determined in the community (2.9%) for the same period. Conclusions: This low SARS-CoV–2 seroprevalence highlights the effectiveness of infection prevention and control measures implemented very early in the pandemic, namely the use of appropriate personal protective equipment.This research was supported by a grant from FCT Research4-COVID–19 (Project n° 186_596855206 – CertCOV)