Bio-inspired distributed sensors to autonomous search of gas leak source

This work presents multiple small robots in an unhealthy industrial environment responsible for detecting harmful gases to humans, avoiding possible harmful effects on the body. Mixed reality is widely used, considering that the environment and gases are virtual and real small robots. Essential components for the experiments are virtual, such as gases and BioCyber-Sensors. The results establish the great potential for applications in several areas, such as industrial, biomedical, and services. The entire system was developed based on ROS (Robot Operating System), thus the ease in diversifying different applications and approaches with multiple agents. The main objective of small robots is to guaranty a healthy work environment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A linear regression based-approach to collective gas source localization

This work addresses the problem of gas leaks and proposes a search strategy for identifying the source of a gas leak within a virtual simulation environment. The research focuses on designing and implementing simulation, control, and gas source search packages using swarm robotics. The simulation employs numerical integration strategies, while the robot swarm control is based on potential fields theory. The location of the gas source using a weighted linear regression strategy is used to estimate the gas concentration gradient, which plays a crucial role in the optimization strategy employed. The paper presents an overview of the key concepts employed and their relevance to different stages of the problem and highlights the main results achieved through the chosen strategies. A significant outcome of this work is the development of reusable software packages applicable to various research contexts in mobile robotics.The project is supported by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development – CNPq (process CNPq 407984/2022-4); Fund for Scientific and Technological Development – FNDCT; Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations – MCTI of Brazil; Araucaria Foundation; and the General Superintendence of Science, Technology and Higher Education (SETI).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Collective gas sensing in a cyber-physical system

This paper discusses a novel collective sensing approach using autonomous sensors specially designed to monitor gas leaks and search for gas sources. The proposed collective behavior aims to improve the gas-source search by sharing information between mobile sensors and reducing the risks associated with gas leakage. The group acts as a composite sensor that can move independently to search for an optimal sensing zone. The autonomous searching behavior is bio-inspired by colonies of bacteria that continuously seek energy sources throughout their existence. Each sensor makes its own autonomous search decision, considering the group sense, to move in the direction of a better energy source. The collective approach is based on autonomous agents sharing information to achieve a collective sense of gas perception and utilizes more intelligent searching. The method is evaluated in a cyber-physical system specially developed to safely experiment with gases and mobile sensors while reproducing the realistic dynamic behavior of the gas. Experiments are performed to clarify the collective gas-sensing contributions, and the gas search is compared through multiple mobile sensors with and without collective sensing. The proposed approach is evaluated in an unhealthy environment to elucidate its effectiveness. In addition to presenting the related differences between collective and individual sensory approaches, this work contributes with analyzes of the scalability of mobile gas sensing systems. This work also contributed as a simulated semi-physical experimental system to test algorithms' performance before applying it to practice. © 2001-2012 IEEEinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Obtaining FMEA’s indices for occupational safety in civil construction: a theoretical contribution

Highlights: 1- Severity, occurrence and detection indices were obtained for specific use in construction safety; 2- Important theoretical contribution to the use of FMEA in safety of construction work; 3- Obtaining the S, O and D indices better suited to civil construction will encourage the use of FMEA in the area; 4- A quick reference table of S, O and D indexes was proposed for use by occupational safety professionals; 5- The quick reference table will allow the RPNs of the fault modes to be safely compared between different situations and different applicators. Goal: The achievement of FMEA indices better adapted to the area of occupational safety in construction. From a quick reference table, the use of the FMEA will be facilitated by professionals in the area. Design / Methodology / Approach: For the elaboration of this work were carried out researches in the literature available in scientific journals on the subject. To obtain the severity tables, the conversion of concepts of maintenance and reliability to concepts of accident severity was performed. For the occurrence table the Ford Handbook model was used (FORD, 2011), and as the database of accident statistics the most up-to-date social security yearbook was used (FAZENDA, 2016). For the detection table, a detection index model was proposed that was discussed based on commonly used risk management procedures and tools. Results: Individual tables were obtained for each FMEA index. The indices were adapted to the reality of the application of FMEA in work safety in construction. From the individual tables, a quick reference table containing the three FMEA indices related to the qualitative scale of each was obtained. Limitations of the investigation: The study limits itself to adapting the FMEA indices for work safety in construction. This study may serve as a basis for future studies on obtaining the FMEA indexes for work safety applied in other areas of activities, requiring adequate scientific sources. Regarding the validation of the indices, it is noticeable the difficulty of comparing these indices proposed in this work with indices applied subjectively and without scientific reference, relying only on the skill and previous experience of the applicator. However, it is reasonable to say that the FMEAS applied with the indices obtained in this work will have a better accuracy in representing the reality, regardless of the applicator's ability. Practical implications: Reduce the difficulties in choosing the S, O and D indices for the application of FMEA in construction safety, reduce the inaccuracy in obtaining the risk priority number for failure modes and diffuse the use of FMEA for risk analysis and prevention occupations in construction are the main theoretical implications of this work. Originality / Value: there are studies in the literature on the application of FMEA in various areas - maintenance and product development, for example - but there is very little research on the application of FMEA in occupational safety. In addition, FMEA application studies cite the difficulty of choosing the S, O and D indices, but there is an absence of studies seeking solutions to this imprecision. In this sense, this work seeks to contribute to a choice of the FMEA indexes, which is easier and more efficient due to the better adaptation of the same to the occupational safety area in civil construction

Association of circulating levels of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT/Visfatin) and of a frequent polymorphism in the promoter of the NAMPT gene with coronary artery disease in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects

Background: Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is the limiting enzyme in one of pathways of synthesis of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, a redox coenzyme. NAMPT is considered as an insulin-mimetic factor and a potential regulatory factor in inflammatory and immune processes. Associations of circulating NAMPT levels with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and insulin resistance have been reported. We investigated association of circulating NAMPT levels and the rs9770242 NAMPT gene polymorphism with coronary artery disease (CAD).Methods: We studied 594 Brazilian subjects undergoing a coronary angiography (49% of whom had type 2 diabetes). CAD, defined as stenosis greater than 50% in one major coronary vessel or branch, was observed in 68% of subjects. Genetic studies were also performed in 858 North-American Non-Hispanic White subjects with type 2 diabetes (49% with CAD).Results: We observed an interaction between glycemic and CAD status on the comparison of NAMPT levels by CAD status. NAMPT levels were higher in type 2 diabetic patients with CAD as compared to those without CAD: 5.27 +/- 2.93 ng/ml vs. 4.43 +/- 2.94 ng/ml, p = 0.006 (mean +/- SD). NAMPT levels were not significantly different in non-diabetic subjects with or without CAD. the T-allele of rs9770242 was associated with CAD in the Brazilian cohort (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.06 - 2.01, p = 0.02) while no association was observed in the North-American cohort.Conclusions: Our data suggest that circulating NAMPT levels are associated with CAD in type 2 diabetic patients. NAMPT rs9770242 polymorphism may be associated with CAD in some populations.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fed Univ São Paulo UNIFESP, Ctr Diabet, BR-04039002 São Paulo, BrazilCEDEBA, BR-41820000 Salvador, BA, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Cardiol Unit, BR-04039002 São Paulo, BrazilJoslin Diabet Ctr, Div Res, Boston, MA 02215 USAUniv Paris 07, INSERM, Res Unit 695, F-75018 Paris, FranceFed Univ São Paulo UNIFESP, Ctr Diabet, BR-04039002 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Cardiol Unit, BR-04039002 São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2008/10209-6Web of Scienc

Dermatopathy Caused by Enterobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Boa constrictor amarali

Background: Bacterial diseases are the main cause of the high mortality rates of snakes, especially those caused by gramnegative agents. However, studies on dermatopathy caused by these bacterial agents in snakes are scarce; and no reports have been found on Enterobacter aerogenes as causative agent of dermatopathy in snake species. Thus, the objective of this study was to describe the clinical signs, and lesion evolution of a dermatopathy in a male snake (Boa constrictor amarali) specimen of approximately seven years old; and to describe the isolation and identification of the Enterobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa agents involved in the cause of this disease.Case: The Boa constrictor amarali evaluated presented blackened cutaneous lesions in the dorsal, snout-vent and tail regions; and well-defined subcutaneous nodules of 2.0-3.0 cm diameter, with soft consistency, reddish color, cutaneous flaccidity, and areas of scale ulceration in the dorsolateral region. The clinical evaluation of the animal showed dehydration signs and pale mucous membranes. The blackened lesions were subjected to mycological analysis - after procedure of deep scale scraping - which showed presence of septate hyphae. The nodule was punctured for microbiological and biochemical analysis. The sample was collected with a sterilized alginate cotton tip swab, and was stored in a plastic tube containing a semi-solid Stuart transport medium, for microbiological analysis. Then, this sample was incubated in a bacteriological oven at 37°C for 24 h. Typical colonies of Pseudomonas and Enterobacter grew on MacConkey agar medium; these bacteria were identified by the colony morphology and their typical odor. The colonies grown in MacConkey agar were also identified through biochemical tests in the mediums: Phenol red, Lysine, Phenylalanine, Citrate, Urea and SIM (Sulfide, Indole, Motility). The results of these tests were able to confirm and identify the P. aeruginosa and E. aerogenes species. The animal died within 36 h, before the identification of the causative agents of the disease, thus, no pharmacological interference was possible.Discussion: Immunodepression, malnutrition, and temperatures and humidity outside the animal thermal comfort zone, are predisposing factors for the development of bacterial diseases in reptiles. Little information about pathogen agents affecting Boa constrictor specimens in their native area is available; however, captive snakes are subject to a wide variety of diseases - most of which caused or intensified by the captivity conditions. Among the bacteria involved in reptile diseases, few are primary causative agents. In general, clinical bacterial infections tend to be secondary to viral infections. The bacterial agents found in this study are commonly described in scientific literature with location in the oral cavity, differently from the results found in this study. Moreover, the bacterium E. aerogenes has not yet been described in other studies as a causative agent of dermatopathy. Reptiles are considered reservoirs of important zoonotic microorganisms, such as P. aeruginosa, which can be transmitted by fecal contact, bites and wounds. However, the little information on P. aeruginosa in captive reptiles indicates the need for further studies to establish its zoonotic potential. A most adequate management conditions for the snake species could have decreased the severity of the lesions. The occurrence of P. aeruginosa and E. aerogenes found in this work may alert professionals for future clinical suspicions and adequate therapeutic management

A percepção da sociedade a respeito dos Idosos que vivem em abrigos em Maceió

O estudo ocorreu com a finalidade de verificar a perspectiva da população sobre idosos asilados na cidade de Maceió. Considerando o quanto o tema é pouco abordado, porém importante, objetivamos o estudo na promoção de uma visão sobre a invisibilidade dos idosos na sociedade atual. O estudo foi conduzido a partir de pesquisa bibliográfica, coleta de dados quantitativos e entrevista semiestruturada a um profissional que trabalha no apoio a esses idosos asilados. As ferramentas utilizadas foram plataformas de busca e questionários aplicados a alunos do Centro Universitário Tiradentes – UNIT (Campus Maria Amélia Uchôa). Para avaliar as perspectivas da sociedade em relação ao tema, foi solicitado a descrição do ambiente asilar em: bom, ruim, regular ou outros e a visão, acerca do tratamento recebido pelos idosos neste mesmo local. 57% dos alunos questionados avaliam o asilo um lugar regular e 73% consideram que talvez o idoso receba o tratamento adequado. A partir de questões como essas, foi possível verificar que a sociedade possui uma visão distorcida e negativa para o ambiente asilar, visto que, em sua maioria os asilos proporcionam a integração e a inclusão social do idoso, em um ambiente adequado, através de terapias alternativas, exercidas por profissionais qualificados.

Rutina como fotoestabilizadora de protetores solares de amplo espectro / Rutin as photostabilizer for broad spectrum sunscreens

The combination of butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (BMBM) and octyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC) is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations but may exhibit alteration in spectral absorption following exposure to UV radiation. The addition of natural substances in sunscreen formulations has been explored regarding photoprotective efficacy. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the potential of rutin as a photostabilizer substance of EHMC and BMBM. The samples were evaluated before and after exposure to UV radiation to in vitro photoprotection and molecular interactions by 1H NMR, DSC, TG and qualitative analysis of the suppression of singlet energy state. The addition of rutin in the formulations containing BMBM and EHMC promoted an increase in the preservation of in vitro SPF of 53.9% to 65.8 (0.1% rutin ) and 70.8 % (1.0% rutin ). The DSC and TG curves of rutin showed interaction between the flavonoid and filters. The trans/cis ratio for EHMC improved from 5.5 ± 0.1 to 12.6 ± 0.4 with rutin addition. The suppression of the singlet state indicated that one of the mechanisms involved in the photostabilization is suppression of singlet excited state. These results can contribute to the development of broad-spectrum sunscreens formulations with increased safety and efficacy