Optimization of a wind powered desalination and pumped hydro storage system

The penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources, for instances wind power, in the power system of isolated islands is limited, even when there is large potential. The wind power that cannot be directly injected in the power grid is usually curtailed. In addition, some islands need to desalinate seawater to produce fresh water, increasing the pressure on the power system, because desalination needs electricity. Nevertheless, the water scarcity problem of an island can be part of the solution of the problem of its integration of intermittent renewable energy sources. To tackle this issue, a system was proposed to use the excess wind power in desalination units and in a pumped hydro storage, resulting in an integrated power and water supply system that would minimize the wind power curtailed. This paper proposes a methodology to optimize the size and operational strategy of this wind powered desalination and pumped hydro storage system. The objective is to minimize the total annualized production costs, maximize the percentage of renewable energy sources in the total power production and minimize the wind power curtailed. To solve this optimization problem, a derivative free multiobjective optimization method (Direct MultiSearch) is used. This methodology is applied to the integrated power and water supply system proposed for the island of S. Vicente, in Cape Verde. The results show that the penetration of renewable energy sources can reach 84% with a 27% decrease of power and water production costs and 67% decrease of CO2 emissions, in relation to the values foreseen for 2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

CONTROLAB MUFA: a multi-level fusion architecture for intelligent navigation of a telerobot

This paper proposes a MUlti-level Fusion Architecture (MUFA) for controlling the navigation of a tele-commanded Autonomous Guided Vehicle (AGV). The architecture combines ideas derived from the fundamental concepts of sensor fusion and distributed intelligence. The focus of the work is the development of an intelligent navigation system for a tricycle drive AGV with the ability to move autonomously within any office enviromnent, following instructions issued by client stations connected to the office network and reacting accordingly to different situations found in the real world. The modules which integrate the MUFA architecture are discussed and results of some simulation experiments are presented

Beneficial effects of whole-body vibration exercise for brain disorders in experimental studies with animal models:A systematic review

Brain disorders have been a health challenge and is increasing over the years. Early diagnosis and interventions are considered essential strategies to treat patients at risk of brain disease. Physical exercise has shown to be beneficial for patients with brain diseases. A type of exercise intervention known as whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise gained increasing interest. During WBV, mechanical vibrations, produced by a vibrating platform are transmitted, to the body. The purpose of the current review was to summarize the effects of WBV exercise on brain function and behavior in experimental studies with animal models. Searches were performed in EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science including publications from 1960 to July 2021, using the keywords "whole body vibration" AND (animal or mice or mouse or rat or rodent). From 1284 hits, 20 papers were selected. Rats were the main animal model used (75%) followed by mice (20%) and porcine model (5%), 16 studies used males species and 4 females. The risk of bias, accessed with the SYRCLE Risk of Bias tool, indicated that none of the studies fulfilled all methodological criteria, resulting in possible bias. Despite heterogeneity, the results suggest beneficial effects of WBV exercise on brain functioning, mainly related to motor performance, coordination, behavioral control, neuronal plasticity and synapse function. In conclusion, the findings observed in animal studies justifies continued clinical research regarding the effectiveness and potential of WBV for the treatment of various types of brain disorders such as trauma, developmental disorders, neurogenetic diseases and other neurological diseases

Physical Exercise Reduces Circulating Lipopolysaccharide and TLR4 Activation and Improves Insulin Signaling in Tissues of DIO Rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)OBJECTIVE-Insulin resistance in diet-induced obesity (DIO) is associated with a chronic systemic low-grade inflammation, and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays an important role in the link among insulin resistance, inflammation, and obesity. The current study aimed to analyze the effect of exercise on TLR4 expression and activation in obese rats and its consequences on insulin sensitivity and signaling. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-The effect of chronic and acute exercise was investigated on insulin sensitivity, insulin signaling, TLR4 activation, c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) and I kappa B kinase (IKK beta) activity, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) serum levels in tissues of DIO rats. RESULTS-The results showed that chronic exercise reduced TLR4 mRNA and protein expression in liver, muscle, and adipose tissue. However, both acute and chronic exercise blunted TLR4 signaling in these tissues, including a reduction in JNK and IKK beta phosphorylation and IRS-1 serine 307 phosphorylation, and, in parallel, improved insulin-induced IR, IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, and Akt serine phosphorylation, and reduced LPS serum levels. CONCLUSIONS-Our results show that physical exercise in DIO rats, both acute and chronic, induces an important suppression in the TLR4 signaling pathway in the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue, reduces LPS serum levels, and improves insulin signaling and sensitivity. These data provide considerable progress in our understanding of the molecular events that link physical exercise to an improvement in inflammation and insulin resistance. Diabetes 60:784-796, 2011603784796Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de PesquisaINCT-Obesidade e DiabetesFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

The Role of Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) in Insulin Resistance and Diabetes

In obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and diabetes, there are proteins and hormones that may lead to the discovery of promising biomarkers and treatments for these metabolic disorders. For example, these molecules may impair the insulin signaling pathway or provide protection against IR. Thus, identifying proteins that are upregulated in IR states is relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of the associated disorders. It is becoming clear that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is an important component of the pathophysiology of IR, with increased levels in most common IR conditions, including obesity. HGF has a role in the metabolic flux of glucose in different insulin sensitive cell types; plays a key role in β-cell homeostasis; and is capable of modulating the inflammatory response. In this review, we discuss how, and to what extent HGF contributes to IR and diabetes pathophysiology, as well as its role in cancer which is more prevalent in obesity and diabetes. Based on the current literature and knowledge, it is clear that HGF plays a central role in these metabolic disorders. Thus, HGF levels could be employed as a biomarker for disease status/progression, and HGF/c-Met signaling pathway modulators could effectively regulate IR and treat diabetes

Mortalidade de tucunaré associada à pesca esportiva do pesque e solte no rio Negro, Amazonas, Brasil

Sport fishing for peacock bass Cichla spp. in the Brazilian Amazon has increased in popularity and attracts anglers who generate significant economic benefits in rural regions. The sustainability of this fishery is partly dependent on the survival of fish caught through catch-and-release fishing. The objective of this work was to investigate, hooking mortality of Cichla spp., including speckled peacock bass (C. temensis Humbolt), butterfly peacock bass (C. orinocensis Humbolt), and popoca peacock bass (C. monoculus Agassiz) in the basin of the Negro River, the largest tributary of the Amazon River. Fish were caught at two different sites using artificial lures, transported to pens anchored in the river and monitored for 72 hours. A total of 162 individual peacock bass were captured and hooking mortality (mean % ± 95% confidence intervals) was calculated. Mean mortality was 3.5% (± 5.0), 2.3% (± 3.5) and 5.2% (± 10.2) for speckled peacock bass, butterfly peacock bass, and popoca peacock bass, respectively. Lengths of captured fish ranged from 26 to 79 cm (standard length), however, only fish under 42 cm died. This research suggests that catch-and-release sport fishing of peacock bass does not result in substantial mortality in the Negro River basin.A pesca esportiva de tucunarés Cichla spp., na Amazônia brasileira, aumentou em popularidade nos últimos anos e tem atraído pescadores esportivos que geram benefícios econômicos para essa região. Entretanto, a sustentabilidade dessa pescaria depende em parte da sobrevivência dos peixes capturados por meio da prática do pesque e solte. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a mortalidade de Cichla spp., incluindo o tucunaré paca (C. temensis Humbolt), o borboleta (C. orinocensis Humbolt) e o popoca (C. monoculus Agassiz) em dois locais na bacia do rio Negro, o maior tributário do rio Amazonas. Os peixes foram capturados por variados tipos de iscas artificiais e posteriormente monitorados em viveiros construídos no próprio rio por 72 horas. Um total de 162 tucunarés foi capturado, e as mortalidades (% ± intervalo de confiança 95%) foram calculadas. A mortalidade foi 3,5% (± 5,0), 2,3% (± 3,2) e 5,2% (±10,2) para o paca, o borboleta e o popoca, respectivamente. O comprimento padrão dos peixes capturados variou de 26 a 79 cm, mas apenas os peixes menores até 42 cm morreram. A pesquisa sugere que a pesca esportiva não causou substancial mortalidade na população de Cichla spp. na bacia do rio Negro

Substantia nigra neuromelanin as an imaging biomarker of disease progression in Parkinson’s Disease

"BACKGROUND: A specific T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence has been shown to detect substantia nigra (SN) neuromelanin (NM) signal changes that accurately discriminate Parkinson's disease (PD) patients from controls, even in early disease stages. However, it is unclear what happens to these SN changes in later disease stages and if they can be a marker of disease progression. OBJECTIVE: to investigate the pattern of SN-NM area loss and contrast ratio (CR) intensity changes in late-stage PD (LSPD) compared to earlier disease stages. METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional study was performed, analyzing SN-NM MRI signal in LSPD (Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living Scale score 3), comparing this group with de novo, 2-5 year PD and controls. SN-NM signal area and CR values for the internal and lateral SN regions were obtained with semi-automated methods. RESULTS: 13 LSPD, 12 de novo patients with PD, 10 PD patients with a 2-5 year disease duration, and 10 controls were included. NM signal area was significantly decreased in LSPD compared to de novo PD (P-value = 0.005; sensitivity: 75%; specificity 92% and AUC: 0.86). In the lateral SN region, a decrease in the CR was detected in all PD groups compared to controls; despite not reaching statistical significance, a slight increment was observed comparing LSPD to 2-5 year PD. NM signal area significantly correlated with HY (R = -0.37; P < 0.05) and Movement disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part II (MDS-UPDRS) (R = -0.4; P < 0.05) while a weak correlation was found with MDS-UPDRS part III (R = -0.26; P: 0.1). CONCLUSION: SN area evaluated by NM-sensitive MRI may be a promising biomarker of nigral degeneration and disease progression in PD patients."info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Substantia nigra area evaluated by neuromelanin-sensitive MRI as an imaging biomarker of disease progression in Parkinson's disease

Poster presented at the International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders. 4-8 June 2017, Vancouver, CanadaN/

Evaluation of the effects of Quercetin and Kaempherol on the surface of MT-2 cells visualized by atomic force microscopy

AbstractThis study investigated the anti-viral effects of the polyphenolic compounds Quercetin and Kaempherol on the release of HTLV-1 from the surface of MT-2 cells. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to scan the surface of the MT-2 cells. MT-2 cells were fixed with 100% methanol on round glass lamina or cleaved mica and dried under UV light and laminar flow. The images were captured on a Multimode equipment monitored by a NanoScope IIId controller from Veeco Instruments Inc operated in tapping mode and equipped with phase-imaging hardware. The images demonstrated viral budding structures 131±57nm in size, indicating profuse viral budding. Interestingly, cell-free viruses and budding structures visualized on the surface of cells were less common when MT-2 was incubated with Quercetin, and no particles were seen on the surface of cells incubated with Kaempherol. In summary, these data indicate that HTLV-1 is budding constantly from the MT-2 cell surface and that polyphenolic compounds were able to reduce this viral release. Biological samples were analyzed with crude cell preparations just after cultivation in the presence of Quercetin and Kaempherol, showing that the AFM technique is a rapid and powerful tool for analysis of antiviral activity of new biological compounds

HTLV-1 Tax Specific CD8+ T Cells Express Low Levels of Tim-3 in HTLV-1 Infection: Implications for Progression to Neurological Complications

The T cell immunoglobulin mucin 3 (Tim-3) receptor is highly expressed on HIV-1-specific T cells, rendering them partially “exhausted” and unable to contribute to the effective immune mediated control of viral replication. To elucidate novel mechanisms contributing to the HTLV-1 neurological complex and its classic neurological presentation called HAM/TSP (HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis), we investigated the expression of the Tim-3 receptor on CD8+ T cells from a cohort of HTLV-1 seropositive asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. Patients diagnosed with HAM/TSP down-regulated Tim-3 expression on both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells compared to asymptomatic patients and HTLV-1 seronegative controls. HTLV-1 Tax-specific, HLA-A*02 restricted CD8+ T cells among HAM/TSP individuals expressed markedly lower levels of Tim-3. We observed Tax expressing cells in both Tim-3+ and Tim-3− fractions. Taken together, these data indicate that there is a systematic downregulation of Tim-3 levels on T cells in HTLV-1 infection, sustaining a profoundly highly active population of potentially pathogenic T cells that may allow for the development of HTLV-1 complications