How IT Governance can assist IoT project implementation

Internet of things (IoT) is considered a key technology for the Industry 4.0 revolution. Information Technology (IT) governance (ITG) is now an increasingly important tool for organizations to align their IT strategy and infrastructures with the organizations’ business objectives. The most adopted ITG framework is COBIT, which defines seven enabler categories. These enablers aim to facilitate the implementation, identification, and management of IT. This research aims to determine, explore, and define which are the most suitable IT governance enablers to assist managers in IoT implementation. The study adopted the Design Science Research methodology, including two systematic literature reviews and a Delphi method to build the artefact. The artefact was demonstrated and evaluated in a real organization. The results indicate that data privacy, data protection, and data analysis are currently the most relevant enablers to consider in an IoT implementation because they increase the efficiency of the solution and enhance data credibility

Between old broadcast media and new networked media: materiality and media consumption practices

Past tensions between content and materiality have prevented communication researchers from forming a deeper conceptualization of the role played by the material character of communication technologies in shaping social arrangements and cultural forms of expression. Drawing on the findings of a comparative research project on European audiences, we examine the interrelation between material facets of media technologies and the practices they afford on the audience side. Relations between "old" mass media, such as television, and "new" networked and individualized media, such as the Internet, are discussed, focusing on the transitions between different media technologies and the processes of substitution or supplementation occurring in these transitions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Monitoring sensors for urban air quality: The case of the municipality of Lisbon

Air pollution is a global issue that impacts environmental inequalities, and air quality sensors can have a decisive role in city policymaking for future cities. Science and society are already aware that during the most challenging times of COVID-19, the levels of air pollution in cities decreased, especially during lockdowns, when road traffic was reduced. Several pollution parameters can be used to analyse cities’ environmental challenges, and it is more pressing than ever to have city climate decisions supported by sensor data. We have applied a data science approach to understand the evolution of the levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter 2.5, and particulate matter 10 between August 2021 and July 2022. The analysis of the air quality levels, captured for the first time via 80 monitoring stations distributed throughout the municipality of Lisbon, has allowed us to realize that nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter 10 exceed the levels that are recommended by the World Health Organization, thereby increasing the health risk for those who live and work in Lisbon. Supported by these findings, we propose a central role for air quality sensors for policymaking in future cities, taking as a case study the municipality of Lisbon, Portugal, which is among the European cities that recently proposed be climate-neutral and smart city by 2030.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Elucidating how the chemical-nutritional composition of tomato is affected by the environment, season, and growing system

Tomatoes play an important nutritional role due to the chemical-nutritional composition of this fruit, and its common use in dishes and food products. Its fruits provide pronounced antioxidant properties to the human diet, because of the presence of vitamin C, carotenogenic compounds such as lycopene and β-carotene, and phytochemicals such as flavonoids. Despite this, the antioxidant function and carotenoid levels in tomato may present significant differences depending on the system of cultivation, growing season, and environment in which this vegetable is cultivated. In light of this, this study aimed to assess the effects of the cultivation system known as “Viçosa”, in relation to traditional tomato cultivation systems, over two seasons. This assessment was done both under field conditions and in a controlled environment. The nutritional aspects of the fruits, such as the levels of phenolic compounds, lycopene, beta-carotene, and antioxidant activity, were analyzed. The controlled environment in the autumn-winter season, associated with the Viçosa cultivation system, facilitated increases in the lycopene content. Furthermore, field cultivation provided an increase of 68% and 38% in the total phenolic concentration in tomato fruits, in the spring-summer and autumn-winter seasons, respectively. Field cultivation also provided an increase of 31% in the antioxidant activity of the fruits, compared with that of the controlled cultivation, in the autumn-winter season. The increase in the levels of total phenolics and antioxidant activity of fruits due to cultivation in the field represents an advantage as cultivation in this environment has a lower cost than cultivation in a controlled environment. The cultivation systems did not influence the chemical-nutritional aspects of fruits; moreover, the Viçosa system brings together aspects such as high productivity and profitability, without compromising the chemical-nutritional aspects of the fruits, thereby configuring a promising system for tomato production

Αβ Hinders Nuclear Targeting of AICD and Fe65 in Primary Neuronal Cultures

The intracellular domain of the Alzheimer’s amyloid precursor protein (AICD) has been described as an important player in the transactivation of specific genes. It results from proteolytic processing of the Alzheimer’s amyloid precursor protein (APP), as does the neurotoxic Aβ peptide. Although normally produced in cells, Aβ is typically considered to be a neurotoxic peptide, causing devastating effects. By exposing primary neuronal cultures to relatively low Aβ concentrations, this peptide was shown to affect APP processing. Our findings indicate that APP C-terminal fragments are increased with concomitant reduction in the expression levels of APP itself. AICD nuclear immunoreactivity detected under control conditions was dramatically reduced in response to Aβ exposure. Additionally, intracellular protein levels of Fe65 and GSK3 were also decreased in response to Aβ. APP nuclear signaling is altered by Aβ, affecting not only AICD production but also its nuclear translocation and complex formation with Fe65. In effect, Aβ can trigger a physiological negative feedback mechanism that modulates its own production

Influence of local anesthetics on the neuromuscular blockade produced by rocuronium: effects of lidocaine and 50% enantiomeric excess bupivacaine on the neuromuscular junction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The effects of local anesthetics (LA) on neuromuscular transmission and their influence on the neuromuscular blockade produced by competitive neuromuscular blockers have not been fully investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the effects of lidocaine and 50% enantiomeric excess bupivacaine (S75-R25) on the neuromuscular blockade produced by rocuronium. METHODS: The rats were divided in five groups (n = 5) according to the drug used: isolated lidocaine, bupivacaine (S75-R25), or rocuronium (groups I, II, and II); and rocuronium in preparations previously exposed to LAs (groups IV and V). The concentrations used were as follows: 20 µg.mL-1, 5 µg.mL-1, and 4 µg.mL-1 of lidocaine, bupivacaine (S75-R25), and rocuronium, respectively. The following parameters were evaluated: 1) the strength of muscular contraction of the diaphragm to indirect electrical stimulations, before and 60 minutes after the isolated addition of the LAs and rocuronium, and the association AL-rocuronium; and 2) the effects of LAs on membrane potential (MP) and miniature end-plate potentials (MEPP). The effect of LAs on muscle contraction in response to acetylcholine was evaluated in chick biventer cervicis preparations. RESULTS: Isolated lidocaine and bupivacaine (S75-R25) did not change the muscular response and the levels of MPs. In preparations exposed to LAs, rocuroniuminduced blockade was significantly greater than that produced by rocuronium alone. In chick biventer cervicis preparations, lidocaine and bupivacaine (S75R25) decreased contraction in response to acetylcholine. Lidocaine increased the frequency of MEPPs, which was followed by the blockade; bupivacaine (S75R25) caused a reduction in MEPPs followed by blockade. CONCLUSIONS: Local anesthetics caused a potentiation of the neuromuscular blockade produced by rocuronium. The results showed pre- and post-synaptic effects.JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Os efeitos dos anestésicos locais (AL) na transmissão neuromuscular e sua influência no bloqueio neuromuscular produzido por bloqueadores neuromusculares competitivos são ainda alvo de pouca investigação. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar in vitro os efeitos da lidocaína e da mistura enantiomérica em excesso de 50% de bupivacaína (S75-R25) no bloqueio neuromuscular produzido pelo rocurônio. MÉTODOS: Ratos foram distribuídos em cinco grupos (n = 5) de acordo com o fármaco estudado: lidocaína, bupivacaína (S75-R25), rocurônio, isoladamente (grupos I, II e III); rocurônio em preparações previamente expostas aos AL (grupos IV e V). As concentrações utilizadas foram: 20 µg.mL-1, 5 µg.mL-1 e 4 µg.mL¹ para lidocaína, bupivacaína (S75-R25) e rocurônio, respectivamente. Avaliaram-se: 1) a força de contração muscular do diafragma à estimulação elétrica indireta, antes e 60 minutos após a adição dos AL e do rocurônio isoladamente, e a associação AL-rocurônio; 2) os efeitos dos AL sobre o potencial de membrana (PM) e potenciais de placa terminal em miniatura (PPTM). Em preparação biventer cérvicis de pintainho, foi avaliado o efeito do AL na resposta contraturante à acetilcolina. RESULTADOS: A lidocaína e a bupivacaína (S75-R25) isoladamente não alteraram as respostas musculares e os valores do PM. Nas preparações expostas aos AL, o bloqueio pelo rocurônio foi significativamente maior em relação ao produzido pelo rocurônio isoladamente. Em preparação biventer cervicis de pintainho, a lidocaína e a bupivacaína (S75-R25) diminuíram a resposta de contração à acetilcolina. A lidocaína aumentou a frequência dos PPTM, seguido de bloqueio; a bupivacaína (S75-R25) produziu diminuição seguida de bloqueio. CONCLUSÕES: Os anestésicos locais potencializaram o bloqueio neuromuscular causado pelo rocurônio. Os resultados mostraram ação pré-sináptica e póssináptica.JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: Los efectos de los anestésicos locales (AL), en la transmisión neuromuscular y su influencia en el bloqueo neuromuscular producido por bloqueadores neuromusculares competitivos, todavía no se ha investigado lo suficiente. El objetivo del estudio, fue evaluar in vitro los efectos de la lidocaína y de la mezcla enantiomérica en exceso de 50% de bupivacaína (S75-R25) en el bloqueo neuromuscular producido por el rocuronio. MÉTODOS: Algunos ratones se distribuyeron en cinco grupos (n = 5) de acuerdo con el fármaco estudiado: lidocaína, bupivacaína (S75-R25), rocuronio, aisladamente (Grupos I, II, III); rocuronio en preparaciones previamente expuestas a los AL (Grupos IV, V). Las concentraciones utilizadas fueron: 20 µg.mL-1, 5 µg.mL-1 y 4 µg.mL-1, para lidocaína, bupivacaína (S75-R25), y rocuronio, respectivamente. Se evaluó: 1) la fuerza de contracción muscular del diafragma a la estimulación eléctrica indirecta, antes y 60 minutos después de la adición de los AL y rocuronio aisladamente, y la asociación AL - rocuronio; 2) efectos de los AL sobre el potencial de la membrana (PM) y potenciales de placa terminal en miniatura (PPTM). En una preparación biventer cérvicis de pollito, se evaluó el efecto de los AL en la respuesta de contracción a la acetilcolina. RESULTADOS: La lidocaína y la bupivacaína (S75-R25) aisladamente, no alteraron las respuestas musculares y los valores del PM. En las preparaciones expuestas a los AL, el bloqueo por el rocuronio fue significativamente mayor con relación al producido por el rocuronio aisladamente. En una preparación biventer cervicis de pollito, la lidocaína y la bupivacaína (S75-R25), redujeron la respuesta de contracción a la acetilcolina. La lidocaína aumentó la frecuencia de los PPTM, seguido de bloqueo; la bupivacaína (S75-R25) generó una disminución seguida de bloqueo. CONCLUSIONES: Los anestésicos locales potenciaron el bloqueo neuromuscular causado por el rocuronio. Los resultados mostraron una acción presináptica y postsináptica.72573

Examination of potential virulence factors of Candida tropicalis clinical isolates from hospitalized patients

Candida tropicalis has been reported to be one of the Candida species which is most likely to cause bloodstream and urinary tract infections in hospitalized patients. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to characterize the virulence of C. tropicalis by assessing antifungal susceptibility and comparing the expression of several virulence factors. This study was conducted with seven isolates of C. tropicalis from urine and blood cultures and from central venous catheter. C. tropicalis ATCC 750 was used as reference strain. Yeasts adhered (2 h) to epithelial cells and silicone and 24 h biofilm biomass were determined by crystal violet staining. Pseudohyphae formation ability was determined after growth in fetal bovine serum. Enzymes production (hemolysins, proteases, phospholipases) was assessed by halo formation on agar plates. Susceptibility to antifungal agents was determined by E-test. Regarding adhesion, it can be highlighted that C. tropicalis strains adhered significantly more to epithelium than to silicone. Furthermore, all C. tropicalis strains were able to form biofilms and to express total hemolytic activity. However, protease was only produced by two isolates from urine and by the isolates from catheter and blood. Moreover, only one C. tropicalis (from catheter) was phospholipase positive. All isolates were susceptible to voriconazole, fluconazole and amphotericin B. Four strains were susceptible-dose dependent to itraconazole and one clinical isolate was found to be resistant