Analyzing driver drowsiness: from causes to effects

Drowsiness and fatigue are major safety issues that cannot be measured directly. Their measurements are sustained on indirect parameters such as the effects on driving performance, changes in physiological states, and subjective measures. We divided this study into two distinct lines. First, we wanted to find if any driver's physiological characteristic, habit, or recent event could interfere with the results. Second, we aimed to analyze the effects of subjective sleepiness on driving behavior. On driving simulator experiments, the driver information and driving performance were collected, and responses to the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) were compared with these parameters. The results showed that drowsiness increases when the driver has suffered a recent stress situation, has taken medication, or has slept fewer hours. An increasing driving time is also a strong factor in drowsiness development. On the other hand, robustness, smoking habits, being older, and being a man were revealed to be factors that make the participant less prone to getting drowsy. From another point of view, the speed and lane departures increased with the sleepiness feeling. Subjective drowsiness has a great correlation to drivers' personal aspects and the driving behavior. In addition, the KSS shows a great potential to be used as a predictor of drowsiness. (c) 2020 by the authors

Fatores preditivos para formação de fibrina na câmara anterior após cirurgia vitreorretiniana

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate possible predictive factors related to anterior chamber fibrin formation after vitreoretinal surgery in a large series of patients.Methods:The data of 185 eyes of 185 patients submitted to vitreoretinal surgery was reviewed. The following variables were evaluated: the postoperatively presence of fibrin, age, diabetes mellitus, the vitrectomy system gauge (20, 23 or 25 gauge), the type of vitreous substitute, the influence of prior surgical procedures and the combination with cataract extraction. To evaluate predictive factors for anterior chamber fibrin formation, univariate analysis was performed. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression model was adjusted to investigate factors associated with fibrin formation (p<0.05).Results:Fibrinoid anterior chamber reaction was found in 12 (6.4%) patients. For multivariate logistic regression analysis, balanced salt solution (BSS), the chance of fibrin occurrence was 5 times greater (odds ratio 4.83, CI 95% 1.302 - 17.892; p=0.019), while combination with phacoemulsification increased the chance of fibrin formation by 20 times (odds ratio 20, CI 95% 2.480 - 161.347; p=0.005). No significant difference was found regarding other variables.Conclusion: Anterior chamber fibrin formation is an unwanted complication after vitreoretinal surgery. Factors such as combined performance of phacoemulsification and the use of balanced salt solution as a vitreous substitute may predispose the occurrence of this complication.Objetivo:Avaliar os possíveis fatores relacionados à formação de fibrina na câmara anterior após cirurgia vitreorretiniana em uma grande série de casos.Métodos:Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo, observacional, caso-controle, onde os dados de 185 olhos de 185 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia vitreorretiniana foram avaliados. Os seguintes dados foram analisados: presença ou não de fibrina na câmara anterior na primeira semana de pós-operatório, idade, presença ou não de diabetes mellitus, calibre do sistema de vitrectomia utilizado (20,23 ou 25 gauge), substituto vítreo, a influência de cirurgias oftalmológicas prévias e a realização de cirurgia de catarata combinada. Para avaliação dos fatores preditivos para formação de fibrina, a análise univariada foi realizada. O modelo de regressão logística multivariada foi utilizado para investigar os fatores associados com a formação de fibrina (p<0,05).Resultados:A presença de fibrina na câmara anterior foi encontrada em 12 (6,4%) pacientes. Pela análise de regressão logística multivariada, o uso de solução salina balanceada (BSS) como substituto vítreo, a chance da presença de fibrina foi 5 vezes maior (odds ratio 4,83, IC 95% 1,302 - 17,892; p=0,019), enquanto que a realização de cirurgia facoemulsificação combinada aumentou a chance de formação de fibrina 20 vezes (odds ratio 20, IC 95% 2,480 - 161,347; p=0,005). Nenhuma diferença estatisticamente significativa foi encontrada para as outras variáveis.Conclusão:A formação de fibrina na câmara é uma complicação indesejada após cirurgia vitreorretiniana. Fatores como realização de cirurgia de facoemulsificação combinada e o uso de BSS como substituto vítreo podem predispor a esta complicação.Universidade Federal de Juiz de ForaHospital de Olhos de Juiz de ForaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

Successful Treatment and Management of Canine Ehrlichiosis-Leishmaniosis-Heartworm Comorbidity

 Background: Canine vector borne diseases (CVBD) are common in tropical countries where the climate favors arthropods abundance. Comorbidity with one or more CVBD are reported as clinical complication and worsen prognostic. Canine visceral leishmaniosis (CanL) is an endemic zoonotic disease in Brazil caused by Leishmania infantum, with several restrictions to canine treatment and suggestion of reservoirs euthanasia for disease control. Heart worm (HW) is a helminthic disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs. It is a chronic heart disease, which can lead to death by congestive heart failure. Canine ehrlichiosis (CE) is caused by Ehrlichia canis bacterial infection with a zoonotic potential and fatal to dogs in acute and chronic presentations. Exposed the above, this study aims to describe a successful treatment and management of a dog with CanL, CE, and HW comorbidity. Case: A 3-year-old male uncastrated black Labrador dog, weighing 35 kg, was admitted to the veterinary clinic due to immunochromatographic CanL positive test performed by municipal zoonosis control center active surveillance in August 2014. Clinical exam showed a mild shedding, intermittent eye white/yellow discharge and popliteal lymph nodes enlargement. After positive for CanL, veterinary requested more laboratorial exams. IFAT and ELISA were positive for CanL, blood smear showed presence of microfilaria, and bone marrow cytology showed Ehrlichia spp. morulae and microfilaria. Initial treatment prescribed was oral doxycycline, omeprazole, ranitidine, and domperidone for 30 days, and allopurinol and ivermectin until further recommendation. Additionally, repellent collar, repellent spray and vitamin supplement was indicated. After first month, marbofloxacin for 30 days and three doses of immune stimulant protocol were administrated. After three months of treatment, dog still positive for heartworm, ehrlichiosis, and CanL. Doxycycline protocol was repeated. Dog became consistently negative for all pathogens one year later with persistent thrombocytopenia but without clinical signs, ergo allopurinol and ivermectin were discontinued. After four years of follow up, the animal had an acute pancreatitis and died, with unremarkable total blood count and negative for all pathogens. Discussion: CVBD coinfections are commonly reported as worsen prognostic in endemic regions. The pathogens reported here share a host immunomodulation competence. L. infantum and Ehrlichia spp.downregulates Th1 response, whereas D. immitis increase as Th2 profile. The therapeutic protocol was iniciated by staging CanL. Since the patient had clinical signs, allopurinol was prescribed as a well-established drug for CanL. Marbofloxacin was added due to its high safety drug in clinical improvement of infected dogs with and without renal disease and in vitro effectiveness against L. infantum. Domperidone was used to promote Th1 cytokine profile as INF-γ, IL-2, IL-12, and TNF-α. We used an immunostimulant protocol to favor polarization to the Th1 profile comprised by 30 days of domperidone protocol followed by a vaccine and an immunomodulator. Doxycycline was used successfully for Ehrlichia spp. and HE clearance after two treatment courses and one year of ivermectin every 15 days. The animal presented intermittent coughing episodes on the first treatment course, but no medical intervention was needed besides exercise restriction. Our report shows the successful management of one dog with CanL, CE and HE comorbidity. This success was possible due to early detection and good therapeutic choice.Keywords: canine visceral leishmaniosis, coinfection, Dirofilaria immitis, Erhlichia canis, Leishmania infantum, treatment

Self dialógico: Um convite a uma abordagem alternativa ao problema da identidade pessoal

A questão da identidade pessoal tem sido alvo de diversas abordagens, pelo que neste trabalho se descreve a forma como questões de índole epistémica subjazem a diferentes concepções e respostas a esta questão por diferentes modelos teóricos da psicologia. Grande parte deste problema deve-se a uma imagem da natureza do conhecimento como sendo uma montagem de representações que deverão espelhar de forma absoluta uma realidade ou uma interioridade imaculada. Os movimentos construtivistas da psicologia têm vindo a desmontar progressivamente esta imagem, embora sem que se consigam vislumbrar respostas alternativas sólidas. Nesse sentido, apresentamos uma breve descrição de uma postura epistémica em crescente elaboração dentro e fora da psicologia e que toma a metáfora do diálogo como seu princípio de base. Esclarecendo os princípios daquilo que consideramos ser o dialogismo, aplicamos de seguida este tipo de abordagem à questão da identidade. Para isso, seguimos a teoria que tem tido mais impacto e visibilidade neste campo, mais concretamente a Teoria do Self Dialógico, que tem vindo a ser elaborada por Hubert Hermans e seus colaboradores. Terminamos com uma referência a alguns dos desafios fundamentais nesta área, sobretudo no que toca à relação com outras questões e áreas, como as da neurobiologia, da psicologia cultural, da psicologia do desenvolvimento e da psicologia clínica. - The question of personal identity has been addressed with different approaches, therefore this essay describes how issues of epistemic nature are implied in different conceptions and answers to this question by different theoretical models within Psychology. Largely, this problem has to do with an image of knowledge as a collection of representations that totally reflect an immaculate reality or interiority. Constructivist approaches within Psychology have been progressively deconstructing this image, although without providing any reliable alternative answers. Thus, we present a brief description of an epistemic position under development within and outside Psychology which takes the metaphor of dialogue as its basic principle. Starting with the explanation of the basic axioms of our own conception of dialogism, we then apply this kind of approach to the question of self-identity, taking the Dialogical Self-Theory developed by Hubert Hermans and his co-workers as the main referential background – since this theory is the one with greater impact and visibility in this area. We conclude with a reference to some of the fundamental challenges in this field, mainly in terms of the relationship with other lines of research and areas, such as Neurobiology, Cultural Psychology, Development Psychology and Clinical Psychology

The role of the electric vehicle in smart homes: Assessment and future perspectives

The wide spreading of electric mobility is imposing the application of new technologies of hardware and software for supporting new operation paradigms, not only in the perspective of improving smart grids, but also each time more in the perspective of boosting the preponderance of smart homes. Concretely, nowadays it is clear that the emergent technologies for smart homes, targeting power quality and a more efficient power management, are also altering the conventional electrical power grids toward smart grids. In this panorama, by relating the strategic pillars of electric mobility and smart homes, this paper has as main objective the characterization of the role of the electric vehicle (EV) in smart homes, presenting a broad assessment based on the state of the art, as well as creating a link with upcoming advanced operations. From the smart home point of view, since it should be equipped to deal with the requirements of the EV, the assessment of both on-board and off-board EV battery charging systems are considered along the paper. Furthermore, the presence of technologies such as energy storage systems, renewable energy sources and dc electrical appliances in smart homes towards sustainability is also reflected in this paper, but framed from the point of view of an off-board EV battery charging system, since it is more convenient for enabling the interface of these mentioned technologies. Looking the paper as a whole, a relevant contribution is the discussion of future operations for the EV in smart homes, also envisioning the opportunity for ac, dc, or hybrid power grids. Illustrative and strategic results are shown, covering all these features with specific details, not only based on numerical simulations, but also based on experimental results, which were obtained with a proof-of-concept laboratory prototype.FCT -Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(DAIPESEV PTDC/EEI-EEE/30382/2017

Vehicle-to-anything: a power transfer perspective for vehicle electrification

The concept of vehicle-to-anything (V2X) is mainly focused on the bidirectional communication between any technology of vehicle and any external system that can contribute for its operation. However, prospecting the vehicle electrification, this concept can also be associated with the power transfer between an electric vehicle (EV) and any external system, where bidirectional communication is absolutely fundamental. Within the power transfer, the possibility of exchanging active power between an EV and the power grid is considered as a promising operation mode, especially considering the possibility of selling demand response services for the electrical power grid. Contemplating the vehicle electrification context, in addition to the latent possibility of interaction between EVs and the power grid for active power exchange, other possibilities of interaction can also be considered, providing advantageous services for the power grid. Thus, this article approaches the V2X concept for off-board systems in the power transfer perspective for vehicle electrification, aggregating new contributions related with the interaction between an EV and any external electrical system (operating as source or load), and both from on-grid or off-grid point of view. Contributions are meticulously presented, recognizing their advantages and disadvantages in a real-scenario of operation. A comparison in terms of cost of implementation and in terms of efficiency is presented considering the various solutions of the vehicle electrification in a smart grid perspective.This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2019. This work is financed by the ERDF – European Regional Development Fund through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation ‐ COMPETE 2020 Programme, and by National Funds through the Portuguese funding agency, FCT‐Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, within project SAICTPAC/0004/2015‐ POCI‐01‐0145‐FEDER‐016434. Mr. Tiago Sousa is supported by the doctoral scholarship SFRH/BD/134353/2017 granted by the Portuguese FCT agency. This work is part of the FCT project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030283