Artificial co-drivers as a universal enabling technology for future intelligent vehicles and transportation systems

This position paper introduces the concept of artificial “co-drivers” as an enabling technology for future intelligent transportation systems. In Sections I and II, the design principles of co-drivers are introduced and framed within general human–robot interactions. Several contributing theories and technologies are reviewed, specifically those relating to relevant cognitive architectures, human-like sensory-motor strategies, and the emulation theory of cognition. In Sections III and IV, we present the co-driver developed for the EU project interactIVe as an example instantiation of this notion, demonstrating how it conforms to the given guidelines. We also present substantive experimental results and clarify the limitations and performance of the current implementation. In Sections IV and V, we analyze the impact of the co-driver technology. In particular, we identify a range of application fields, showing how it constitutes a universal enabling technology for both smart vehicles and cooperative systems, and naturally sets out a program for future research

Calibração das Faixas de Conforto Térmico Humano para Espaços Abertos em Clima Subtropical

O índice conforto térmico tem sido utilizado com a finalidade de avaliar a percepção média das pessoas com relação às condições de tempo atmosférico em diversas regiões do globo, mas muito pouco com respeito à região subtropical do Brasil, em particular no Sul do Brasil.  Dessa forma, neste estudo buscou-se definir uma faixa de conforto térmico adequada para residentes da cidade de Santa Maria, no Rio Grande do Sul, baseado na aplicação de questionários de percepção/sensação dos habitantes simultâneo ao registros de dados meteorológicos entre os dias 05 de agosto a 07 de agosto de 2015, de 17 de janeiro a 19 de janeiro de 2016 e de 06 de julho a 08 de julho de 2016. Foram coletados dados primários de temperatura do ar, temperatura de globo cinza, umidade relativa do ar, velocidade do vento, rajada do vento, radiação solar global e precipitação. As entrevistas foram realizadas com pessoas com idade entre 18 e 60 anos, com cobertura corporal entre 0,5 e 1,0 clo. Neste estudo concluiu-se que a modelagem estatística mostrou-se eficaz na determinação das faixas de conforto térmico adequadas aos padrões climáticos e a preferência térmica da população de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. No entanto, a partir das análises estatísticas aplicadas, pode-se afirmar que nenhum dos referidos índices, como originalmente construídos, é de fato ideal para explicar o conforto térmico em Santa Maria, sendo necessária a adaptação destes, ou construção de um novo índice.Thermal comfort index has been used to evaluate the average perception of people regarding weather conditions in several regions of the globe, although very little with respect to the subtropical region of Brazil, particularly in southern Brazil. Therefore, this study aimed to define a range of thermal comfort suitable for residents of the Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul, based on perception / feeling questionnaires to the inhabitants, simultaneously to the meteorological data records between days 05 From August to August 7, 2015, from January 17 to January 19, 2016 and from July 6 to July 8, 2016. Primary data were collected on air temperature, gray globe temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind gust, global solar radiation and rainfall. Interviews were conducted on people aged between 18 and 60 years, with body coverage between 0.5 and 1.0 clo. In this study, it was concluded that the statistical modeling was effective in determining the thermal comfort ranges adequate to the climatic patterns and the thermal preference of the population of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. However, based on the statistical analysis applied, the conclusion is that none of these indexes, as originally constructed, in fact ideal for explaining the thermal comfort in Santa Maria, being necessary the adaptation of these, or a new index construction

MiR-494 induces metabolic changes through G6pc targeting and modulates sorafenib response in hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundMetabolic reprogramming is a well-known marker of cancer, and it represents an early event during hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. The recent approval of several molecular targeted agents has revolutionized the management of advanced HCC patients. Nevertheless, the lack of circulating biomarkers still affects patient stratification to tailored treatments. In this context, there is an urgent need for biomarkers to aid treatment choice and for novel and more effective therapeutic combinations to avoid the development of drug-resistant phenotypes. This study aims to prove the involvement of miR-494 in metabolic reprogramming of HCC, to identify novel miRNA-based therapeutic combinations and to evaluate miR-494 potential as a circulating biomarker.MethodsBioinformatics analysis identified miR-494 metabolic targets. QPCR analysis of glucose 6-phosphatase catalytic subunit (G6pc) was performed in HCC patients and preclinical models. Functional analysis and metabolic assays assessed G6pc targeting and miR-494 involvement in metabolic changes, mitochondrial dysfunction, and ROS production in HCC cells. Live-imaging analysis evaluated the effects of miR-494/G6pc axis in cell growth of HCC cells under stressful conditions. Circulating miR-494 levels were assayed in sorafenib-treated HCC patients and DEN-HCC rats.ResultsMiR-494 induced the metabolic shift of HCC cells toward a glycolytic phenotype through G6pc targeting and HIF-1A pathway activation. MiR-494/G6pc axis played an active role in metabolic plasticity of cancer cells, leading to glycogen and lipid droplets accumulation that favored cell survival under harsh environmental conditions. High miR-494 serum levels associated with sorafenib resistance in preclinical models and in a preliminary cohort of HCC patients. An enhanced anticancer effect was observed for treatment combinations between antagomiR-494 and sorafenib or 2-deoxy-glucose in HCC cells.ConclusionsMiR-494/G6pc axis is critical for the metabolic rewiring of cancer cells and associates with poor prognosis. MiR-494 deserves attention as a candidate biomarker of likelihood of response to sorafenib to be tested in future validation studies. MiR-494 represents a promising therapeutic target for combination strategies with sorafenib or metabolic interference molecules for the treatment of HCC patients who are ineligible for immunotherapy

Reduced Rate of Hospital Admissions for ACS during Covid-19 Outbreak in Northern Italy

To address the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic,1 strict social containment measures have been adopted worldwide, and health care systems have been reorganized to cope with the enormous increase in the numbers of acutely ill patients.2,3 During this same period, some changes in the pattern of hospital admissions for other conditions have been noted. The aim of the present analysis is to investigate the rate of hospital admissions for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) during the early days of the Covid-19 outbreak

Otomicose em São Paulo (Brasil)

In view of the lack of researches on otomycoses in Brazil, we have tried to study their incidence, their clinical characteristics and the predisponent factors During one year, 22 suspected cases were seen, 20 of them corresponded to otomycosis infections. The most frequent species were Aspergillus niger (35%) and Candida albicans (20%). The genus Aspergillus represented 75% of the isolates. Itching and hyperaemia (70%), otalgia (65%), hipoacusia (50%) were the commonest signs. Lack of cerumen (70%) chronic otitis (30%) previous antibiotic therapy and eczema (25%) were the most outstanding predisponent factors.Em vista da escassez de publicações sobre otomicoses no Brasil, foi projetada uma pesquisa para conhecer a incidência, características clínicas, fatores predisponentes e agentes etiológicos da micose. Durante um ano, 22 casos suspeitos foram estudados, 20 dos quais corresponderam à otomicoses. As espécies mais freqüentemente isoladas foram Aspergillus niger (35%) e Candida albicans (20%). O gênero Aspergillus representou 75% dos isolamentos. Os sinais clínicos mais comuns foram prurido e hiperemia (70%), otalgia (65%), hipoacusia (50%). Falta de cerumen (70%), otite crônica (30%), antibioticoterapia prévia e eczema (25%) foram os fatores predisponentes mais relevantes.Universidad Austral de Chile Facultad de Medicina Instituto de Microbiología ClínicaEscola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e ParasitologiaEPMUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de Microbiologia, Imunologia e ParasitologiaSciEL

UTILIZAÇÃO DE COMPOSTOS ORGÂNICOS SEMICURADOS NA PRODUÇÃO DA ALFACE (LACTUCA SATIVA)

In order to evaluate the effects of two doses of organics composts of two different origins in the lettuce yield was conduced this work. The composts, originated from mixture of straw brachiaria seed, cattle manure and chicken manure. The composting was conduced by 35 days with monitoring of temperature. Lettuce yield was evaluated in experiment carried during 30 days. The chicken manure compost increased lettuce yield in the two doses evaluated. The cattle manure compost didn¿t increased the growth of lettuce in the larger dose. The chicken manure compost, with 35 days, was recommeded for utilization in the fertilization of lettuce with increments in the yeld

Definition of human thermal comfort ranges for open spaces in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul (RS)

<p>Thermal comfort index has been used to evaluate the average perception of people regarding weather conditions in several regions of the globe, although very little with respect to the subtropical region of Brazil, particularly in southern Brazil. Therefore, this study aimed to define a range of thermal comfort suitable for residents of the Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul, based on perception / feeling questionnaires to the inhabitants, simultaneously to the meteorological data records between days 05 From August to August 7, 2015, from January 17 to January 19, 2016 and from July 6 to July 8, 2016. Primary data were collected on air temperature, gray globe temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind gust, global solar radiation and rainfall. Interviews were conducted on people aged between 18 and 60 years, with body coverage between 0.5 and 1.0 clo. In this study, it was concluded that the statistical modeling was effective in determining the thermal comfort ranges adequate to the climatic patterns and the thermal preference of the population of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. However, based on the statistical analysis applied, the conclusion is that none of these indexes, as originally constructed, in fact ideal for explaining the thermal comfort in Santa Maria, being necessary the adaptation of these, or a new index construction, in order to have a better explaination.</p

The Interactive Roles of <em>Aedes aegypti</em> Super-Production and Human Density in Dengue Transmission

<div><h3>Background</h3><p><em>A. aegypti</em> production and human density may vary considerably in dengue endemic areas. Understanding how interactions between these factors influence the risk of transmission could improve the effectiveness of the allocation of vector control resources. To evaluate the combined impacts of variation in <em>A. aegypti</em> production and human density we integrated field data with simulation modeling.</p> <h3>Methodology/Principal Findings</h3><p>Using data from seven censuses of <em>A. aegypti</em> pupae (2007–2009) and from demographic surveys, we developed an agent-based transmission model of the dengue transmission cycle across houses in 16 dengue-endemic urban ‘patches’ (1–3 city blocks each) of Armenia, Colombia. Our field data showed that 92% of pupae concentrated in only 5% of houses, defined as <em>super-producers</em>. Average secondary infections (R₀) depended on infrequent, but highly explosive transmission events. These s<em>uper-spreading</em> events occurred almost exclusively when the introduced infectious person infected mosquitoes that were produced in super-productive containers. Increased human density favored R₀, and when the likelihood of human introduction of virus was incorporated into risk, a strong interaction arose between vector production and human density. Simulated intervention of super-productive containers was substantially more effective in reducing dengue risk at higher human densities.</p> <h3>Significance/Conclusions</h3><p>These results show significant interactions between human population density and the natural regulatory pattern of <em>A. aegypti</em> in the dynamics of dengue transmission. The large epidemiological significance of super-productive containers suggests that they have the potential to influence dengue viral adaptation to mosquitoes. Human population density plays a major role in dengue transmission, due to its potential impact on human-<em>A. aegypti</em> contact, both within a person's home and when visiting others. The large variation in population density within typical dengue endemic cities suggests that it should be a major consideration in dengue control policy.</p> </div