Analysis of Energy Consumption Performance towards Optimal Radioplanning of Wireless Sensor Networks in Heterogeneous Indoor Environments

In this paper the impact of complex indoor environment in the deployment and energy consumption of a wireless sensor network infrastructure is analyzed. The variable nature of the radio channel is analyzed by means of deterministic in-house 3D ray launching simulation of an indoor scenario, in which wireless sensors, based on an in-house CyFi implementation, typically used for environmental monitoring, are located. Received signal power and current consumption measurement results of the in-house designed wireless motes have been obtained, stating that adequate consideration of the network topology and morphology lead to optimal performance and power consumption reduction. The use of radioplanning techniques therefore aid in the deployment of more energy efficient elements, optimizing the overall performance of the variety of deployed wireless systems within the indoor scenario

Parâmetros de consistência dos solos: seu estudo e avaliação ao longo de perfis pedológicos para aplicação na engenharia rodoviária.

Foram estudados os limites de consistencia dos solos ao longo de perfis pedologicos para aplicacao na engenharia rodoviaria. As amostras foram coletadas de horizontes superficiais e subsuperficiais em dez perfis de diferentes classes de solos. As analises das amostras foram efetuadas em laboratorio seguindo a rotina usada em pedologia. Foram determinados tambem, para cada horizonte considerado, os limites de liquidez(LL), plasticidade(LP) e contracao(LC); o indice de plasticidade(IP), e o grau de contracao(GC). A analise dos dados de laboratorio, aliada as observacoes de campo, demonstrou haver uma correlacao empirica, entre as razoes "% de argila/IP" ou "IP//% de argila" e as propriedades dos solos considerados quanto a conservacao das estradas, no caso dossolos com mais de 35% de argila no horizonte B. Essas relacoes poderiam funcionar como indicadores das qualidades desses solos para a implantacao de rodovias. Obteve-se tambem uma certa evidencia neste sentido, para esses mesmos solos, atraves de graficos elaborados para cada perfil.bitstream/item/62536/1/CNPS-BOL.-PESQ.-13-82.pd

The stiffness of elastomeric surfaces influences the mechanical properties of endothelial cells

Optimal characterization of the mechanical properties of both cells and their surrounding is an issue of major interest. Indeed, cell function and development are strongly influenced by external stimuli. Furthermore, a change in cell mechanics might, in some cases, associate with diseases or malfunctioning. In this work, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was applied to examine the mechanical properties of the silicone elastomer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) a common substrate in cell culture. Force spectroscopy analysis was done over different specimens of this elastomeric material containing varying ratios of resin to cross-linker in its structure (5:1, 10:1, 20:1, 30:1 and 50:1), which impacts the final material properties (e.g., stiffness, elasticity). To quantify the mechanical properties of the PDMS, factors as the modulus of Young, the maximum adhesive forces as well as both relaxation amplitudes and times upon constant height contact of the tip (dwell time different of zero) were calculated from the different segments forming the force curves. It is demonstrated that the material stiffness is increased by prior oxygen plasma treatment of the sample, required for hydrophilic switching, contrarily to what observed for its adhesiveness. Subsequent incubation of endothelial HUVEC cells on top of these plasma treated PDMS systems yields minor variation in cell mechanics in comparison to those obtained on a glass reference, on which cells show much higher spreading tendency and, by extension, a remarkable membrane hardening. Thus, surface wettability turns a factor of higher relevance than substrate stiffness inducing variations in the cell mechanics.Comment: manuscript (12 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables), supplementary information (2 pages and 3 figures), the main results of the manuscript are based on a master thesi

Tree recruitment in an empty forest

To assess how the decimation of large vertebrates by hunting alters recruitment processes in a tropical forest, we compared the sapling cohorts of two structurally and compositionally similar forests in the Rio Manu floodplain in southeastern Peru. Large vertebrates were severely depleted at one site, Boca Manu (BM), whereas the other, Cocha Cashu Biological Station (CC), supported an intact fauna. At both sites we sampled small (1 m tall, ,1 cm dbh) and large (1 cm and ,10 cm dbh) saplings in the central portion of 4-ha plots within which all trees 10 cm dbh were mapped and identified. This design ensured that all conspecific adults within at least 50 m (BM) or 55 m (CC) of any sapling would have known locations. We used the Janzen-Connell model to make five predictions about the sapling cohorts at BM with respect to CC: (1) reduced overall sapling recruitment, (2) increased recruitment of species dispersed by abiotic means, (3) altered relative abundances of species, (4) prominence of large-seeded species among those showing depressed recruitment, and (5) little or no tendency for saplings to cluster closer to adults at BM. Our results affirmed each of these predictions. Interpreted at face value, the evidence suggests that few species are demographically stable at BM and that up to 28% are increasing and 72% decreasing. Loss of dispersal function allows species dispersed abiotically and by small birds and mammals to substitute for those dispersed by large birds and mammals. Although we regard these conclusions as preliminary, over the long run, the observed type of directional change in tree composition is likely to result in biodiversity loss and negative feedbacks on both the animal and plant communities. Our results suggest that the best, and perhaps only, way to prevent compositional change and probable loss of diversity in tropical tree communities is to prohibit hunting

Updates on radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations: Proceedings of 6th annual ImmunoRad conference.

Focal radiation therapy (RT) has attracted considerable attention as a combinatorial partner for immunotherapy (IT), largely reflecting a well-defined, predictable safety profile and at least some potential for immunostimulation. However, only a few RT-IT combinations have been tested successfully in patients with cancer, highlighting the urgent need for an improved understanding of the interaction between RT and IT in both preclinical and clinical scenarios. Every year since 2016, ImmunoRad gathers experts working at the interface between RT and IT to provide a forum for education and discussion, with the ultimate goal of fostering progress in the field at both preclinical and clinical levels. Here, we summarize the key concepts and findings presented at the Sixth Annual ImmunoRad conference

Oil and Gas Projects in the Western Amazon: Threats to Wilderness, Biodiversity, and Indigenous Peoples

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.The western Amazon is the most biologically rich part of the Amazon basin and is home to a great diversity of indigenous ethnic groups, including some of the world’s last uncontacted peoples living in voluntary isolation. Unlike the eastern Brazilian Amazon, it is still a largely intact ecosystem. Underlying this landscape are large reserves of oil and gas, many yet untapped. The growing global demand is leading to unprecedented exploration and development in the region. Without improved policies, the increasing scope and magnitude of planned extraction means that environmental and social impacts are likely to intensify. We review the most pressing oil- and gas-related conservation policy issues confronting the region. These include the need for regional Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments and the adoption of roadless extraction techniques. We also consider the conflicts where the blocks overlap indigenous peoples’ territories

Updates on radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations: Proceedings of 6(th) annual ImmunoRad conference

Focal radiation therapy (RT) has attracted considerable attention as a combinatorial partner for immunotherapy (IT), largely reflecting a well-defined, predictable safety profile and at least some potential for immunostimulation. However, only a few RT-IT combinations have been tested successfully in patients with cancer, highlighting the urgent need for an improved understanding of the interaction between RT and IT in both preclinical and clinical scenarios. Every year since 2016, ImmunoRad gathers experts working at the interface between RT and IT to provide a forum for education and discussion, with the ultimate goal of fostering progress in the field at both preclinical and clinical levels. Here, we summarize the key concepts and findings presented at the Sixth Annual ImmunoRad conference

Supplementary Material Metallomic Signatures of Lung Cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).--Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can increase LC risk. Metallomics may provide insights into both of these tobacco-related diseases and their shared etiology. We conducted an observational study of 191 human serum samples, including those of healthy controls, LC patients, COPD patients, and patients with both COPD and LC. We found 18 elements (V, Al, As, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Cd, Se, W, Mo, Sb, Pb, Tl, Cr, Mg, Ni, and U) in these samples. In addition, we evaluated the elemental profiles of COPD cases of varying severity. The ratios and associations between the elements were also studied as possible signatures of the diseases. COPD severity and LC have a significant impact on the elemental composition of human serum. The severity of COPD was found to reduce the serum concentrations of As, Cd, and Tl and increased the serum concentrations of Mn and Sb compared with healthy control samples, while LC was found to increase Al, As, Mn, and Pb concentrations. This study provides new insights into the effects of LC and COPD on the human serum elemental profile that will pave the way for the potential use of elements as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. It also sheds light on the potential link between the two diseases, i.e., the evolution of COPD to LC.This work has been supported by the project “Heteroatom-tagged proteomics and metabolomics to study lung cancer. Influence of gut microbiota” (Ref.: PY20_00366) (Project of Excellence, Regional Ministry of Economy, Knowledge, Business and University, Andalusia, Spain). The authors are also grateful for grants 651/2018 and 115/2020 from the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Surgery (SEPAR) and grant 08/2018 from the Association of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (Neumosur), which were used to facilitate recruitment at the hospitals and biobank registration. The authors also thank Instituto de Salud Carlos III (AES16/01783) and wish to express their gratitude for the unrestricted funding from the Menarini Group and AstraZeneca.Peer reviewe

Quantifying the impacts of defaunation on natural forest regeneration in a global meta-analysis

Intact forests provide diverse and irreplaceable ecosystem services that are critical to human well-being, such as carbon storage to mitigate climate change. However, the ecosystem functions that underpin these services are highly dependent on the woody vegetation-animal interactions occurring within forests. While vertebrate defaunation is of growing policy concern, the effects of vertebrate loss on natural forest regeneration have yet to be quantified globally. Here we conduct a meta-analysis to assess the direction and magnitude of defaunation impacts on forests. We demonstrate that real-world defaunation caused by hunting and habitat fragmentation leads to reduced forest regeneration, although manipulation experiments provide contrasting findings. The extirpation of primates and birds cause the greatest declines in forest regeneration, emphasising their key role in maintaining carbon stores, and the need for national and international climate change and conservation strategies to protect forests from defaunation fronts as well as deforestation fronts