A unified approach to the development and usage of mobile agents

Mobile agents are an interesting approach to the development of distributed systems. By moving freely accross the network, they allow for the distribution of computation as well as gathering and filtering of information in an autonomous way. Over the last decade, the agent research community has decidedly achieved tremendous results. However, the community was not able to provide easy to use toolkits to make this paradigm available to a broader audience. By embracing simplicity during the creation of a formal model and a reference implementation to create and execute instances of that model, our aim is to enable a wide audience – even non-experts – to create, adapt and use mobile agents. The proposed model allows for the creation of agents by combining atomic, self-contained building blocks and we provide an approachable, easy to use graphical editor for the creation of model instances. In two evaluations, we could reinforce our believes that, with the achieved results, we could reach our aims

Políticas públicas em resolução adequada de disputas: a mediação judicial como alternativa para resolução de conflitos no poder judiciário do Rio Grande do Sul

As Políticas Públicas em Resolução Adequada de Disputas (RAD) adotadas pelo Judiciário visam ao tratamento adequado dos conflitos, incentivando a prestação de serviços autocompositivos na solução de disputas judiciais e propiciando ao cidadão construir, conjuntamente com o Estado, uma solução aos seus próprios conflitos. A mediação judicial é um serviço autocompositivo que busca, com o auxílio de um terceiro imparcial, restabelecer a comunicação e promover o consenso de um conflito em que exista um vínculo anterior entre as partes. O Poder Judiciário do Rio Grande do Sul, com a necessidade de executar um serviço eficaz na solução dos conflitos da sociedade, tem se estruturado para atender a grande demanda de processos pelo método autocompositivo. A Mediação Judicial ainda é recente dentro do Judiciário, por isso carece de estudos que comprovem sua eficiência na solução de conflitos e seu papel como um serviço público executado por meio da cooperação entre Estado e cidadão. Dentro desse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar a efetividade das políticas públicas em RAD pelo método da mediação judicial para verificar em que medida a prática da mediação, inserida nesta política pública, colabora para uma maior eficiência na prestação jurisdicional no âmbito da sociedade sul Rio Grandense. O método utilizado neste trabalho é o hipotético-dedutivo, partindo da hipótese de que a política pública em RAD deve abordar a mediação judicial como sendo o método autocompositivo mais efetivo para o tratamento dos conflitos que chegam ao poder Judiciário gaúcho. A técnica de pesquisa utilizada aqui é bibliográfica e documental; e, para a análise dos dados, a pesquisa é de caráter qualitativo e quantitativo. Esse estudo busca explicitar a necessidade da autocomposição dentro do Judiciário e mostrar a eficiência da Mediação Judicial como um serviço que busca a participação do cidadão na construção de uma ordem jurídica justa e inclusiva

Dynamics of human protein kinase Aurora A linked to drug selectivity

Protein kinases are major drug targets, but the development of highly-selective inhibitors has been challenging due to the similarity of their active sites. The observation of distinct structural states of the fully-conserved Asp-Phe-Gly (DFG) loop has put the concept of conformational selection for the DFG-state at the center of kinase drug discovery. Recently, it was shown that Gleevec selectivity for the Tyr-kinase Abl was instead rooted in conformational changes after drug binding. Here, we investigate whether protein dynamics after binding is a more general paradigm for drug selectivity by characterizing the binding of several approved drugs to the Ser/Thr-kinase Aurora A. Using a combination of biophysical techniques, we propose a universal drug-binding mechanism, that rationalizes selectivity, affinity and long on-target residence time for kinase inhibitors. These new concepts, where protein dynamics in the drug-bound state plays the crucial role, can be applied to inhibitor design of targets outside the kinome

Dynamics of human protein kinases linked to drug selectivity [preprint]

Protein kinases are major drug targets, but the development of highly-selective inhibitors has been challenging due to the similarity of their active sites. The observation of distinct structural states of the fully-conserved Asp-Phe-Gly (DFG) loop has put the concept of conformational selection for the DFG-state at the center of kinase drug discovery. Recently, it was shown that Gleevec selectivity for the Tyr-kinases Abl was instead rooted in conformational changes after drug binding. Here, we investigate whether protein dynamics after binding is a more general paradigm for drug selectivity by characterizing the binding of several approved drugs to the Ser/Thr-kinase Aurora A. Using a combination of biophysical techniques, we propose a universal drug-binding mechanism, that rationalizes selectivity, affinity and long on-target residence time for kinase inhibitors. These new concepts, where protein dynamics in the drug-bound state plays the crucial role, can be applied to inhibitor design of targets outside the kinome

Safety and reliability of Radio Frequency Identification Devices in Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography

BACKGROUND: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices are becoming more and more essential for patient safety in hospitals. The purpose of this study was to determine patient safety, data reliability and signal loss wearing on skin RFID devices during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scanning. METHODS: Sixty RFID tags of the type I-Code SLI, 13.56 MHz, ISO 18000-3.1 were tested: Thirty type 1, an RFID tag with a 76 x 45 mm aluminum-etched antenna and 30 type 2, a tag with a 31 x 14 mm copper-etched antenna. The signal loss, material movement and heat tests were performed in a 1.5 T and a 3 T MR system. For data integrity, the tags were tested additionally during CT scanning. Standardized function tests were performed with all transponders before and after all imaging studies. RESULTS: There was no memory loss or data alteration in the RFID tags after MRI and CT scanning. Concerning heating (a maximum of 3.6 degrees C) and device movement (below 1 N/kg) no relevant influence was found. Concerning signal loss (artifacts 2 - 4 mm), interpretability of MR images was impaired when superficial structures such as skin, subcutaneous tissues or tendons were assessed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients wearing RFID wristbands are safe in 1.5 T and 3 T MR scanners using normal operation mode for RF-field. The findings are specific to the RFID tags that underwent testing

Early coronary angiography in patients after out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest without ST‐segment elevation: Meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

Objectives: To compare early coronary angiography to a delayed or selective approach in out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) without ST‐segment elevation of possible cardiac cause by means of meta‐analysis of available randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: We searched MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for RCTs comparing early with delayed or selective coronary angiography in OHCA patients of possible cardiac origin without ST‐segment elevation. The primary endpoint was all‐cause short‐term mortality (PROSPERO CRD42021271484). Results: The search strategy identified three RCTs enrolling a total of 1167 patients. An early invasive approach was not associated with improved short‐term mortality (odds ratio 1.19, 95% confidence interval 0.94–1.52; p = 0.15). Further, no significant differences were shown with respect to the risk of severe neurological deficit, the composite of all‐cause mortality or severe neurological deficit, need for renal replacement therapy due to acute renal failure, and significant bleeding at short‐term follow‐up. Conclusion: Early coronary angiography in OHCA without ST‐segment elevation is not superior compared to a delayed/selective approach

Dark exciton anti-funneling in atomically thin semiconductors

Strain engineering can manipulate the propagation of excitons in atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides. Here, the authors observe an anti-funnelling behavior, i.e., the exciton photoluminescence moves away from high-strain regions, and attribute it to the dominating role of propagating dark excitons. Transport of charge carriers is at the heart of current nanoelectronics. In conventional materials, electronic transport can be controlled by applying electric fields. Atomically thin semiconductors, however, are governed by excitons, which are neutral electron-hole pairs and as such cannot be controlled by electrical fields. Recently, strain engineering has been introduced to manipulate exciton propagation. Strain-induced energy gradients give rise to exciton funneling up to a micrometer range. Here, we combine spatiotemporal photoluminescence measurements with microscopic theory to track the way of excitons in time, space and energy. We find that excitons surprisingly move away from high-strain regions. This anti-funneling behavior can be ascribed to dark excitons which possess an opposite strain-induced energy variation compared to bright excitons. Our findings open new possibilities to control transport in exciton-dominated materials. Overall, our work represents a major advance in understanding exciton transport that is crucial for technological applications of atomically thin materials

Additive manufacturing of β-tricalcium phosphate components via Fused Deposition of Ceramics (FDC)

Das Paper beschreibt die Compoundierung bioaktiver Keramik (Beta-Tricalciumphosphat) in einer organischen Matrix, die anschließende Extrusion zu Filamenten, die für den FDM-3D-Druck geeignet sind, sowie die Formgebund zu Scaffolds mittels additiver Fertigung. Weiterhin werden fertigungsprozessbegleitende Untersuchungen zur Entbinderung und Sinterung durchgeführt