Overview of context-sensitive technologies for well-being

Today smart devices such as smartphones, smartwatches and activity trackers are widely available and accepted in most developed societies. These devices present a broad set of sensors capable of extracting detailed information about different situations of daily life, which, if used for good, have the potential to improve the quality of life not only for individuals but also for the society in general. One of the key areas where this type of information can help to improve the quality of life is in healthcare since it allows to monitor and infer the current level of well-being of the smart devices carriers. In this paper, some of the available literature about well-being sensing through context-aware data is reviewed. Also, the main types of mechanisms used in these studies are identified. These mechanisms are related to monitoring, generalization, inference, feedback, energy management and privacy. Furthermore, a description of the mechanisms used in each study is presented.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Colorimetric change of assai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) after preservation and thermal processing of the fruit.

Amazonian areas is far from the consumer center. Those characteristics promote a decline in visual quality of the fruit at the time of commercialization and consequently of the beverage processed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the assai fruit conservation and heat treatment, usually applied before its transformation into a pulp or beverage by artisan processing. Assai fruits were collected in 2013 in Mazagão, Brazil, packed in polypropylene bags, vacuum sealed and refrigerated (8-10°C) during four days. The treatments consisted of i.) fruits packed under vacuum (T1), ii.) fruits softening with potable water at 45°C for 20 minutes before bleaching (T2), ii.) fruits which have not been softened before bleaching (T3), iii.) fruits bleached at 80°C for 10 seconds (T4) (Rogez et al., 1996) and iv.) packaged fruit pulps prepared in the presence (T5) and iv). absence of vacuum (T6). The instrumental color of fruits and pulps was evaluated by colorimeter CR- 400 Konica Minolta. Fruit pulp preserved in vacuum (T5) showed the darkest luminosity (L*29.39), well as a more reddish color (a*8.51) and also more blue (b*-4.10). Considering ?E 12.55, there was a significant difference between vacuum packed fruit (T1) and without vacuum fruit pulps (T6). Otherwise, pulps from vacuum packed fruits (T5) and ones with absence of vacuum packed fruits (T6) also presented statistical difference (?E 7.80). The highest value C* was observed in vacuum packed pulps (T5) (9.45), which presented with a brighter and stronger color than the fruit pulp without vacuum (T6) (C*7.01). Regarding H°hue, the pulp from fruits without vacuum (T6) showed higher values (H°78.36) when compared to the pulp from fruits under vacuum (T5) (H°73.84). Compared to thermal processing, bleaching was not statistically influenced by purity of the color (C*) of softened fruit pulps (T2) (C*8.50) and fruit pulps that were not softening (T3) (C*8.00). The highest total color difference was observed in the bleached pulps that were previously softened (T4) (?E12.85). Assai fruits vacuum packed retain the best attributes of drink produced. Softening of the fruit before bleaching also influences the change in color of the drink, which may represent significant quality loss for the product and value for the merchant and consumers.UP371

Eficácia de barreiras acústicas

O tráfego rodoviário tem impactes significativos no ambiente, na saúde e na qualidade de vida das populações. Os avultados investimentos aplicados na construção de barreiras acústicas nem sempre se traduzem numa redução eficaz do ruído. Esta comunicação apresenta os resultados da avaliação da eficácia de três barreiras acústicas colocadas em vias de comunicação com volumes de tráfego distintos. Os materiais que as constituem são blocos de betão parcialmente preenchidos com lã de rocha, chapa metálica perfurada com lã de rocha e painéis pré-fabricados de betão com inertes leves. A avaliação da eficácia de cada barreira acústica foi efectuada com recurso a sonómetros colocados à frente, no tardoz e numa zona contígua não influenciada pela mesma. Para complementar a avaliação, estabelecem-se comparações entre os valores medidos e os valores obtidos a partir de modelos simplificados de comportamento.The road traffic has significant impacts in the environment, in population quality of life and health. The large investments applied in construction of acoustics barriers nor always result in an efficient noise reduction. This paper presents the results of the evaluation of the effectiveness of three acoustics barriers placed in highways with distinct traffic. The materials that constitute the barriers are concrete blocks partially filled with rockwool, perforated metallic shell with rockwool and prefabricated concrete panels. The evaluation of the effectiveness of each acoustics barrier was carried out with sound level meters placed in the front, behind and in a contiguous zone not influenced by the barrier. Comparisons between the measured values and the values gotten from simplified behaviour models are established

Resistência do solo à penetração sob vegetação nativa e pastagem cultivada no Pantanal Sul-Mato-Grossense.

Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar as alterações na resistência do solo à penetração em razão da conversão da vegetação arbórea nativa em pastagem cultivada no Pantanal Sul-Mato-Grossense. The objective of this work was to evaluate the alterations in soil resistance to penetration due to conversion of natural tree vegetation into cultivated pasture in the Pantanal wetlands, at south of Mato Grosso, Brazil

Ethical and methodological dilemmas in mixed-methods research: an empirically-based perspective about gamete donation

Research in the field of gamete donation has focused mostly on the dichotomy between the resource-poor countries/conditions of the donors and the richer Western countries’ recipients/hosting research projects. Furthermore, most independent studies focus only on the group of donors, with a shortage of original empirical research using mixed-methods. Based on a mixed-methods study that aims to understand how social, cultural and economic characteristics intertwine with the health experiences, knowledge and identities of those involved in gamete donation (i.e. donors, recipients and health professionals), we will explore the ethical and methodological challenges that emerged in connection to fieldwork experiences associated with anonymity, confidentiality, informed consent, researchers’ gender and researchers’ potential impact on the participant and vice versa.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Follicular Fluid redox involvement for ovarian follicle growth

As the human ovarian follicle enlarges in the course of a regular cycle or following controlled ovarian stimulation, the changes in its structure reveal the oocyte environment composed of cumulus oophorus cells and the follicular fluid (FF).In contrast to the dynamic nature of cells, the fluid compartment appears as a reservoir rich in biomolecules. In some aspects, it is similar to the plasma, but it also exhibits differences that likely relate to its specific localization around the oocyte. The chemical composition indicates that the follicular fluid is able to detect and buffer excessive amounts of reactive oxygen species, employing a variety of antioxidants, some of them components of the intracellular milieu.An important part is played by albumin through specific cysteine residues. But the fluid contains other molecules whose cysteine residues may be involved in sensing and buffering the local oxidative conditions. How these molecules are recruited and regulated to intervene such process is unknown but it is a critical issue in reproduction.In fact, important proteins in the FF, that regulate follicle growth and oocyte quality, exhibit cysteine residues at specific points, whose untoward oxidation would result in functional loss. Therefore, preservation of controlled oxidative conditions in the FF is a requirement for the fine-tuned oocyte maturation process. In contrast, its disturbance enhances the susceptibility to the establishment of reproductive disorders that would require the intervention of reproductive medicine technology.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio