A prototype to integrate a wireless sensor network with civil protection grid applications

The present work was performed in the context of the CYCLOPS project, which aimed to exploit the Grid capabilities for Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) applications. The scenario exploited in the present work was the existence of remote wireless sensor networks, which could monitor and transmit real-time data from remote places, in order to prevent or react more accurately to situations of natural disasters. Considering a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) as an instrument, we used the DORII middleware to integrate this instrument with gLite-based Grid computing and storage, allowing an effective and user friendly access to the instrument, as it is required by Civil Protection applications. The mentioned goal was achieved by (i) implementing an Instrument Element and several Instrument Managers, which virtualize the WSN; (ii) developing a Custom Java Interface to connect the Instrument Managers with sensors, performing the translation of the commands/data exchanged between them; (iii) implementing additional modules to permit a long duration (or offline) monitoring, saving the observed data in a database; (iv) implementing a Sensor Observation Service, following the OGC standards, providing the users with access to the database

Integrating a wireless sensor network into grid civil protection applications

The CYCLOPS project is a FP6 SSA which aims to bring together two important Communities: GMES and Grid, focusing on the operative sector of European Civil Protection (CP). Recently University of Minho has done some job testing one of the CYCLOPS case studies - GRID deployment of control and monitoring of environmental wireless sensor networks (WSN) for climate monitoring and natural disasters reaction.FP6 - CYCLOPS - CYber-Infrastructure for CiviL protection Operative Procedure

Chemogenetic silencing of NaV1.8 positive sensory neurons reverses chronic neuropathic and bone cancer pain in FLEx PSAM4-GlyR mice

Drive from peripheral neurons is essential in almost all pain states, but pharmacological silencing of these neurons to effect analgesia has proved problematic. Reversible gene therapy using long-lived chemogenetic approaches is an appealing option. We used the genetically-activated chloride channel PSAM4-GlyR to examine pain pathways in mice. Using recombinant AAV9-based delivery to sensory neurons, we found a reversal of acute pain behavior and diminished neuronal activity using in vitro and in vivo GCaMP imaging upon activation of PSAM4-GlyR with varenicline. A significant reduction in inflammatory heat hyperalgesia and oxaliplatin-induced cold allodynia was also observed. Importantly, there was no impairment of motor coordination, but innocuous von Frey sensation was inhibited. We generated a transgenic mouse that expresses a CAG-driven FLExed PSAM4-GlyR downstream of the Rosa26 locus that requires Cre recombinase to enable the expression of PSAM4-GlyR and tdTomato. We used NaV1.8 Cre to examine the role of predominantly nociceptive NaV1.8+ neurons in cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) and neuropathic pain caused by chronic constriction injury (CCI). Varenicline activation of PSAM4-GlyR in NaV1.8-positive neurons reversed CCI-driven mechanical, thermal, and cold sensitivity. Additionally, varenicline treatment of mice with CIBP expressing PSAM4-GlyR in NaV1.8+ sensory neurons reversed cancer pain as assessed by weight-bearing. Moreover, when these mice were subjected to acute pain assays, an elevation in withdrawal thresholds to noxious mechanical and thermal stimuli was detected, but innocuous mechanical sensations remained unaffected. These studies confirm the utility of PSAM4-GlyR chemogenetic silencing in chronic pain states for mechanistic analysis and potential future therapeutic use.Significance StatementChronic pain is a massive problem. Peripheral nerve block is effective in many chronic pain conditions, demonstrating the importance of peripheral drive in chronic pain. We used chemogenetic tools based on the modified ligand-gated chloride channel PSAM4-GlyR to silence dorsal root ganglion neurons in vitro and in vivo This approach reduces pain-like behavior in acute and chronic pain models, including resistant pain conditions like neuropathic pain or cancer-induced bone pain. We generated a mouse line that expresses PSAM4-GlyR in a Cre-dependent manner, providing a useful research tool to address not only the role of nociceptive sensory neurons in pain states but also the function of genetically defined sets of neurons throughout the nervous system in normal and pathological conditions

Increased CAMKII Activity Impairs Contractile Function in Human HCM Myocardium

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A Machine to Machine framework for the charging of Electric Autonomous Vehicles

Electric Autonomous Vehicles (EAVs) have gained increasing attention of industry, governments and scientific communities concerned about issues related to classic transportation including accidents and casualties, gas emissions and air pollution, intensive traffic and city viability. One of the aspects, however, that prevent a broader adoption of this technology is the need for human interference to charge EAVs, which is still mostly manual and time-consuming. This study approaches such a problem by introducing the Inno-EAV, an open-source charging framework for EAVs that employs machine-to-machine (M2M) distributed communication. The idea behind M2M is to have networked devices that can interact, exchange information and perform actions without any manual assistance of humans. The advantages of the Inno-EAV include the automation of charging processes and the collection of relevant data that can support better decision making in the spheres of energy distribution. In this paper, we present the software design of the framework, the development process, the emphasis on the distributed architecture and the networked communication, and we discuss the back-end database that is used to store information about car owners, cars, and charging stations