A Review of Sensor Technologies for Perception in Automated Driving

After more than 20 years of research, ADAS are common in modern vehicles available in the market. Automated Driving systems, still in research phase and limited in their capabilities, are starting early commercial tests in public roads. These systems rely on the information provided by on-board sensors, which allow to describe the state of the vehicle, its environment and other actors. Selection and arrangement of sensors represent a key factor in the design of the system. This survey reviews existing, novel and upcoming sensor technologies, applied to common perception tasks for ADAS and Automated Driving. They are put in context making a historical review of the most relevant demonstrations on Automated Driving, focused on their sensing setup. Finally, the article presents a snapshot of the future challenges for sensing technologies and perception, finishing with an overview of the commercial initiatives and manufacturers alliances that will show future market trends in sensors technologies for Automated Vehicles.This work has been partly supported by ECSEL Project ENABLE- S3 (with grant agreement number 692455-2), by the Spanish Government through CICYT projects (TRA2015- 63708-R and TRA2016-78886-C3-1-R)

Vegetative and reproductive plasticity of broccoli at three levels of incident photosynthetically active radiation

To study the effects of shading on the growth, development, dry matter partitioning, and plant architecture of broccoli, "Legacy" hybrid plants were grown in pots in a greenhouse under black shading meshes to generate different levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). The average incident PAR was 23 mol PPF square m/d under control conditions, 15.2 under a 35% mesh, and 6.7 under a 70% mesh. The air temperature was within the range 15-22 deg C. As shading increased so did the duration of the growth cycle and the leaf area (LA). Shading did not affect the number of leaves, although the upper ones were more erect. The stem length and the accumulated intercepted PAR (IPAR) were negatively related. Inflorescence diameter and commercial fresh weight decreased only with the 70% mesh. Shading did not affect stem dry weight (DW) but altered dry matter allocation in the root and spear. The DW of the leaves maintained an average 45.7% of the total DW despite the greater LA developed under shade. The net assimilation rate diminished with the reduction of IPAR, and the LA increased; the plant relative growth rate was therefore practically constant. With increased shading, the leaves and the stem became the dominant photosynthate sinks. The commercial fresh weight achieved with 15.2 mol photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) square m/d was equivalent to that obtained with 23 mol PPF square m/d, but the cycle was extended for 4.5 days. With 6.7 mol PPF square m/d, yield diminished because of the lower DW produced in a cycle extended by 15 days, and because more dry matter was allocated to the stem than to the spear. Based on these results, broccoli could be considered a shade-tolerant plant.Para determinar los efectos del sombreado sobre el crecimiento, el desarrollo, la partición de materia seca y la arquitectura de la planta de brócoli se cultivaron plantas del híbrido ‘Legacy’ en macetas, en un invernadero con mallas de sombreado para generar diferentes niveles de radiación fotosintéticamente activa (PAR). El promedio de PAR incidente fue 23 mol PPF m–2 día–1 (testigo), 15,2 (malla del 35%) y 6,7 (malla del 70%). Las temperaturas estuvieron dentro del rango 15-22°C. A mayor sombreado, aumentó la duración del ciclo y el área foliar (LA). El sombreado no afectó al número de hojas, pero las superiores adoptaron una posición más erecta. La longitud del tallo y la PAR interceptada acumulada (IPAR) se relacionaron negativamente. El diámetro de la inflorescencia y el peso fresco comercial sólo disminuyeron con la malla del 70%. El sombreado no afectó al peso seco (DW) del tallo, pero alteró la distribución de materia seca entre raíces y pella. Las hojas mantuvieron una proporción promedio del 45,7% del DW total, a pesar de la mayor LA desarrollada con el sombreado. Con la disminución de la IPAR, la tasa de asimilación neta disminuyó y la tasa de área foliar aumentó: este comportamiento compensatorio mantuvo la tasa de crecimiento relativo de toda la planta prácticamente constante. Con el incremento del sombreado, las hojas y el tallo fueron los destinos dominantes. Con 15,2 mol PPF m–2 día–1, el peso comercial fue equivalente al obtenido con 23 mol PPF m–2 día–1, pero el ciclo se extendió en 4,5 días. Con 6,7 mol PPF m–2 día–1, el rendimiento disminuyó debido al menor DW producido en un ciclo 15 días más largo, y a que la planta alojó más materia seca en el tallo que en la pella. Estos resultados indican que puede considerarse al brócoli como una planta tolerante al sombreado.EEA San PedroFil: Francescangeli, Nora. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Sangiacomo, Miguel Ángel. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Martí, Héctor Rubén. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; Argentin

La traducción del humor en los videojuegos: análisis de prioridades y restricciones en League of Legends

Treball Final de Grau en Traducció i Interpretació. Codi: TI0983. Curs: 2017/2018La industria de los videojuegos constituye una de las principales fuentes de ingresos en muchos países alrededor del mundo, alcanzando cifras desorbitantes que confirman su éxito rotundo. Tal es así que, a partir de este auge incesante, han surgido nuevos campos de estudio en los últimos años, con el fin de analizar este fenómeno tan novedoso. En lo tocante a los estudios de traducción, estamos hablando de la localización de videojuegos, una modalidad de traducción audiovisual que se encarga de adaptar lingüística y culturalmente un videojuego. Esta nueva modalidad tiene un único objetivo: provocar que todos los jugadores, independientemente de su lengua materna y su origen, tengan la misma experiencia de juego, dándoles la sensación de que el producto ha sido creado especialmente para ellos. Todo esto se consigue completando una serie de procesos, cuyo protagonista es, en gran parte, la persona que se encarga de la localización. Para el presente trabajo, se expondrán las principales características de la localización de videojuegos en un primer apartado teórico, para que, acto seguido, se realice un análisis de las prioridades y restricciones de la traducción del humor de uno de los videojuegos competitivos con más renombre en el mundo: League of Legends (Riot Games, 2017). Este análisis se llevará a cabo a partir de intervenciones en inglés y en español, en las que el humor es el protagonista y y el principal motor de este trabajo

SarA Is an Essential Positive Regulator of Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilm Development

Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation is associated with the production of the polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA)--poly-N-acetylglucosamine polysaccharide (PNAG) by the products of the icaADBC operon. Recent evidence indicates that SarA, a central regulatory element that controls the production of Staphylococcus aureus virulence factors, is essential for the synthesis of PIA/PNAG and the ensuing biofilm development in this species. Based on the presence of a sarA homolog, we hypothesized that SarA could also be involved in the regulation of the biofilm formation process in S. epidermidis. To investigate this, we constructed nonpolar sarA deletions in two genetically unrelated S. epidermidis clinical strains, O-47 and CH845. The SarA mutants were completely defective in biofilm formation, both in the steady-state conditions of a microtiter dish assay and in the flow conditions of microfermentors. Reverse transcription-PCR experiments showed that the mutation in the sarA gene resulted in downregulation of the icaADBC operon transcription in an IcaR-independent manner. Purified SarA protein showed high-affinity binding to the icaA promoter region by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Consequently, mutation in sarA provoked a significant decrease in the amount of PIA/PNAG on the cell surface. Furthermore, heterologous complementation of S. aureus sarA mutants with the sarA gene of S. epidermidis completely restored biofilm formation. In summary, SarA appeared to be a positive regulator of transcription of the ica locus, and in its absence, PIA/PNAG production and biofilm formation were diminished. Additionally, we present experimental evidence showing that SarA may be an important regulatory element that controls S. epidermidis virulence factors other than biofilm formation

Interaction between genes and lifestyle factors on obesity.

Obesity originates from a failure of the body-weight control systems, which may be affected by changing environmental influences. Basically, the obesity risk depends on two important mutually-interacting factors: (1) genetic variants (single-nucleotide polymorphisms, haplotypes); (2) exposure to environmental risks (diet, physical activity etc.). Common single-nucleotide polymorphisms at candidate genes for obesity may act as effect modifiers for environmental factors. More than 127 candidate genes for obesity have been reported and there is evidence to support the role of twenty-two genes in at least five different populations. Gene-environment interactions imply that the synergy between genotype and environment deviates from either the additive or multiplicative effect (the underlying model needs to be specified to appraise the nature of the interaction). Unravelling the details of these interactions is a complex task. Emphasis should be placed on the accuracy of the assessment methods for both genotype and lifestyle factors. Appropriate study design (sample size) is crucial in avoiding false positives and ensuring that studies have enough power to detect significant interactions, the ideal design being a nested case-control study within a cohort. A growing number of studies are examining the influence of gene-environmental interactions on obesity in either epidemiological observational or intervention studies. Positive evidence has been obtained for genes involved in adiposity, lipid metabolism or energy regulation such as PPARgamma2 (Pro12Ala), beta-adrenoceptor 2 (Gln27Glu) or uncoupling proteins 1, 2 and 3. Variants on other genes relating to appetite regulation such as melanocortin and leptin receptors have also been investigated. Examples of some recently-identified interactions are discussed

Jet stability and the generation of superluminal and stationary components

We present a numerical simulation of the response of an expanding relativistic jet to the ejection of a superluminal component. The simulation has been performed with a relativistic time-dependent hydrodynamical code from which simulated radio maps are computed by integrating the transfer equations for synchrotron radiation. The interaction of the superluminal component with the underlying jet results in the formation of multiple conical shocks behind the main perturbation. These trailing components can be easily distinguished because they appear to be released from the primary superluminal component, instead of being ejected from the core. Their oblique nature should also result in distinct polarization properties. Those appearing closer to the core show small apparent motions and a very slow secular decrease in brightness, and could be identified as stationary components. Those appearing farther downstream are weaker and can reach superluminal apparent motions. The existence of these trailing components indicates that not all observed components necessarily represent major perturbations at the jet inlet; rather, multiple emission components can be generated by a single disturbance in the jet. While the superluminal component associated with the primary perturbation exhibits a rather stable pattern speed, trailing components have velocities that increase with distance from the core but move at less than the jet speed. The trailing components exhibit motion and structure consistent with the triggering of pinch modes by the superluminal component.Comment: Accepted by ApJ Letters. LaTeX, 19 pages, 4 PostScript figure

3D Simulations of Relativistic Precessing Jets Probing the Structure of Superluminal Sources

We present the results of a three-dimensional, relativistic, hydrodynamic simulation of a precessing jet into which a compact blob of matter is injected. A comparison of synthetic radio maps computed from the hydrodynamic model, taking into account the appropriate light travel time delays, with those obtained from observations of actual superluminal sources shows that the variability of the jet emission is the result of a complex combination of phase motions, viewing angle selection effects, and non-linear interactions between perturbations and the underlying jet and/or the external medium. These results question the hydrodynamic properties inferred from observed apparent motions and radio structures, and reveal that shock-in-jet models may be overly simplistic.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJL. 4 pages, 5 figures (4 in color