Analysis of the EPSRC Principles of Robotics in regard to key research topics

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. In this paper, we review the five rules published in EPSRC Principles of Robotics with a specific focus on future robotics research topics. It is demonstrated through a pictorial representation of the five rules that these rules are questionably not sufficient, overlapping and not explicitly reflecting the true challenges of robotics ethics in relation to the future of robotics research

Evolution of malaria mortality and morbidity after the emergence of chloroquine resistance in Niakhar, Senegal

Background: Recently, it has been assumed that resistance of Plasmodium to chloroquine increased malaria mortality. The study aimed to assess the impact of chemoresistance on mortality attributable to malaria in a rural area of Senegal, since the emergence of resistance in 1992, whilst chloroquine was used as first-line treatment of malaria, until the change in national anti-malarial policy in 2003. Methods: The retrospective study took place in the demographic surveillance site (DSS) of Niakhar. Data about malaria morbidity were obtained from health records of three health care facilities, where diagnosis of malaria was based on clinical signs. Source of data concerning malaria mortality were verbal autopsies performed by trained fieldworkers and examined by physicians who identified the probable cause of death. Results: From 1992 to 2004, clinical malaria morbidity represented 39% of total morbidity in health centres. Mean malaria mortality was 2.4 parts per thousand and 10.4 parts per thousand among total population and children younger than five years, respectively, and was highest in the 1992-1995 period. It tended to decline from 1992 to 2003 (Trend test, total population p = 0.03, children 0-4 years p = 0.12 - children 1-4 years p = 0.04 - children 5-9 years p = 0.01). Conclusion: Contrary to what has been observed until 1995, mortality attributable to malaria did not continue to increase dramatically in spite of the growing resistance to chloroquine and its use as first-line treatment until 2003. Malaria morbidity and mortality followed parallel trends and rather fluctuated accordingly to rainfall

Vegetal fibers in polymeric composites: a review

The need to develop and commercialize materials containing vegetal fibers has grown in order to reduce environmental impact and reach sustainability. Large amounts of lignocellulosic materials are generated around the world from several human activities. The lignocellulosic materials are composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, extractives and ashes. Recently these constituents have been used in different applications; in particular, cellulose has been the subject of numerous works on the development of composite materials reinforced with natural fibers. Many studies have led to composite materials reinforced with fibers to improve the mechanical, physical, and thermal properties. Furthermore, lignocellulosic materials have been treated to apply in innovative solutions for efficient and sustainable systems. This paper aims to review the lignocellulosic fibers characteristics, as well as to present their applications as reinforcement in composites of different polymeric matrices.Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnologicoFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Embrapa Agroind Trop, Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista UNESP, Fac Engn Guaratingueta, Dept Mat &Tecnol, Guaratingueta, SP, BrazilCtr Univ Volta Redonda UniFOA, Volta Redonda, RJ, BrazilDepartamento de Materiais e Tecnologia, Faculdade de Engenharia de Guaratinguetá, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Guaratinguetá, SP, BrazilFundacao Cearense deApoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico: DCR-0024-00522.01.00/12FAPESP: 2011/14.153-

Extended object tracking with convolution particle filtering

This paper proposes a sequential Monte Carlo filter (particle filter) for state and parameter estimation of dynamic systems. It is applied to the problem of extended object tracking in the presence of dense clutter. The unknown length of a stick-shape object is estimated in addition to the kinematic parameters. The kernel density estimation technique is utilised to approximate the joint posterior density of target state and static size parameters. The convolution particle filtering approach is validated on a Poisson model for the measurements, originating from the target and clutter. Examples illustrating the filter performance are presented. Simulation results show that the convolution particle filter provides accurate on-line tracking, with very good estimates both for the target kinematic states and for the parameters of the target extent

Significant Changes in Inducible Cytokine Synthesis by Activated Peripheral Blood Leukocytes of Multiple Myeloma Patients Receiving Standard Dose Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

Abstract Abstract 5096 Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable cancer characterized by the clonal proliferation of plasma cells within the bone marrow. We previously reported a positive correlation between serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and the severity of the self-reported symptoms in MM patients undergoing high dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT). As cytokines produced by activated peripheral blood (PB) leukocytes are likely to increase the severity of self-reported symptoms, we determined the ability of PB CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes, and CD14+ monocytes to produce cytokines following activation through the T-cell receptor (TCR) with anti-CD3 antibodies and toll-like receptor-4 with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), respectively. We studied 24 patients (65 yrs ± 7 yrs) with Durie-Salmon stages II/III MM, 15 men and 9 women; 18 Caucasian, 2 Hispanic, and 3 African-American and 1 Asian. All patients were part of an ongoing clinical trial studying high versus standard dose of autologous stem cells (AutoSC) during HDC followed by auto-SCT. All patients received standard high dose melphalan (200 mg/m2 in 2 divided doses) as their myeloablative chemotherapy. Fourteen subjects received a standard dose (SD) of AutoSC (4–6×106 CD34+ cells/kg) and 10 patients received a high dose (HD) of AutoSC (10–15×106 CD34+ cells/kg). The ability of TCR-activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to synthesize cytokines (Th1: IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ; Th2: IL-4, and IL-10) and LPS-activated monocytes to synthesize IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, MCP-1, and TNF-a was assessed prior to auto-SCT and thereafter at 2 weeks, 1, 2, 6 and 12 months by multi-color flow cytometry assays. Friedman test was used to determine the differences in the percentages of cytokine-producing cells by each cohort across time. Wilcoxon tests were used as follow-up tests to determine at which time the differences exist. Mann-Whitney test was used to determine if there were differences in the percentages of leukocytes producing cytokines in patients who received SD or the HD of AuSC. The SD AuSC cohort had significant changes in the mean ± SEM percentages of TCR-activated CD3+CD8+ T cells that produced IL-2 and of CD3+CD4+ T cells that produced IL-10 across time. The increase in percentage of IL-2-producing T cells was followed by a significant decline (when compared with baseline) at 1-month post auto-SCT (14.5% ± 3.7% vs. 4.5% ± 1.3%; P = 0.019). This decline was sustained throughout the 12-month post auto-SCT and was attributable to CD3+CD8+ T cells (8.6% ± 2.3% vs 1.6% ± 0.4%; P = 0.013). Moreover, the SD cohort had an increase in the percentage of TCR-activated CD3+CD4+ T cells that synthesized IL-10 at 2 weeks post auto-SCT. Finally, the SD cohort also had a significant increase in the percentage of LPS-activated CD14+ monocytes that produced TNF-α at 3 months post auto-SCT when compared with LPS-activated CD14+ monocytes at baseline (0.6% ± 0.4% vs. 1.6% ± 0.4%; P = 0.006), and this increase was sustained over the remainder of 12-month period. These dynamic changes in cytokine production were not seen in the HD AuSC group. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the percentages of activated leukocytes synthesizing cytokines at any time point between the SD and HD AuSC groups. These preliminary results suggest that activated leukocytes from MM patients who received the SD of AuSC had a dysregulated cytokine profile while that of patients who received HD of AuSC did not. These significant changes may be associated with more variations in symptom burden of the SD cohort. Further analyses to correlate these findings with symptom burden are warranted to support this hypothesis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare. </jats:sec