EVS: Head-up or Head Down? Evaluation of Crew Procedure and Human Factors for Enhanced Vision Systems

Feasibility of an EVS head-down procedure is examined that may provide the same operational benefits under low visibility as the FAA rule on Enhanced Flight Visibility that requires the use of a head-up display (HUD). The main element of the described EVS head-down procedure is the crew procedure within cockpit for flying the approach. The task sharing between Pilot-Flying and Pilot-Not-Flying is arranged such that multiple head-up/head-down transitions can be avoided. The pilot-flying is using the head-down display for acquisition of the necessary visual cues in the EVS image. The pilot-not-flying is monitoring the instruments and looking for the outside visual cues

Network analysis of phenological units to detect important species in plant-pollinator communities: can it inform conservation strategies?

Conservation of species is often focused either only on those that are endangered, or on maximising the number recorded on species lists. However, species share space and time with others, thus interacting and building frameworks of relationships that can be unravelled by community-level network analysis. It is these relationships that ultimately drive ecosystem function via the transfer of energy and nutrients. However interactions are rarely considered in conservation planning. Network analysis can be used to detect key species ("hubs") that play an important role in cohesiveness of networks. We applied this approach to plant-pollinator communities on two montane Northern Apennine grasslands, paying special attention to the modules and the identity of hubs. We performed season-wide sampling and then focused the network analyses on time units consistent with plant phenology. After testing for significance of modules, only some modules were found to be significantly segregated from others. Thus, networks were organized around a structured core of modules with a set of companion species that were not organized into compartments. Using a network approach we obtained a list of important plant and pollinator species, including three Network Hubs of utmost importance, and other hubs of particular biogeographical interest. By having a lot of links and high partner diversity, hubs should convey stability to networks. Due to their role in the networks, taking into account such key species when considering the management of sites could help to preserve the greatest number of interactions and thus support many other species

Botanicals in Functional Foods and Food Supplements: Tradition, Efficacy and Regulatory Aspects

In recent decades, the interest in products containing botanicals and claiming \u201cfunctional\u201d properties has increased exponentially. Functional foods, novel foods and food supplements have a special impact on the consumers, who show significant expectation for their well-being. Food supplements with botanical ingredients are the food area that has witnessed the greatest development, in terms of the number of available products, budget, and consumer acceptability. This review refers to and discusses some open points, such as: 1) the definitions and regulation of products containing botanicals; 2) the difficulty in obtaining nutritional and functional claims (botanical ingredients obtaining claims in the EU are listed and summarized); 3) the safety aspects of these products; and 4) the poor harmonization between international legislations. The availability of these "new" products can positively influence the well-being of the population, but it is essential to provide the consumers with the necessary recommendations to guide them in their purchase and use

Chirality in halogen-bonded supramolecular architectures

Abstracts of the XXII IUCr Congres

Perfluoropolyethers coatings design for fouling reduction on heat transfer stainless steel surfaces

The scope of this research is to obtain a film coating on stainless steel surfaces in order to reduce the interaction between the metal surface and the precipitates, so to mitigate fouling in heat exchangers. Perfuoropolyethers were used to obtain nano-range fluorinated layers in order to make hydrophobic the stainless steel surfaces. A pilot plant with two identical heat exchangers was built to investigate the ability of the hydrophobic coating of preventing fouling. The heat exchangers, installed in parallel, operated at the same temperature and pressure conditions, i.e. laminar flow regime and inlet flow temperatures of 291\u2013293 K for cold streams and 313\u2013333 K for hot streams. We compared the heat transfer performance of the two heat exchangers. After a five months operation the decrease in the heat transferred was 56% for the coated heat exchanger and 62% for the uncoated heat exchanger. Moreover, the increase of heat transfer resistance due to scale on the uncoated heat exchanger, with respect to the coated one, was three times higher

Neural stem cell transplantation for neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are disabling and fatal neurological disorders that currently lack effective treatment. Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation has been studied as a potential therapeutic approach and appears to exert a beneficial effect against neurodegeneration via different mechanisms, such as the production of neurotrophic factors, decreased neuroinflammation, enhanced neuronal plasticity and cell replacement. Thus, NSC transplantation may represent an effective therapeutic strategy. To exploit NSCs\u2019 potential, some of their essential biological characteristics must be thoroughly investigated, including the specific markers for NSC subpopulations, to allow profiling and selection. Another key feature is their secretome, which is responsible for the regulation of intercellular communication, neuroprotection, and immunomodulation. In addition, NSCs must properly migrate into the central nervous system (CNS) and integrate into host neuronal circuits, enhancing neuroplasticity. Understanding and modulating these aspects can allow us to further exploit the therapeutic potential of NSCs. Recent progress in gene editing and cellular engineering techniques has opened up the possibility of modifying NSCs to express select candidate molecules to further enhance their therapeutic effects. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding these aspects, promoting the development of stem cell therapies that could be applied safely and effectively in clinical settings

K+ accumulation and clearance in the calyx synaptic cleft of type I mouse vestibular hair cells

Vestibular organs of Amniotes contain two types of sensory cells, named Type I and Type II hair cells. While Type II hair cells are contacted by several small bouton nerve terminals, Type I hair cells receive a giant terminal, called a calyx, which encloses their basolateral membrane almost completely. Both hair cell types release glutamate, which depolarizes the afferent terminal by binding to AMPA post-synaptic receptors. However, there is evidence that non-vesicular signal transmission also occurs at the Type I hair cell-calyx synapse, possibly involving direct depolarization of the calyx by K+ exiting the hair cell. To better investigate this aspect, we performed whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from mouse Type I hair cells or their associated calyx. We found that [K+] in the calyceal synaptic cleft is elevated at rest relative to the interstitial (extracellular) solution and can increase or decrease during hair cell depolarization or repolarization, respectively. The change in [K+] was primarily driven by GK,L, the low-voltage-activated, non-inactivating K+ conductance specifically expressed by Type I hair cells. Simple diffusion of K+ between the cleft and the extracellular compartment appeared substantially restricted by the calyx inner membrane, with the ion channels and active transporters playing a crucial role in regulating intercellular [K+]. Calyx recordings were consistent with K+ leaving the synaptic cleft through postsynaptic voltage-gated K+ channels involving KV1 and KV7 subunits. The above scenario is consistent with direct depolarization and hyperpolarization of the calyx membrane potential by intercellular K+

Knowledge and attitude of parents or caretakers regarding transmissibility os caries disease

Dental caries is a transmissible infectious disease in which mutans streptococci are generally considered to be the main etiological agents. Although the transmissibility of dental caries is relatively well established in the literature, little is known whether information regarding this issue is correctly provided to the population. The present study aimed at evaluating, by means of a questionnaire, the knowledge and usual attitude of 640 parents and caretakers regarding the transmissibility of caries disease. Most interviewed adults did not know the concept of dental caries being an infectious and transmissible disease, and reported the habit of blowing and tasting food, sharing utensils and kissing the children on their mouth. 372 (58.1%) adults reported that their children had already been seen by a dentist, 264 (41.3%) answered that their children had never gone to a dentist, and 4 (0.6%) did not know. When the adults were asked whether their children had already had dental caries, 107 (16.7%) answered yes, 489 (76.4%) answered no, and 44 (6.9%) did not know. Taken together, these data reinforce the need to provide the population with some important information regarding the transmission of dental caries in order to facilitate a more comprehensive approach towards the prevention of the disease

Formação de Bolsistas: Divisão Técnico-Científica de Educação e Arte do MAC-USP

This article presents some concepts in undergraduate scholarship at the University of São Paulo (USP) in the Technical Scientific Department of Art and Education of the Museum of Contemporary Art. The scholars experience the museum’s daily life and participate in educational programs receiving additional training to their regular course at the university. They collaborate with the education team in developing dialogues with the visitors, focused in the collection. Being from the humanities courses, the scholars exercise the integrating character of the university museum. Their reports point out some training aspects in the MAC and bring out the protagonist’s voices according to their experiences.Este artigo apresenta algumas premissas do programa de formação de graduandos da USP enquanto bolsistas na Divisão Técnico-científica de Educação e Arte do Museu de Arte Contemporânea da USP. Os estudantes vivenciam o cotidiano do Museu, participam de programas educativos, recebem formação complementar ao seu curso regular, colaboram com a equipe de educadores no desenvolvimento das ações de extroversão do acervo e adquirem conhecimentos nas áreas da educação e da arte em museus. Provenientes dos cursos de humanidades, os bolsistas exercitam o caráter integrador da instituição museológica dentro da Universidade. Seus relatórios apresentam aspectos da formação no MAC e, trazidos neste artigo, dão voz aos protagonistas dessa experiência