User-Interface Modelling for Blind Users

The design of a user interface usable by blind people sets specific usability requirements that are unnecessary for sighted users. These requirements focus on task adequacy, dimensional trade-off, behaviour equivalence, semantic loss avoidance and device-independency. Consequently, the development of human-computer interfaces (HCI) that are based on task, domain, dialog, presentation, platform and user models has to be modified to take into account these requirements. This paper presents a user interface model for blind people, which incorporates these usability requirements into the above HCI models. A frame-work implementing the model has been developed and implemented in an electronic speaking bilingual software environment for blind or visually impaired people and in an educational system for children with special educational needs

Smart Focal Plane Technologies for VLT Instruments

As we move towards the era of ELTs, it is timely to think about the future role of the 8-m class telescopes. Under the OPTICON programme, novel technologies have been developed that are intended for use in multi-object and integral-field spectrographs. To date, these have been targeted at instrument concepts for the European ELT, but there are also significant possibilities for their inclusion in new VLT instruments, ensuring the continued success and productivity of these unique telescopes.Comment: 5 pages, to appear in the proceedings of the ESO Workshop "Science with the VLT in the ELT era

The contribution of volunteer-based monitoring data to the assessment of harmful phytoplankton blooms in Brazilian urban streams

Urban streams are vulnerable to a range of impacts, leading to the impairment of ecosystem services. However, studies on phytoplankton growth in tropical lotic systems are still limited. Citizen science approaches use trained volunteers to collect environmental data. We combined data on urban streams collected by volunteers with data obtained by professional scientists to identify potential drivers of phytoplankton community and determine thresholds for Cyanobacteria development. We combined datasets (n = 117) on water quality and environmental observations in 64 Brazilian urban streams with paired data on phytoplankton. Sampling activities encompassed dry (July 2013 and July 2015) and warm (February and November 2014) seasons. Volunteers quantified phosphate (PO43 −), nitrate (NO3−) and turbidity in each stream using colorimetric and optical methods and recorded environmental conditions in the immediate surroundings of the sites through visual observations. We used non-parametric statistics to identify correlations among nutrients, turbidity and phytoplankton. We also looked for thresholds with respect to high Cyanobacteria abundance (> 50,000 cells/mL). The streams were characterized by relatively high nutrient concentrations (PO43 −: 0.11 mg/L; NO3−: 2.6 mg/L) and turbidity (49 NTU). Phytoplankton densities reached 189,000 cells/mL, mainly potentially toxic Cyanobacteria species. Moderate but significant (p < 0.05) correlations were observed between phytoplankton density and turbidity (ρ = 0.338, Spearman) and PO43 − (ρ = 0.292), but not with NO3−. Other important variables (river flow, temperature and light) were not assessed. Volunteers' observations covaried with phytoplankton density (p < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis), positively with increasing number of pollution sources and negatively with presence of vegetation in the riparian zone. Our results indicate that thresholds for PO43 − (0.11 mg/L) can be used to separate systems with high Cyanobacteria density. The number of pollution sources provided a good indicator of waterbodies with potential cyanobacteria problems. Our findings reinforced the need for nutrient abatement and restoration of local streams and highlighted the benefits of volunteer-based monitoring to support decision-making

Global differences in chemotherapeutic regimens of soft tissue sarcoma (STS): Results of PALETTE, an EORTC 62072/GSK VEG110727 global network phase III trial of pazopanib versus placebo

Experimentele farmacotherapi

PALETTE: Final overall survival (OS) data and predictive factors for OS of EORTC 62072/GSK VEG110727, a randomized double-blind phase III trial of pazopanib versus placebo in advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients

Experimentele farmacotherapi

Santa Inês sheep supplementation on urochloa grass pasture during the dry season: intake, nutrient digestibility and performance

This study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the effect of concentrate supplementation, formulated with different ingredients (Mesquite pod meal, sorghum meal or wheat meal and mineral supplementation) on performance, intake and digestibility of nutrients in Santa Inês lambs grazing on urochloa grass during the dry season. Twenty-four uncastrated weaned Santa Inês sheep, with average body weight (BW) 20±2 kg with an average of 120 days of age were used in the assay. The experiment lasted 75 days. The animals grazing deferred Urochloa grass (Urochloa mosambicensis (Hack) Daudy) were distributed into four treatments consisting of mineral supplementation provided ad libitum and concentrated supplements containing mesquite pod meal, sorghum meal or wheat meal, supplied 10 g /kg BW on dry matter basis. The intakes of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) were affected by the intake of concentrate supplement, regardless of the ingredients used in the supplements, compared with the mineral supplementation treatment, since the consumption of forage was reduced in 30% with mesquite pod meal supplement, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake was not affected in relation to treatments. The digestibility of DM and CP were higher for treatments with supplements, and NDF digestibility did not differ between treatments. A significant difference was observed in the values of average daily gain for the treatments with concentrate supplementation compared with the one of mineral supplementation. The supplementation with concentrate in grazing enables improvement of performance, intake and digestibility of nutrients regardless of the ingredient used in the supplement

Characterization of Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from urban environmental sources in Goiânia, Goiás State, Brazil Caracterização de Cryptococcus neoformans isolados de fontes ambientais urbanas na cidade de Goiânia, estado de Goiás, Brasil

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis as the most frequent clinical presentation in immunocompromised patients, mainly in people infected by HIV. This fungus is an environmental encapsulated yeast, commonly found in soil enriched with avian droppings and plant material. A total of 290 samples of pigeon and the other avian droppings, soil, ornamental trees and vegetable material associated with Eucalyptus trees were collected to study environmental sources of Cryptococcus species in Goiânia, Goiás State. The determination of varieties, serotypes and the susceptibility in vitro to fluconazole, itraconazole and amphotericin B of C. neoformans isolates were performed. C. neoformans var. grubii (serotype A) was found in 20.3% (36/177) of pigeon dropping samples and in 14.3% (5/35) of samples of Eucalyptus. None of the environmental isolates of C. neoformans showed in vitro resistance to three antifungal agents. The knowledge of major route for human cryptococcal infection (inhalation of infectious particles from saprophytic sources) and a total of 60 C. neoformans isolates obtained from AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis between October 2001 and April 2002 justify the study of the habitats of these yeasts as probable sources of cryptococcosis in this city.<br>Cryptococcus neoformans é um fungo patogênico oportunista que causa meningoencefalite como a apresentação clínica mais importante em pacientes imunocomprometidos, principalmente, em pessoas infectadas pelo HIV. O agente é uma levedura encapsulada, comumente encontrada em solo enriquecido com excretas de aves e em resíduos de plantas. O total de 290 amostras de excretas de pombos e outras aves, de árvores ornamentais e materiais vegetais de Eucalyptus foram coletadas para estudar possíveis fontes ambientais de Cryptococcus spp, na cidade de Goiânia, Goiás. A determinação das variedades, sorotipos e suscetibilidade in vitro frente a fluconazol, itraconazol e anfotericina B dos isolados de C. neoformans foram realizadas. C. neoformans var. grubii (sorotipo A) foi a única isolada, ocorrendo em 36 (20.3%) das 177 amostras fecais de pombos e em 5 (14.3%) das 35 amostras de Eucalyptus. Nenhum dos isolados ambientais de C. neoformans mostrou resistência in vitro aos três antifúngicos avaliados. O conhecimento da principal via para infecção criptocócica humana, isto é inalação de partículas infecciosas de fontes saprofíticas e a ocorrência de 60 casos de criptococose em pacientes com AIDS, em Goiânia, entre outubro de 2001 e abril de 2002, justificam o estudo de habitats do agente como prováveis fontes de criptococose nesta cidade