Artificial Vision Algorithms for Socially Assistive Robot Applications: A Review of the Literature

Today, computer vision algorithms are very important for different fields and applications, such as closed-circuit television security, health status monitoring, and recognizing a specific person or object and robotics. Regarding this topic, the present paper deals with a recent review of the literature on computer vision algorithms (recognition and tracking of faces, bodies, and objects) oriented towards socially assistive robot applications. The performance, frames per second (FPS) processing speed, and hardware implemented to run the algorithms are highlighted by comparing the available solutions. Moreover, this paper provides general information for researchers interested in knowing which vision algorithms are available, enabling them to select the one that is most suitable to include in their robotic system applicationsBeca Conacyt Doctorado No de CVU: 64683

Sistema de transmisión de datos topográficos desde un colector topográfico a la estación base utilizando la red de telefonía celular

It developed a communication system that has the functionality to transmit the information collected by a topographic manifold which is usually located at a distance of several kilometers from the base camp, in which information of all manifolds of the area was collect to be processed and stored for later analysis. The implementation of this device aims to reduce the time of data collection and the time for processing them. The tool used for this information is sent via text messages (SMS) from a cell phone taking advantage of the coverage of the cellular network that is implemented in the country. The process begins with data collection by the topographic manifold which is acquired by a communication card that was designed as an interface between the manifold and the cell, which takes the information provided by the manifold in plain text and is responsible to change the format so it can be captured by the cell and be sent via text messages to the cellular receptor that is located in the base station to the computer responsible for collecting the total information in the area.En este trabajo se desarrolla un sistema de comunicación que tiene como funcionalidad transmitir la información recolectada por un colector topográfico, que por lo general se encuentra ubicado a una distancia de varios kilómetros del campamento base, en el cual se recolecta la información de todos los colectores de la zona. La implementación de este dispositivo tiene como objetivo reducir los tiempos de recolección de datos y su procesamiento. La herramienta utilizada para él envió de esta información son los mensajes de texto (SMS) de un teléfono celular, aprovechando la cobertura de la red de telefonía celular. Para ello se diseñó una tarjeta de comunicación como interface entre el colector y el celular, la cual toma la información que suministra el colector en texto plano y se encarga de cambiarla de formato para que pueda ser capturada por el celular y ser enviada vía mensajes de texto al celular receptor que se encuentra ubicado en la estación base al computador encargado de recolectar la información total de la zona

Flame retardancy of rigid polyurethane foams containing thermoregulating microcapsules with phosphazene-based monomers

Thermoregulating microcapsules (MC) with flame-retardant properties were used to produce polyurethane (PU) foams. Thermogravimetric analyses of the microcapsules performed under atmospheric air and nitrogen confirmed that the hexa(methacryloylethylenedioxy) cyclotriphosphazene (PNC-HEMA) monomer raised the amount of residue after exposure to high temperature, proving the formation of a thermally stable char layer. Additionally, the flame-retardant properties of the microcapsules were analyzed by micro-combustion calorimetry (MCC), and the PU foams were tested by both MCC and cone calorimetry. The total heat release and maximum heat release rate were lower for microcapsules containing the flame-retardant PNC-HEMA. The composition of the microcapsules has been proved by MCC and TGA, where the release of the encapsulated phase change material (PCM) occurred at the expected temperature. However, in PU foams, the release of PCM is shifted to higher temperatures. Accordingly, these materials can be considered as an important alternative to commonly used microcapsules containing phase PCMs, where a lower flammability is required for their future application.publishedVersio

Glycolysis of advanced polyurethanes composites containing thermoregulating microcapsules

Rigid PU foams are properly recycled by a single-phase glycolysis process employing crude glycerol as transesterification agent. A high pure recovered polyol (71% of purity) was obtained using a mass ratio of PU scraps to crude glycerol of 1 to 1, a reaction temperature of 190 °C and stannous octoate as catalyst in a 1.3 wt% concentration. PU foam composites containing thermoregulating microcapsules constituted by a paraffin core (Rubitherm®RT27) and a polymer shell material (LDPE and EVA) were glycolyzed, allowing to recover the microcapsules components and the polyol separately. This way, both components of the composite are recovered and can be reused in the manufacturing of new products; demonstrating for first time the viability of the chemical recycling of this kind of composites. Besides, the developed process was successfully applied for foams containing different proportions between the hard and soft segments, demonstrating its robustness. Finally, the recovered polyols were successfully employed to replace a raw rigid polyether polyol in the synthesis of new rigid PU foams. The most important physical and mechanical properties (density, maximum compressive strength and Young modulus) were maintained constant for the incorporation up to a 25 wt% of recovered polyol coming from conventional rigid PU foam scraps and up to a 37.5 wt% with the recovered polyol from rigid PU foam containing thermoregulating microcapsules. Regarding the effective thermal conductivity, it remained constant, even with 100 wt% of recovered polyol from PU scraps with thermoregulating microcapsules.Las espumas rígidas de PU se reciclan adecuadamente mediante un proceso de glucólisis de una sola fase que emplea glicerol crudo como agente de transesterificación. Se obtuvo un poliol recuperado de alta pureza (71 % de pureza) usando una relación de masa de desechos de PU a glicerol crudo de 1 a 1, una temperatura de reacción de 190 °C y octoato estannoso como catalizador en una concentración de 1,3 % en peso. Compuestos de espuma de PU que contenían microcápsulas termorreguladoras constituidas por un núcleo de parafina (Rubitherm®RT27) y un material de cubierta de polímero (LDPE y EVA) fueron glicolizados, lo que permitió recuperar los componentes de las microcápsulas y el poliol por separado. De esta forma, ambos componentes del composite se recuperan y pueden reutilizarse en la fabricación de nuevos productos; demostrando por primera vez la viabilidad del reciclaje químico de este tipo de composites. Además, el proceso desarrollado se aplicó con éxito para espumas que contenían diferentes proporciones entre los segmentos duros y blandos, demostrando su robustez. Finalmente, los polioles recuperados se emplearon con éxito para reemplazar un poliol de poliéter rígido crudo en la síntesis de nuevas espumas rígidas de PU. Las propiedades físicas y mecánicas más importantes (densidad, resistencia máxima a la compresión y módulo de Young) se mantuvieron constantes para la incorporación de hasta un 25 % en peso de poliol recuperado procedente de desechos de espuma de PU rígida convencional y hasta un 37,5 % en peso con el poliol recuperado. de espuma rígida de PU que contiene microcápsulas termorreguladoras. En cuanto a la conductividad térmica efectiva, se mantuvo constante, incluso con 100% en peso de poliol recuperado de desechos de PU con microcápsulas termorreguladoras

Therapeutic effects of telomerase in mice with pulmonary fibrosis induced by damage to the lungs and short telomeres

Pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal lung disease characterized by fibrotic foci and inflammatory infiltrates. Short telomeres can impair tissue regeneration and are found both in hereditary and sporadic cases. We show here that telomerase expression using AAV9 vectors shows therapeutic effects in a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis owing to a low-dose bleomycin insult and short telomeres. AAV9 preferentially targets regenerative alveolar type II cells (ATII). AAV9-Tert-treated mice show improved lung function and lower inflammation and fibrosis at 1-3 weeks after viral treatment, and improvement or disappearance of the fibrosis at 8 weeks after treatment. AAV9-Tert treatment leads to longer telomeres and increased proliferation of ATII cells, as well as lower DNA damage, apoptosis, and senescence. Transcriptome analysis of ATII cells confirms downregulation of fibrosis and inflammation pathways. We provide a proof-of-principle that telomerase activation may represent an effective treatment for pulmonary fibrosis provoked or associated with short telomeres.We are indebted to D Megias for microscopy analysis, to J Mun˜ oz and F Garcı´a for hydroxiproline analysis as well as to CNIO Histopathological Unit. The research was funded by project SAF2013- 45111-R of Societal Changes Programme of the Spanish Ministry of Economics and Competitiveness (MINECO) co-financed through the European Fund of Regional Development (FEDER), Fundacio´n Botı´n and Banco Santander (Santander Universities Global Division) and Roche Extending the Innova- tion Network Program (EIN) Academia Partnering Programme.S

Taphonomic and spatial analyses from the Early Pleistocene site of Venta Micena 4 (Orce, Guadix-Baza Basin, southern Spain)

Venta Micena is an area containing several palaeontological sites marking the beginning of the Calabrian stage (Early Pleistocene). The richness of the fossil accumulation including species of Asian, African and European origin, makes Venta Micena a key site for the the palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental study of southern Europe during the Early Pleistocene. Thus, research has been focused on Venta Micena 3, which was originally interpreted as a single palaeosurface associated with a marshy context, in which most of the fauna was accumulated by Pachycrocuta brevirostris. Recent excavations have unearthed a new site, Venta Micena 4, located in the same stratigraphic unit (Unit C) and in close proximity to Venta Micena 3. Here we show the first analyses regarding the taphonomic and spatial nature of this new site, defining two stratigraphic boundaries corresponding to two different depositional events. Furthermore, the taphonomic analyses of fossil remains seem to indicate a different accumulative agent than Pachycrocuta, thus adding more complexity to the palaeobiological interpretation of the Venta Micena area. These results contribute to the discussion of traditional interpretations made from Venta Micena 3.Peer reviewe

Related Factors of Anemia in Critically Ill Patients : A Prospective Multicenter Study

Anemia is common in critically ill patients; almost 95% of patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) have hemoglobin levels below normal. Several causes may explain this phenomenon as well as the tendency to transfuse patients without adequate cause: due to a lack of adherence to protocols, lack of supervision, incomplete transfusion request forms, or a lack of knowledge about the indications, risks, and costs of transfusions. Daily sampling to monitor the coagulation parameters and the acid-base balance can aggravate anemia as the main iatrogenic factor in its production. We studied the association and importance of iatrogenic blood loss and other factors in the incidence of anemia in ICUs. We performed a prospective, observational, multicenter study in five Spanish hospitals. A total of 142 patients with a median age of 58 years (IQI: 48-69), 71.83% male and 28.17% female, were admitted to ICUs without a diagnosis of iatrogenic anemia. During their ICU stay, anemia appeared in 66.90% of the sample, 95 patients, (95% CI: 58.51-74.56%). Risk factors associated with the occurrence of iatrogenic anemia were arterial catheter insertion (72.63% vs. 46.81%, p -value = 0.003), venous catheter insertion (87.37% vs. 72.34%, p -value = 0.023), drainages (33.68% vs. 12. 77%, p -value = 0.038), and ICU stay, where the longer the stay, the higher the rate of iatrogenic anemia (p -value < 0.001). We concluded that there was a statistical significance in the production of iatrogenic anemia due to the daily sampling for laboratory monitoring and critical procedures in intensive care units. The implementation of patient blood management programs could address these issue

Pliocene to Middle Pleistocene climate history in the Guadix-Baza Basin, and the environmental conditions of early Homo dispersal in Europe

The Guadix-Baza Basin (GBB) in Andalucia, Spain, comprises palaeontological and archaeological sites dating from the Early Pliocene to the Middle Pleistocene, including some of the earliest sites with evidence for the presence of early humans (Homo sp.) in Europe. Thus, the history of climate and environments in this basin contributes significantly to our understanding of the conditions under which early humans spread into Europe during the Early Pleistocene. Here we present estimates of precipitation and primary productivity in the GBB from the Pliocene to the Middle Pleistocene based on dental ecometrics in fossil communities of large herbivorous mammals, and perform an ecometrics-based distribution modelling to analyse the environmental conditions of Early and Middle Pleistocene human sites in Europe. Our results show that Early Pleistocene humans generally occupied on average relatively diverse habitats with ecotones, such as woodlands and savannas, but avoided very open and harsh (cool or dry) environments. During the Middle Pleistocene in Europe, humans occupied a comparatively much broader range of environments than during the Early Pleistocene, but were on average more concentrated in environments where the dental ecometric of mammals indicate wooded palaeoenvironments. In the earliest human occupation sites of the GBB, Barranco Leon and Fuente Nueva 3, the mean annual precipitation and net primary production estimates indicate climatic conditions close to modern Mediterranean sclerophyllous woodland environments, but with slightly higher primary productivity, indicating some similarity with East African woodlands. On the other hand, the environments did not resemble African grassland savannas. The browse-dominated diets of ungulates from Barranco Leon and Fuente Nueva 3 further suggest palaeoenvironments where grasses were a minor component of the vegetation. In the slightly older site of Venta Micena that has no evidence for the presence of hominins, dental ecometric estimates indicate climate and environments similar to Mediterranean "forest steppe" environments existing in the surroundings of Baza today. Grasses were prevalent in the diet of some taxa, especially equids, in Venta Micena, but most of the species show browse-dominated diets even there. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

Use of meat resources in the Early Pleistocene assemblages from Fuente Nueva 3 (Orce, Granada, Spain) (vol 13, 213, 2021)

Correction to: Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (2021) 13: 213Peer reviewe