Embedded XML DOM parser: an approach for XML data processing on networked embedded systems with real-time requirements

Trends in control and automation show an increase in data processing and communication in embedded automation controllers. The eXtensible Markup Language (XML) is emerging as a dominant data syntax, fostering interoperability, yet little is still known about how to provide predictable real-time performance in XML processing, as required in the domain of industrial automation. This paper presents an XML processor that is designed with such real-time performance in mind. The publication attempts to disclose insight gained in applying techniques such as object pooling and reuse, and other methods targeted at avoiding dynamic memory allocation and its consequent memory fragmentation. Benchmarking tests are reported in order to illustrate the benefits of the approach

Paricalcitol reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in hemodialysis patients

Background: Treatment with selective vitamin D receptor activators such as paricalcitol have been shown to exert an anti-inflammatory effect in patients on hemodialysis, in addition to their action on mineral metabolism and independently of parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. The objective of this study was to evaluate the additional antioxidant capacity of paricalcitol in a clinical setting. Methods: The study included 19 patients with renal disease on hemodialysis, of whom peripheral blood was obtained for analysis at baseline and three months after starting intravenous paricalcitol treatment. The following oxidizing and inflammatory markers were quantified: malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrites and carbonyl groups, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Of the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory markers, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH), thioredoxin, and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels were obtained. Results: Baseline levels of oxidation markers MDA, nitric oxide and protein carbonyl groups significantly decreased after three months on paricalcitol treatment, while levels of GSH, thioredoxin, catalase and SOD activity significantly increased. After paricalcitol treatment, levels of the inflammatory markers CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-18 were significantly reduced in serum and the level of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was increased. Conclusions: In renal patients undergoing hemodialysis, paricalcitol treatment significantly reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, two well known factors leading to cardiovascular damageBackground: Treatment with selective vitamin D receptor activators such as paricalcitol have been shown to exert an anti-inflammatory effect in patients on hemodialysis, in addition to their action on mineral metabolism and independently of parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. The objective of this study was to evaluate the additional antioxidant capacity of paricalcitol in a clinical setting. Methods: The study included 19 patients with renal disease on hemodialysis, of whom peripheral blood was obtained for analysis at baseline and three months after starting intravenous paricalcitol treatment. The following oxidizing and inflammatory markers were quantified: malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrites and carbonyl groups, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Of the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory markers, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH), thioredoxin, and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels were obtained. Results: Baseline levels of oxidation markers MDA, nitric oxide and protein carbonyl groups significantly decreased after three months on paricalcitol treatment, while levels of GSH, thioredoxin, catalase and SOD activity significantly increased. After paricalcitol treatment, levels of the inflammatory markers CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-18 were significantly reduced in serum and the level of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was increased. Conclusions: In renal patients undergoing hemodialysis, paricalcitol treatment significantly reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, two well known factors leading to cardiovascular damage

Decreased thermal tolerance under recurrent heat stress conditions explains summer mass mortality of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis

Extreme events such as heat waves have increased in frequency and duration over the last decades. Under future climate scenarios, these discrete climatic events are expected to become even more recurrent and severe. Heat waves are particularly important on rocky intertidal shores, one of the most thermally variable and stressful habitats on the planet. Intertidal mussels, such as the blue mussel Mytilus edulis, are ecosystem engineers of global ecological and economic importance, that occasionally suffer mass mortalities. This study investigates the potential causes and consequences of a mass mortality event of M. edulis that occurred along the French coast of the eastern English Channel in summer 2018. We used an integrative, climatological and ecophysiological methodology based on three complementary approaches. We first showed that the observed mass mortality (representing 49 to 59% of the annual commercial value of local recreational and professional fisheries combined) occurred under relatively moderate heat wave conditions. This result indicates that M. edulis body temperature is controlled by non-climatic heat sources instead of climatic heat sources, as previously reported for intertidal gastropods. Using biomimetic loggers (i.e. 'robomussels'), we identified four periods of 5 to 6 consecutive days when M. edulis body temperatures consistently reached more than 30 °C, and occasionally more than 35 °C and even more than 40 °C. We subsequently reproduced these body temperature patterns in the laboratory to infer M. edulis thermal tolerance under conditions of repeated heat stress. We found that thermal tolerance consistently decreased with the number of successive daily exposures. These results are discussed in the context of an era of global change where heat events are expected to increase in intensity and frequency, especially in the eastern English Channel where the low frequency of commercially exploitable mussels already questions both their ecological and commercial sustainability.Funding Agency French Ministere de l'Enseignement Superieur et de la Recherche Region Hauts-de-France European Funds for Regional Economical Development Pierre Hubert Curien PESSOA Felloswhip Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT-MEC, Portugal) IF/01413/2014/CP1217/CT0004 National Research Foundation - South Africa 64801 South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) of the Department of Science and Technology National Research Foundation - South Africainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The democracy of Green Infrastructure

With the understanding of nature in terms of ecosystem services and the recognition of the vital role these play for human wellbeing (Millennium Assessment, 2005), the value of the natural realm is scientifically and socially defined while at the same time institutionalised. Within this frame of interpretation, nature is a supplier of provision-ing, regulating, supporting welfare and cultural services, thus becoming not only a life-enabling factor for humanity but also a conceptual construct comparable to cornerstones of democracy, such as equality, freedom and citizenship. The idea of green infrastructure is another recently coined term envisioning nature in cities in the form of a net-work and enabling a broad life-furthering vision of society. Standards for green open spaces embedded in some planning frameworks further state the right for all to a common good. Yet, evidence shows that this common right is not always met. Within the current context of advanced and neoliberal capitalism, green areas are sometimes used as an added financial value for real estate, thus increasing restrictions to their free access and full utilization. In developing countries with young democracies, such as Brazil, this process implies another significant factor of social inequality insofar the restricted access to nature by the poorest people means also diminished food safety, and the jeopardizing of certain cultural practices. In developed countries, loss of land for food production and movements reclaiming the right to the city by squatting unoccupied open spaces to initiate community gar-dens, demonstrates that the access to green spaces is also problematic, although in different ways if compared to developing countries. This chapter contributes to this topic by discussing the inequality in provision of green spaces in informal settlements and social housing development in Brazil, as well as in the globalised north. The chapter concludes with recommendations to enhance democracy through a just provision of nature in cities

La Investigación Prekariart. Una Red Colaborativa Alimentada desde las Prácticas Artísticas

Conference Proceeding incorporado a International Conference Sharing Society. The impact of Collaborative Actions in the Transformation of Contemporary Societies. May 23-24. Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea. Bilbao, Spain.El proyecto de investigación Prekariart —que se posiciona como postcolonialista y feminista— se propone como modelo de entrecruzamiento de saberes por parte de investigadoras de diferentes campos de conocimiento tomando como eje la actividad artística, que se basa en la indudable capacidad del arte para transformar el entorno social en el que se construye mediante la realización de proyectos que responden a retos reales. De este modo, hemos venido planteando una exploración multidisciplinar y transversal destinada a la profundización en el conocimiento generado desde el arte y sus posibilidades de transferencia a la sociedad. Trabajamos desde los modos específicos de presencia de la actividad artística como práctica e investigación, tratando de poner a prueba y desbordar constantemente su capacidad en la creación de imaginarios, su poder como lugar en el que explorar otras formas de ser y pensar, así como por su importancia en la construcción de subjetividades. Por ello, durante nuestro proceso de investigación, en los últimos tiempos hemos repertoriado y puesto en valor una serie formatos y plataformas que proponen modos diferentes de existir de lo artístico en el seno de lo social. En relación a esto, estudiamos la centralidad de determinados dispositivos de mediación como el comisariado, la crítica y los procesos colectivos de aprendizaje surgidos desde el arte, a la hora de promover, crear o subvertir estos modelos.UPV/EHU - Grupo de Investigación Consolidado (GIU18/153), MINECO - HAR2016-78107-R (AEI/FEDER, UE), Euskampus, Ayuntamiento de Bilbao, Diputación de Bizkaia, DEMA Diputación de Bizkaia, Gobierno Vasco

Urruntasunean kokatuak

Se incluye versión en inglésCapítulo de libro vinculado a la exposición Suturak/ Cerca a lo próximo, celebrada en el museo San Telmo de Donostia/San Sebastián, del 24 de octubre de 2014 al 25 de enero de 2015. Exposición organizada en colaboración con Artium Centro-Museo Vasco de Arte Contemporáneo. Reúne aproximadamente 120 obras de 82 artistas y colectivos vascos de distintas generaciones, la mayoría con una reconocida proyección artística internacional. Nuestro texto se refiere específicamente a una serie de trabajos abordados desde un punto de vista feminista presentes en la exposición

Urruntasunean kokatuak

Se incluye versión en inglésCapítulo de libro vinculado a la exposición Suturak/ Cerca a lo próximo, celebrada en el museo San Telmo de Donostia/San Sebastián, del 24 de octubre de 2014 al 25 de enero de 2015. Exposición organizada en colaboración con Artium Centro-Museo Vasco de Arte Contemporáneo. Reúne aproximadamente 120 obras de 82 artistas y colectivos vascos de distintas generaciones, la mayoría con una reconocida proyección artística internacional. Nuestro texto se refiere específicamente a una serie de trabajos abordados desde un punto de vista feminista presentes en la exposición

La Investigación Prekariart. Una Red Colaborativa Alimentada desde las Prácticas Artísticas

Conference Proceeding incorporado a International Conference Sharing Society. The impact of Collaborative Actions in the Transformation of Contemporary Societies. May 23-24. Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea. Bilbao, Spain.El proyecto de investigación Prekariart —que se posiciona como postcolonialista y feminista— se propone como modelo de entrecruzamiento de saberes por parte de investigadoras de diferentes campos de conocimiento tomando como eje la actividad artística, que se basa en la indudable capacidad del arte para transformar el entorno social en el que se construye mediante la realización de proyectos que responden a retos reales. De este modo, hemos venido planteando una exploración multidisciplinar y transversal destinada a la profundización en el conocimiento generado desde el arte y sus posibilidades de transferencia a la sociedad. Trabajamos desde los modos específicos de presencia de la actividad artística como práctica e investigación, tratando de poner a prueba y desbordar constantemente su capacidad en la creación de imaginarios, su poder como lugar en el que explorar otras formas de ser y pensar, así como por su importancia en la construcción de subjetividades. Por ello, durante nuestro proceso de investigación, en los últimos tiempos hemos repertoriado y puesto en valor una serie formatos y plataformas que proponen modos diferentes de existir de lo artístico en el seno de lo social. En relación a esto, estudiamos la centralidad de determinados dispositivos de mediación como el comisariado, la crítica y los procesos colectivos de aprendizaje surgidos desde el arte, a la hora de promover, crear o subvertir estos modelos.UPV/EHU - Grupo de Investigación Consolidado (GIU18/153), MINECO - HAR2016-78107-R (AEI/FEDER, UE), Euskampus, Ayuntamiento de Bilbao, Diputación de Bizkaia, DEMA Diputación de Bizkaia, Gobierno Vasco

Apuntes sobre un espacio sonoro: Sun and Sea (Marina)

Este texto analiza la pieza Sun and Sea (Marina), que fue premiada con el León de Oro a la mejor participación nacional en la 58a Bienal de Arte de Venecia (2019). Aunque ha sido destacado el mensaje ecológico de la pieza, entendemos que la misma detona otra serie de reflexiones y se conecta con diversos aspectos del pensamiento contemporáneo que merecen ser explorados y revisados en profundidad. Así, observamos sus asociaciones con la actividad creativa previamente desarrollada por sus autoras, el modo en que se entrelaza con piezas de otros artistas lituanos y su vinculación con los desarrollos conceptuales que arrojan una mirada crítica sobre nuestra sociedad y los valores sobre los que se asienta. Asimismo, observamos detenidamente las consecuencias del empleo del formato de ópera-performance y las posibilidades que despliega para propiciar la proyección desde la propia experiencia de espectadores y espectadoras, haciendo uso de la acción en directo guionizada y los diálogos cantados, trazados desde la ironía y el humor como soporte de posicionamientos críticos

Nutritional Education in the Midwife’s Consultation Room

Evidence of the importance of maternal nutrition during pregnancy is growing, and midwives are the healthcare professionals in charge of monitoring pregnancy. In the present review, the aim is therefore to look at the relevant contributions on midwifery and the role of midwifery in the provision of nutritional education. Searches were conducted on three databases—Medline, PubMed Central, and Web of Science—using two key search terms (“nutrition” and “midwives”) and their synonyms, for an extensive set of results. The final selection consisted of 27 original papers, most of which concerned the nutritional knowledge of midwives, their training, and their views, attitudes, and practices within the field of nutrition. According to the findings, although the midwives considered nutritional education to be part of their role and they agreed on the importance of nutrition during pregnancy, their knowledge of this topic was poor, perhaps due to inadequate nutritional education during their midwifery training. Academic programs on midwifery must therefore be reviewed, so as to increase the workload of nutrition-related subjects, in order to reinforce the corresponding knowledge bases of future midwives. In addition, based on the success of the nutritional interventions discussed in the present review, these sorts of initiatives could be of utmost importance to improve the knowledge of practicing midwives. In any case, it must be highlighted that the available evidence discussed in this review was drawn from only a few countries around the world. Further studies involving midwives of varied origins are therefore needed. Such research would be of immense assistance in the design of the corresponding nutritional interventions in the field, so as to improve the health of pregnant women