A new navigation paradigm for virtual reality: the guided visit through a virtual world

The three main navigation paradigms for virtual worlds, i.e., free navigation, automatic tours, and multiuser navigation show important limitations when dealing with guided visits that involve interactive cooperation among several users in 3D virtual worlds over the Internet. In this paper, we present our research into this issue and some important results. We propose a new navigation paradigm denominated guided visit through a virtual world, where the capacity of a user guiding several remote users through the virtual world is enriched with the capacity to dynamically interchange the role of guiding between the connected users. The user that acts as a guide moves freely through the virtual world, and his/her movements are reproduced by the browsers of the other guided users. We also present the architecture and the system we developed that implements this paradigm, as well as its integration in a working realworld application that demonstrates its use

A Framework for Ontology Reuse and Persistence Integrating UML and Sesame

Nowadays there is a great effort underway to improve the World Wide Web. A better content organisation, allowing automatic processing, leading to the Semantic Web is one of the main goals. In the light of bringing this technology closer to the Software Engineering community we propose an architecture allowing an easier development for ontology-based applications. Thus, we first present a methodology for ontology creation and automatic code generation using the widely adopted CASE UML tools. And based on a study of the art of the different RDF storage and querying systems, we couple this methodology with the Sesame system for providing a framework able to deal with large knowledge bases

Cooperación iberoamericana para el acceso abierto a revistas de ciencias sociales: el caso CLACSO-REDALYC

There is a significant contribution of Latin America and the Caribbean social sciences to research on sustainable development. Visibility and access to new knowledge is limited due to lack of resources for publishing and making visible those research results. The case of the alliance between the Latin American Social Science Council (CLACSO) and the open access Iberoamerican network of journals REDALYC is described as a strategy to improve visibility, access and evaluation of social science research results in the region. The role of journal editors and librarians in the development and updating of digital collections of journals is also described

La Planificación Financiera y Su Influencia de La Rentabilidad en La Empresa SPECTRUM INGENIEROS S.A.C. Ubicada En Pueblo Libre, Lima, Año 2017.

La investigación se enfocó en la planificación financiera y su influencia de la rentabilidad, que tiene por finalidad de lograr una mayor rentabilidad en favor de la organización, para sus trabajadores y sus accionistas. El presente trabajo de investigación se basó en la recolección de datos históricos, a través de instrumentos como: estados de situación financiera, estados de resultados, así como informaciones contables. Es así que SPECTRUM Ingenieros S.A.C, dedicada a la venta de equipos médicos, financieramente no está planteando bien el panorama financiero ya que muestra una baja inversión. Esta falta de inversión se ve reflejada en los activos no corrientes y en el patrimonio, la empresa no ha realizado ningún incremento de capital, ya sea por parte de los socios o incrementos por asociarse con otras personas naturales o jurídicas. Y tampoco ha adquirido bienes tangibles o intangibles de manera significativa. Y como resultado de esta herramienta se obtuvo una serie de alternativas de solución a la casuística planteada, para efecto de la toma de decisión.The research focused on financial planning and its influence on profitability, which aims to achieve greater profitability in favor of the organization, its employees and its shareholders. The present research work was based on the collection of historical data, through instruments such as: statements of financial position, statements of income, as well as accounting information. The SPECTRUM Ingenieros S.A.C, dedicated to the sale of medical equipment, is not financially considering the financial scenario well since it shows a low investment. This lack of investment is reflected in non-current assets and equity, the company has not made any capital increase, either by the partners or increases by associating with other natural or legal persons. And it has not acquired tangible or intangible assets in any significant way. And as a result of this tool, a series of solution alternatives was obtained to the casuistry proposed, for the purpose of decision making.Trabajo de investigació

Efecto de la aplicación intrauterina de ozono sobre la migración de neutrófilos y la endometritis subclínica en ganado lechero

The objective was to determine whether an ozonized saline solution (O3SS) increases endometrial polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNN) (Exp 1) and to challenge the preventive effect of O3SS on subclinical endometritis (SCE) (Exp 2). In Exp 1, 38 primiparous Holstein cows were used. Cows with (WHM) and no history of postpartum metritis (NHM) were included; they were then divided into control (CTRL, saline solution) or O3SS (6.7 ± 0.3 ppm) subgroups. At 55 d postpartum, 50 ml of CTRL or O3SS was applied intrauterinely and at 48 h, the quantity of PMNN was recorded by endometrial cytology. In Exp 2, 26 primiparous NHM Holstein cows were used. The cows were randomly distributed in CTRL or O3SS. Two doses of 50 ml were administered with an interval of 7 d (first application 11.3 ± 0.4 d postpartum). At d 30 postpartum, SCE (≥6 % PMNN) was diagnosed. WHM cows had higher numbers of endometrial PMNN compared to NHM cows (13.9 ± 6.2 vs 1.0 ± 0.46, P0.05) and the NHM-CTRL and NHM-O3SS groups (0.1 ± 0.1 and 1.8 ± 4.8, P>0.05) were not different. A statistical trend (P=0.09) of lower percentage of SCE was observed in the CTRL group compared to O3SS (15.4 and 46.2 %, respectively). In conclusion, transcervical O3SS does not increase the number of endometrial PMNN and preventive treatment with O3SS applied to NHM cows did not decrease SCE. The results suggest a possible anti-inflammatory effect of the ionized saline solution treatment.El objetivo fue determinar si una solución salina ozonizada (SSO3) incrementa los neutrófilos polimorfonucleares (NPMN) endometriales (Exp 1) y desafiar el efecto preventivo de SSO3 sobre la endometritis subclínica (ESC) (Exp 2). En el Exp 1 se utilizaron 38 vacas Holstein primíparas. Se incluyeron vacas con (CAM) y sin antecedentes de metritis postparto (SAM); posteriormente se repartieron en subgrupos control (CTRL, solución salina) o SSO3 (6.7 ± 0.3 ppm). A los 55 días postparto se aplicó 50 ml de CTRL o SSO3 intrauterinamente y a las 48 h se registró la cantidad de NPMN por citología endometrial. En el Exp 2 se utilizaron 26 vacas Holstein primíparas SAM. Las vacas se repartieron aleatoriamente en CTRL o SSO3. Se administraron dos dosis de 50 ml con intervalo de 7 días (primera aplicación 11.3 ± 0.4 días postparto). Al día 30 postparto se diagnosticó ESC (≥6% NPMN). Las vacas CAM tuvieron mayor número de NPMN endometriales comparado con vacas SAM (13.9 ± 6.2 vs 1.0±0.46, P0.05) y SAM-CTRL y SAM-SSO3 (0.1 ± 0.1 y 1.8 ± 4.8, P>0.05) no fueron diferentes. Se observó una tendencia estadística (P=0.09) de menor porcentaje de ESC en grupo CTRL comparado con SSO3 (15.4 y 46.2 %, respectivamente). En conclusión, la SSO3 por vía transcervical no incrementa el número de NPMN endometriales y el tratamiento preventivo con SSO3 aplicado a vacas SAM no disminuyó la ESC. Los resultados sugieren un posible efecto antiinflamatorio del tratamiento solución salina ionizada

Effect of Ethylene-Insensitive Mutation etr2b on Postharvest Chilling Injury in Zucchini Fruit

Zucchini is a vegetable fruit that is very susceptible to postharvest chilling injury, and fruit ethylene production is correlated with chilling injury sensitivity, such that the more tolerant the cultivar, the lower is its ethylene production. It is expected that zucchini fruit with reduced sensitivity to ethylene would have a higher chilling injury tolerance. In this study, we compared the postharvest fruit quality of wild type and ethylene-insensitive mutant etr2b, in which a mutation was identified in the coding region of the ethylene receptor gene CpETR2B. Flowers from homozygous WT (wt/wt), mutant plants in homozygous (etr2b/etr2b) and heterozygous (wt/etr2b) were hand-pollinated, and all fruits were harvested with the same length, at about 8 days after pollination. After harvesting, fruit of each genotype was randomly divided in 3 batches of 12 fruits each (four replications with three fruits each), and then stored at 4 °C and 95% RH. At 0, 7, and 14 days after cold storage, each batch was used to assess ethylene production, respiration rate, weight and firmness loss, chilling injury, and oxidative stress metabolites. The results showed a lower chilling injury associated with lower cold-induced ethylene production in the mutant fruit, in comparison with the WT fruit. These data demonstrated that the ethylene-insensitive etr2b mutant fruit was more tolerant to chilling injury, confirming that basal ethylene in the still undamaged fruit could function as a modulator of post-harvest chilling injury. Moreover, the higher chilling tolerance of the etr2b mutant fruit was not associated with MDA content, but was concomitant with a reduction in the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the refrigerated mutant fruit

Toenail zinc as a biomarker: Relationship with sources of environmental exposure and with genetic variability in MCC-Spain study

Background: Toenails are commonly used as biomarkers of exposure to zinc (Zn), but there is scarce information about their relationship with sources of exposure to Zn. Objectives: To investigate the main determinants of toenail Zn, including selected sources of environmental exposure to Zn and individual genetic variability in Zn metabolism. Methods: We determined toenail Zn by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 3,448 general popu-lation controls from the MultiCase-Control study MCC-Spain. We assessed dietary and supplement Zn intake using food frequency questionnaires, residential proximity to Zn-emitting industries and residential topsoil Zn levels through interpolation methods. We constructed a polygenic score of genetic variability based on 81 single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes involved in Zn metabolism. Geometric mean ratios of toenail Zn across categories of each determinant were estimated from multivariate linear regression models on log-transformed toenail Zn. Results: Geometric mean toenail Zn was 104.1 mu g/g in men and 100.3 mu g/g in women. Geometric mean toenail Zn levels were 7 % lower (95 % confidence interval 1-13 %) in men older than 69 years and those in the upper tertile of fibre intake, and 9 % higher (3-16 %) in smoking men. Women residing within 3 km from Zn-emitting industries had 4 % higher geometric mean toenail Zn levels (0-9 %). Dietary Zn intake and polygenic score were unrelated to toenail Zn. Overall, the available determinants only explained 9.3 % of toenail Zn variability in men and 4.8 % in women. Discussion: Sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, diet, and environmental exposure explained little of the indi-vidual variability of toenail Zn in the study population. The available genetic variants related to Zn metabolism were not associated with toenail Zn

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

GTC Follow-up Observations of Very Metal-Poor Star Candidates from DESI

The observations from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) will significantly increase the numbers of known extremely metal-poor stars by a factor of ~ 10, improving the sample statistics to study the early chemical evolution of the Milky Way and the nature of the first stars. In this paper we report high signal-to-noise follow-up observations of 9 metal-poor stars identified during the DESI commissioning with the Optical System for Imaging and low-Intermediate-Resolution Integrated Spectroscopy (OSIRIS) instrument on the 10.4m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC). The analysis of the data using a well-vetted methodology confirms the quality of the DESI spectra and the performance of the pipelines developed for the data reduction and analysis of DESI data.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, to be submitted to ApJ, data available from https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.802084

Landscape of somatic single nucleotide variants and indels in colorectal cancer and impact on survival

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a biologically heterogeneous disease. To characterize its mutational profile, we conduct targeted sequencing of 205 genes for 2,105 CRC cases with survival data. Our data shows several findings in addition to enhancing the existing knowledge of CRC. We identify PRKCI, SPZ1, MUTYH, MAP2K4, FETUB, and TGFBR2 as additional genes significantly mutated in CRC. We find that among hypermutated tumors, an increased mutation burden is associated with improved CRC-specific survival (HR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.21-0.82). Mutations in TP53 are associated with poorer CRC-specific survival, which is most pronounced in cases carrying TP53 mutations with predicted 0% transcriptional activity (HR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.21-1.94). Furthermore, we observe differences in mutational frequency of several genes and pathways by tumor location, stage, and sex. Overall, this large study provides deep insights into somatic mutations in CRC, and their potential relationships with survival and tumor features. Large scale sequencing study is of paramount importance to unravel the heterogeneity of colorectal cancer. Here, the authors sequenced 205 cancer genes in more than 2000 tumours and identified additional mutated driver genes, determined that mutational burden and specific mutations in TP53 are associated with survival odds