On the simulation of interactive non-verbal behaviour in virtual humans

Development of virtual humans has focused mainly in two broad areas - conversational agents and computer game characters. Computer game characters have traditionally been action-oriented - focused on the game-play - and conversational agents have been focused on sensible/intelligent conversation. While virtual humans have incorporated some form of non-verbal behaviour, this has been quite limited and more importantly not connected or connected very loosely with the behaviour of a real human interacting with the virtual human - due to a lack of sensor data and no system to respond to that data. The interactional aspect of non-verbal behaviour is highly important in human-human interactions and previous research has demonstrated that people treat media (and therefore virtual humans) as real people, and so interactive non-verbal behaviour is also important in the development of virtual humans. This paper presents the challenges in creating virtual humans that are non-verbally interactive and drawing corollaries with the development history of control systems in robotics presents some approaches to solving these challenges - specifically using behaviour based systems - and shows how an order of magnitude increase in response time of virtual humans in conversation can be obtained and that the development of rapidly responding non-verbal behaviours can start with just a few behaviours with more behaviours added without difficulty later in development

Mass accretion rates of clusters of galaxies: CIRS and HeCS

We use a new spherical accretion recipe tested on N-body simulations to measure the observed mass accretion rate (MAR) of 129 clusters in the Cluster Infall Regions in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (CIRS) and in the Hectospec Cluster Survey (HeCS). The observed clusters cover the redshift range of $0.01<z<0.30$ and the mass range of $\sim 10^{14}-10^{15} {h^{-1}~\rm{M_\odot}}$. Based on three-dimensional mass profiles of simulated clusters reaching beyond the virial radius, our recipe returns MARs that agree with MARs based on merger trees. We adopt this recipe to estimate the MAR of real clusters based on measurements of the mass profile out to $\sim 3R_{200}$. We use the caustic method to measure the mass profiles to these large radii. We demonstrate the validity of our estimates by applying the same approach to a set of mock redshift surveys of a sample of 2000 simulated clusters with a median mass of $M_{200}= 10^{14} {h^{-1}~\rm{M_{\odot}}}$ as well as a sample of 50 simulated clusters with a median mass of $M_{200}= 10^{15} {h^{-1}~\rm{M_{\odot}}}$: the median MARs based on the caustic mass profiles of the simulated clusters are unbiased and agree within $19\%$ with the median MARs based on the real mass profile of the clusters. The MAR of the CIRS and HeCS clusters increases with the mass and the redshift of the accreting cluster, which is in excellent agreement with the growth of clusters in the $\Lambda$CDM model.Comment: 25 pages, 19 figures, 7 table

From Alpine-type sulfides to nonsulfides in the Gorno Zn project (Bergamo, Italy)

Recent exploration of the Gorno Zn-Pb-Ag deposit in northern Italy identified 3.3 Mt of sulfides at 4.9% Zn, 1.3% Pb, and 27.2 g/t Ag (indicated+inferred resources), and a further mineralized nucleus of mixed sulfides-nonsulfides in the Val Vedra area, currently under evaluation. The ores are hosted in Triassic limestone and shale. Sulfides (sphalerite, Ag-bearing galena, minor pyrite, and chalcopyrite) paragenetically follow Mn-Fe-bearing saddle dolomite and sparry calcite. The mineral association, and the carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of the sparry calcite (avg. δ13C = 1.0 ± 0.6‰ V-PDB; avg. δ18O = 19.63 ± 1.25‰ V-SMOW), are in agreement with precipitation from hydrothermal fluids in a deep burial setting. Sulfide emplacement occurred before the Alpine orogeny, likely during the Early-Middle Jurassic, in analogy to other Alpine-type deposits. The nonsulfide ore formed at the expense of sulfides, and mainly consists of smithsonite, hydrozincite, hemimorphite, and cerussite. The C-O-isotope values of the early generations of Zn-carbonates are characterized by δ18O between 24.1 and 26.8‰ V-SMOW and δ13C ratios between − 3.1 and 1.7‰ V-PDB. The later generations have lower δ18O (21.9 to 23.9‰) and lower δ13C (− 6.2 to − 3.9‰). These compositions, as those measured on cerussite (δ13C = −6.3 and − 7.7‰; δ18O = 14.0 and 15.3‰), agree with the formation of the nonsulfides in a supergene environment, under climatic conditions warmer than today. The δ18O decrease from early to late generations suggests progressive involvement of meteoric water sourced from higher altitudes. These characteristics indicate that the nonsulfides formed during the exhumation of the Gorno area from Miocene to Pliocene

Antimicrobial resistance, an update from the ward: Increased incidence of new potential pathogens and site of infection-specific antibacterial resistances

In order to monitor the spread of antimicrobial resistance, the European Union requires hospitals to be equipped with infection control centers. With this aim, we analyzed 1583 bacterial strains isolated from samples of different origin from patients with community-onset and nosocomial infections in a public tertiary University Hospital on the outskirts of Turin, Italy. Statistical analyses of the isolates (source, type) and their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) were performed. The survey revealed infections associated with bacterial species considered as not-commensal and not-pathogenic, hence potentially emerging as new threats for human health. Conversely to the general observation of nosocomial strains being more resistant to antibiotics compared to community-acquired strains, nosocomial strains isolated in this study were more resistant only to 1/42 tested antibiotics (tetracycline). By adopting an ecological approach, we observed that blood infections are associated with the broadest range of species compared to infections affecting other areas and we obtained clear indications on the antibiotics that should be preferred in the treatment of infections at specific body sites. Future investigations carried out on a larger geographical scale will clarify whether these indications are limited to the geographical region investigated over this study, or whether the same trends are visible at national or international level

Evaluation of soil homogenization techniques for detection of Giardia duodenalis cysts

The soil is an important vehicle for the transmission of the protozoan Giardia duodenalis, which causes the global disease giardiosis, gastroenteritis of changeable severity. The objective of this study was to evaluate different process of homogenization soil samples in order to know which of them is most effective for cysts detection and recovery. Four treatments of homogenization were performed with four replicates of each one. Each replicate contained 10g of soil contaminated with a 500 cysts, moistened with phosphate-buffered saline and shaked according to the following treatments: vortex for 2 minutes; magnetic stirrer for 10 minutes, homogenization during 30 minutes in a rotary mixer; and manual homogenization for 5 minutes. After homogenization, the samples remained resting for 5 minutes on the bench in order to sediment and separate the coarser soil particles. Then the supernatant and the finer particles were centrifuged at 1050 x g for 10 minutes and the immunomagnetic separation was performed in the resulting pellet. The cysts were labeled and enumerated by immunofluorescence assay. There was no significant different found in the mean value of magnetic stirrer (81.07), rotary mixer (70.40) and manual homogenization (49.60). However, the replicates of rotary mixer showed themselves more homogeneous when separating the coarser particles from the finer ones that would be taken to centrifugation. Therefore, this treatment was chosen as the most effective and reproducible process. The mean from the vortex samples was the lowest (8.45) showing a significant difference from the others.O solo é uma das vias de transmissão do protozoário Giardia duodenalis, que pode causar a doença global giardiose, gastroenterite de severidade variável. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar diferentes formas de homogeneização de amostras de solo visando saber qual delas é mais eficiente para detecção e recuperação de cistos. Foram realizados quatro tratamentos de homogeneização com quatro réplicas cada. Cada réplica continha 10 g de solo contaminado com uma concentração 500 cistos, umedecidas em PBS e agitadas conforme os tratamentos: vórtex por 2 minutos; agitador magnético por 10 minutos; homogeneização durante 30 minutos em mixer rotatório e homogeneização manual por 5 minutos. Após a homogeneização as amostras permaneceram em repouso na bancada durante 5 minutos para sedimentação e separação de partículas mais grossas do solo. Em seguida o sobrenadante líquido e as partículas mais finas foram centrifugadas a 1050 x g por 10 minutos e ao pellet resultante foi realizada a separação imunomagnética. Os cistos foram marcados e enumerados mediante a reação de imunofluorescência direta. As médias entre agitador magnético (81.07), mixer rotatório (70.40) e homogeneização manual (49.60) não apresentaram diferenças significativas, porém as réplicas do tratamento mixer rotatório se mostraram mais homogêneas em relação a separação de partículas mais grossas daquelas mais finas que seriam levadas a centrifugação. Dessa forma elegeu-se esse tratamento como o mais efetivo e reprodutível. A média das réplicas do tratamento vórtex foi a mais baixa (8.45) sendo significativamente diferente das outras.Asociación de Universidades Grupo Montevide

Covid-19 lockdown impacts among patients with cystic fibrosis. an italian regional reference centre experience

Background: Coronavirus pandemic has influenced our society with social distancing and management of chronic disease such as cystic fibrosis (CF). During the Italian lockdown from March to May 2020, CF patients reduced the number of outpatient visits, limited social interactions and spent more time at home. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the lockdown on body mass index (BMI) and lung function tests on CF patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical data about 111 CF patients followed in our Regional Cystic Fibrosis Reference Centre (Policlinico Umberto I, Rome) according to two periods: pre-lockdown (from October 2019-March 2020) and post-lockdown (from May 2020-October 2020). We collected data on nutritional (BMI and body weight) and lung function status; we chose the best values of the 'pre-lockdown' and 'post-lockdown' period for each patient. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to FEV1 value (Forced Expiratory Volume in the 1st second): group 1 (FEV1 &lt;40%), group 2 (FEV1 40-70%), group 3 (FEV1 &gt;70%). All patients received a telephone interview asking for the number of hours per week devoted to physical activity, number of pulmonary acute exacerbations and subjective evaluation of adherence to medical therapy, respiratory physiotherapy and diet, during the two periods. Results: Comparing weight, BMI and respiratory function between pre and post lockdown periods, we noticed an increase in weight during among overall patients. Male patients improved weight, BMI, FEF 25-75% (Forced Expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity) and Tiffenau index more than female patients. The most severely compromised patients (group 1), showed a significant loss of both weight and BMI. Instead, patients with moderate respiratory function (group 2) showed a significant increase of both weight and BMI and a slightly reduced CVF (Forced Vital capacity). We found no differences among patients with good respiratory function (group 3). Comparing each clinical sub-groups, we noticed a significative improvement of weight (p = 0.018) and BMI (p = 0.030) among patients with moderate respiratory function compared to patients with compromised respiratory function. During lockdown, patients reported less physical activity, no variation in food amount and composition, more adherence to therapy (43%) and more consistent daily respiratory physiotherapy (47.6%). Conclusions: Lockdown period had benefit among CF patients in terms of weight in particular in male patient. The greatest benefit on nutritional state was observed in patients with moderate reduction of respiratory function. In addition, we noted a stabilization and sometimes a slight improvement of lung function, instead of a continuous and steady decline that is normally observed in CF patients. These beneficial effects are slight but significative, bearing in mind the general worsening that CF patients experience annually

Renal artery embolization before radical nephrectomy for complex renal tumour: Which are the true advantages?

Introduction: Renal artery embolization is performed before radical nephrectomy (RN) for renal mass in order to induce preoperative infarction and to facilitate surgical intervention through decrease of intraoperative bleeding. Moreover, in metastatic renal cancer it seems to stimulate tumour-specific antibodies, even if no established benefits in clinical response or survival have been reported. The role of preoperative renal artery embolization (PRAE) in management of renal masses has been often debated and its real benefits are still unclear. Nevertheless, in huge and complex renal masses, which are often characterized by a high and anarchic blood supply and rapid local invasion, radical nephrectomy can be challenging even for skilled surgeons. The aim of this prospective randomized study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of PRAE in complex masses by comparing perioperative outcomes of RN with and without PRAE.Materials and methods: From December 2015 to May 2018 we enrolled prospectively 64 patients who underwent RN for localized (T2a-b) or locally advanced (T3 and T4) or advanced (N+, M+) renal cancers. Patients were divided in two groups. The first group included 30 patients who underwent PRAE; in the second group we enrolled 34 patients who did not undergo RN without PRAE. Perioperative outcomes in terms of operative time, blood loss, transfusion rate and length of hospitalization were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 6.0 software.Results: Median blood loss was 250 ml (50-500) and 400 ml (50-1000) in the first and second group, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (p=0.0066). Median surgical time was 200 min (90-390) and 240 min (130-390) in PRAE and No-PRAE group (p=0.06), respectively. No major complications occurred after embolization. Overall complication rate in Group 1 and 2 was 46.7% (14/30) and 50% (17/34), respectively (p=0.34). No major complications occurred in both groups. The mean follow up was 21,5 months.Conclusions: Our results prove PRAE to be a safe procedure with low complications rate. To our experience, PRAE seems to be a useful tool in surgical management of a large mass and advanced disease