Semantics for virtual humans

Population of Virtual Worlds with Virtual Humans is increasing rapidly by people who want to create a virtual life parallel to the real one (i.e. Second Life). The evolution of technology is smoothly providing the necessary elements to increase realism within these virtual worlds by creating believable Virtual Humans. However, creating the amount of resources needed to succeed this believability is a difficult task, mainly because of the complexity of the creation process of Virtual Humans. Even though there are many existing available resources, their reusability is difficult because there is not enough information provided to evaluate if a model contains the desired characteristics to be reused. Additionally, the knowledge involved in the creation of Virtual Humans is not well known, nor well disseminated. There are several different creation techniques, different software components, and several processes to carry out before having a Virtual Human capable of populating a virtual environment. The creation of Virtual Humans involves: a geometrical representation with an internal control structure, the motion synthesis with different animation techniques, higher level controllers and descriptors to simulate human-like behavior such individuality, cognition, interaction capabilities, etc. All these processes require the expertise from different fields of knowledge such as mathematics, artificial intelligence, computer graphics, design, etc. Furthermore, there is neither common framework nor common understanding of how elements involved in the creation, development, and interaction of Virtual Humans features are done. Therefore, there is a need for describing (1) existing resources, (2) Virtual Human's composition and features, (3) a creation pipeline and (4) the different levels/fields of knowledge comprehended. This thesis presents an explicit representation of the Virtual Humans and their features to provide a conceptual framework that will interest to all people involved in the creation and development of these characters. This dissertation focuses in a semantic description of Virtual Humans. The creation of a semantic description involves gathering related knowledge, agreement among experts in the definition of concepts, validation of the ontology design, etc. In this dissertation all these procedures are presented, and an Ontology for Virtual Humans is described in detail together with the validations that conducted to the resulted ontology. The goal of creating such ontology is to promote reusability of existing resources; to create a shared knowledge of the creation and composition of Virtual Humans; and to support new research of the fields involved in the development of believable Virtual Humans and virtual environments. Finally, this thesis presents several developments that aim to demonstrate the ontology usability and reusability. These developments serve particularly to support the research on specialized knowledge of Virtual Humans, the population of virtual environments, and improve the believability of these characters

Simulation of Individual Spontaneous Reactive Behavior

The context of this work is the search for realism and believability of Virtual Humans. Our contribution to achieve this goal is to enable Virtual Humans (VH) to react to spontaneous events in virtual environments (VE). In order to reflect the individuality of each VH, these reactions have to be expressive and unique. In this paper we present firstly a model of reaction based on personality traits. The model was defined using statistical analysis of real people reacting to unexpected events. We also consider that the emotional state is involved in the modulation of reactions, thus we integrate a model of emotion update. Secondly, we present a semantic-based methodology to compose reactive animation sequences using inverse kinematics (IK) and key frame (KF) interpolation animation techniques. Finally, we present an application that demonstrates how Virtual Humans can produce diferent movements as reaction to unexpected stimuli, depending on their personality traits and emotional state

Factores que inciden en el bajo rendimiento académico de los y las estudiantes jornada alterna de los cursos 1004, y 1104, del Colegio Centro Integral José María Córdoba Localidad Tunjuelito.

Este proyecto de investigación se centra en la comunidad educativa colegio centro integral José María Córdoba el cual está ubicado en la localidad número 6 de Tunjuelito Distrito Capital. El área de trabajo social junto con el coordinador educativo han observado en el presente año un bajo rendimiento académico el cual quiere conocer cuáles son los factores más influyentes que afectan al estudiante. De esta manera desde nuestra profesión de Trabajo Social se quiere aportar atraves del proyecto de investigación, a superar esta problemática que se presenta. Desde esta perspectiva estaremos apoyadas en el enfoque hermenéutico ya que este nos ayuda a comprender e interpretar la realidad en la que se encuentran los estudiantes de esta comunidad educativa a su vez, cómo funciona y las políticas que existen dentro de ella. Por ende los autores en los que nos basamos para sustentar e indagar a profundidad sobre el problema del cual se deriva esta investigación

Estrategia de lanzamiento de una bebida energizante peruana endulzada con extracto natural de yacón: Boom Power

Las bebidas energizantes y energéticas tienen una historia de más de un siglo, pero es a partir de la década de 1980 que empiezan a ganar popularidad, y en el caso peruano, desde la llegada de Red Bull en 2002. Suele ser consumido por la capacidad que brinda para mejorar el rendimiento físico y mental en situaciones de agotamiento y fatiga. Sin embargo, se han estudiado sus efectos adversos, teniendo como principal foco el exceso de cafeína en el cuerpo y las altas cantidades de azúcares artificiales utilizadas en su elaboración. El propósito del presente trabajo es comunicar una alternativa más saludable en la categoría de bebidas energizantes, introduciendo al mercado una bebida de características similares que esté endulzada con yacón, un tipo de azúcar que el cuerpo no metaboliza. Para ello, se ha creado un análisis del mercado y la categoría, una investigación del mercado meta a través de encuestas, focus groups y entrevistas, y la elaboración de un brandbook, estrategia de comunicación, creatividad y plan de medios para el lanzamiento exitoso de este producto, bautizado como Boom Power.Energy drinks have a history of over a century, but it is since the 1980s that they began to gain popularity, and in the Peruvian case, since the arrival of Red Bull in 2002. It is usually consumed for the ability provided to improve physical and mental performance in situations of exhaustion and fatigue. However, its adverse effects have also been studied, with the main focus being excess caffeine in the body and the high amounts of artificial sugars used in its preparation. The purpose of this paper is to communicate a healthier alternative in the category of energy drinks, introducing to the market a drink with similar characteristics that is sweetened with yacon, a type of sugar that the body does not metabolize. To achieve this, an analysis of the market and the category have been studied, and an investigation of the target market through surveys, focus groups and interviews with professionals in the sector have been carried out. This led to the preparation of a brand book, communication strategy, creativity and media plan for the successful product launch of Boom Power

A common ontology for multi-dimensional shapes

In recent years, digital shapes have become more and more widespread and have been made available in a plethora of online repositories. A systematic and formal approach for capturing and representing shape-related information is needed to facilitate its reuse and enable the demonstration of useful cross-domain usage scenarios. In this paper we present an ontology for digital shapes, called the Common Shape Ontology (CSO). We discuss the rationale, the requirements and the scope of this ontology, we present in detail its structure and describe the most relevant choices related to its development. Finally, we show how the CSO conceptualization is used in domain-specific application scenarios

Genomic landscape and immune-related gene expression profiling of epithelial ovarian cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Ovarian cancerCàncer d'ovariCáncer de ovarioPlatinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery is an accepted treatment for patients with stage III or IV epithelial ovarian cancer who are not suitable for primary debulking surgery. The identification of suitable adjuvant treatments in these patients is an unmet need. Here, we explore potential genomic characteristics (mutational and immune-associated expression profiles) in a series of patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Tumor samples from biopsy and interval debulking surgery were analyzed for mutational landscape and immune profiling, together with detailed immunohistochemistry using different immune cell markers, and correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and potential response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. No major differences in the mutational landscape were observed in paired biopsy and surgery samples. Genomic loss of heterozygosity was found to be higher in patients with total/near-total tumor response. The immune gene expression profile after neoadjuvant chemotherapy revealed activation of several immune regulation-related pathways in patients with no/minimal or partial response. In parallel, neoadjuvant therapy caused a significant increase of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte population abundance, primarily due to an augmentation of the CD8+ T cell population. Remarkably, these changes occurred irrespective of potential homologous recombination defects, such as those associated with BRCA1/2 mutations. Our study strengthens the use of loss of heterozygosity as a biomarker of homologous repair deficiency. The changes of immune states during neoadjuvant chemotherapy reveal the dynamic nature of tumor-host immune interactions and suggest the potential use of immune checkpoint inhibitors or their combination with poly-ADP polymerase inhibitors in high stage and grade epithelial ovarian cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy.This study was funded by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). I.L. position is funded by Fundación Científica Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC), Predoctoral AECC 2019 grant number PRDMA19024LODE. L. Morales position is funded by AECC, Postdoctoral AECC 2019 grant number POSTD19036MORA. This study was partially co-funded by European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) grants from Science and Innovation (SAF2015-66015-R and PID2019-110758RB-I00 to J.M.P.) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERONC no. CB16/12/00228 to J.M.P.)

Aplicación método REBA en el área de poscosecha

Aplicar la encuesta sociodemográfica y nórdica, complementando con el Método de evaluación ergonómico REBA, para poder evaluar los riegos asociados a cada tarea que se realiza en la empresa de Flores Santa Luz Farms en el área de la poscosecha e identificar las causas que generan DME.Con el propósito de aplicar el Método REBA en el área de poscosecha de una organización, este trabajo se utilizó el Método Ergonómico REBA para evaluar los riegos asociados a cada tarea que se realiza en la empresa de Flores Santa Luz Farms, ubicada en la vereda de Puente Piedra del municipio de Madrid, Cundinamarca, en el área de la poscosecha e identificar las causas que generan DME. Para lograr esto se utiliza un método descriptivo cualitativo con el uso de una herramienta metodológica tipo encuesta nórdica y sociodemográfica para lograr una caracterización de los 30 sujetos participantes del estudio. El Método REBA fue aplicado sobre las áreas de corte, clasificación y boncheo. Gracias al trabajo de campo y el uso de la clasificación de los niveles de acción del Método REBA se logró determinar un nivel de riesgo bajo para la tarea de clasificación, lo que implica que una intervención puede ser necesaria; y riesgo medio para el área de corte y boncheo de lo que se deduce que la intervención es necesaria. El trabajo termina con unas recomendaciones generales y específicas para los trabajadores.With the purpose of applying the REBA Method in the post-harvest area of an organization, this work was used the REBA Ergonomic Method to assess the risks associated with each task performed at the Flores Santa Luz Farms company, located on the sidewalk of Stone bridge of the municipality of Madrid, Cundinamarca, in the post-harvest area and identify the causes that identify DME.. To achieve this, a qualitative descriptive method is used with the use of a Nordic and sociodemographic survey methodological tool to achieve a characterization of the 30 subjects participating in the study. The REBA Method was applied to the areas of cutting, sorting and boosting. Thanks to the fieldwork and the use of the classification of the action levels of the REBA Method, it was possible to determine a low level of risk for the classification task, which implies that an intervention may be necessary; and average risk for the area of court and boncheo from which it is deduced that the intervention is necessary. The work ends with general and specific recommendations for workers

Diagnóstico y análisis financiero de Nike

Este informe que se presenta, está encaminado a estudiar y evaluar la compañía Nike Inc. A manera de complementar a la valoración de los distintos orígenes del apalancamiento financiero en los cuales permite presentar una establecida entidad en el comercio de capital. Este informe entrega un análisis financiero de la entidad Nike. Orientándose a la concepción de contextos financieros de crecimiento, disminución y sus efectos en el rendimiento de la entidad, se analizan los informes financieros de Nike Inc. Y se usan los indicadores financieros, ROCE, ROA, WACC y Árbol de rentabilidad para valorar los factibles rendimientos. El diagnóstico financiero se entrega como un instrumento esencial para valorar el estado financiero de Nike Inc. Y poder tomar decisiones documentadas acerca de la entrada a financiar el trámite de capital.This report that is presented is aimed at studying and evaluating the company Nike Inc. In order to complement the assessment of the different origins of financial leverage in which it allows an established entity to be presented in capital trading. This report provides a financial analysis of the Nike entity. Oriented towards the conception of financial contexts of growth, decline and their effects on the entity's performance, the financial reports of Nike Inc. are analyzed. And the financial indicators, ROCE, ROA, WACC and Profitability Tree are used to assess the feasible returns. The financial diagnosis is delivered as an essential instrument to assess the financial status of Nike Inc. and to be able to make documented decisions about whether to finance the capital process

Implementación del Sistema de Gestión de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo de la Empresa ENERCER S.A E.S.P.

Para la ejecución del presente trabajo se elaboro con la información de la empresa ENERCER S.A E.S.P., donde principalmente se tomó su caracterización inicial donde nos menciona su desempeño y servicio de prestación a los servicios públicos específicamente Gas Natural y soluciones energéticas fotovoltaicas, de acuerdo a esta caracterización e información recolectada se identificaron las distintas actividades que allí se realizan, Implementando así un Sistema de gestión de Seguridad y Salud en el trabajo en base a esta empresa; se realizaron las políticas,Obejtivos principales de la SST, y así mismo se realizó la planificación mediante un Plan Anual para la seguridad y salud en el trabajo de igual forma los peligros a los que se enfrentan y sus controles a estos, esto mediante la matriz de peligros de igual forma medidas de intervención mediante los indicadores mínimos del SG-SST , enfatizando en la realización de la lista de verificación y calculando los porcentajes obtenidos para obtener como resultado Oportunidades y mejoras frente a este proceso realizado. Palabras clave: Peligros, Controles, Oportunidades, Políticas, Indicadores.For the execution of this work, information from the company ENERCER S.A E.S.P. was prepared, where its initial characterization was mainly taken, which mentions its performance and service provision to public services, specifically Natural Gas and photovoltaic energy solutions, according to this characterization and information collected, the different activities carried out there were identified, thus implementing a Health and Safety management system at work based on this company; The policies were carried out, the main objectives of the SST, and likewise the planning was carried out through an Annual Plan for safety and health at work, in the same way the dangers they face and their controls, this through the matrix of hazards as well as intervention measures through the minimum indicators of the SG-SST, emphasizing the completion of the checklist and calculating the percentages obtained to obtain as a result Opportunities and improvements compared to this process carried out. . Keywords: Dangers, Controls, Opportunities, Policies, Indicator

Clinical and Laboratory Features in Anti-NF155 Autoimmune Nodopathy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical and laboratory features of antineurofascin-155 (NF155)-positive autoimmune nodopathy (AN). METHODS: Patients with anti-NF155 antibodies detected on routine immunologic testing were included. Clinical characteristics, treatment response, and functional scales (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] and Inflammatory Rasch-built Overall Disability Scale [I-RODS]) were retrospectively collected at baseline and at the follow-up. Autoantibody and neurofilament light (NfL) chain levels were analyzed at baseline and at the follow-up. RESULTS: Forty NF155+ patients with AN were included. Mean age at onset was 42.4 years. Patients presented with a progressive (75%), sensory motor (87.5%), and symmetric distal-predominant weakness in upper (97.2%) and lower extremities (94.5%), with tremor and ataxia (75%). Patients received a median of 3 (2-4) different treatments in 46 months of median follow-up. Response to IV immunoglobulin (86.8%) or steroids (72.2%) was poor in most patients, whereas 77.3% responded to rituximab. HLA-DRB1*15 was detected in 91.3% of patients. IgG4 anti-NF155 antibodies were predominant in all patients; anti-NF155 titers correlated with mRS within the same patient (r = 0.41, p = 0.004). Serum NfL (sNfL) levels were higher in anti-NF155+ AN than in healthy controls (36.47 vs 7.56 pg/mL, p < 0.001) and correlated with anti-NF155 titers (r = 0.43, p = 0.001), with I-RODS at baseline (r = -0.88, p < 0.001) and with maximum I-RODS achieved (r = -0.58, p = 0.01). Anti-NF155 titers and sNfL levels decreased in all rituximab-treated patients. DISCUSSION: Anti-NF155 AN presents a distinct clinical profile and good response to rituximab. Autoantibody titers and sNfL are useful to monitor disease status in these patients. The use of untagged-NF155 plasmids minimizes the detection of false anti-NF155+ cases. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class IV evidence that anti-NF155 antibodies associate with a specific phenotype and response to rituximab