Increasing Intelligence In Inter-vehicle Communications To Reduce Traffic Congestions: Experiments In Urban And Highway Environments

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) rely on Inter-Vehicle Communication (IVC) to streamline the operation of vehicles by managing vehicle traffic, assisting drivers with safety and sharing information, as well as providing appropriate services for passengers. Traffic congestion is an urban mobility problem, which causes stress to drivers and economic losses. In this context, this work proposes a solution for the detection, dissemination and control of congested roads based on inter-vehicle communication, called INCIDEnT. The main goal of the proposed solution is to reduce the average trip time, CO emissions and fuel consumption by allowing motorists to avoid congested roads. The simulation results show that our proposed solution leads to short delays and a low overhead. Moreover, it is efficient with regard to the coverage of the event and the distance to which the information can be propagated. The findings of the investigation show that the proposed solution leads to (i) high hit rate in the classification of the level of congestion, (ii) a reduction in average trip time, (iii) a reduction in fuel consumption, and (iv) reduced CO emissions118Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [2015/11536-4, 2015/18898-9]FAPESP [2014/06330-5]Office of Naval Research GlobalCNPqFAPEMIGFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Electrochemical sensing using carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have demonstrated great advantages in electrochemistry. The application of CNTs most widely employed so far has been the construction of various detection devices, such as gas sensors, electrochemical detectors and biosensors [1]. The main advantage of their use is related to the increase of the electrodes surface area and of the electron transfer rates, improving sensors sensitivity. Besides, their sorption capability of different analytes can be used to improve sensors selectivity [2]. (...

ASA-SimaaS: Advancing Digital Transformation through Simulation Services in the Brazilian Air Force

This work explores the use of military simulations in predicting and evaluating the outcomes of potential scenarios. It highlights the evolution of military simulations and the increased capabilities that have arisen due to the advancement of artificial intelligence. Also, it discusses the various applications of military simulations, such as developing tactics and employment doctrines, training decision-makers, evaluating new acquisitions, and developing new technologies. The paper then focuses on the Brazilian Air Force's efforts to create its own simulation tool, the Aerospace Simulation Environment (Ambiente de Simula\c{c}\~ao Aeroespacial -- ASA in Portuguese), and how this cloud-based service called ASA Simulation as a Service (ASA-SimaaS) can provide greater autonomy and economy for the military force. The main contribution of this work is to present the ASA-SimaaS solution as a means of empowering digital transformation in defense scenarios, establishing a partnership network, and improving the military's simulation capabilities and competitiveness

Avaliação da capacidade de composto produzido industrialmente para remoção de paracetamol de águas

O composto é um material produzido pela decomposição de matéria orgânica através de um processo denominado de compostagem. Neste processo ocorre uma estabilização da matéria orgânica, com formação de moléculas ricas em estruturas aromáticas contendo grupos hidroxilo e carbonilo [1]. Estas estruturas químicas, usualmente classificadas de substâncias húmicas, oferecem um enorme potencial para estabelecer interações intermoleculares. Esta potencialidade é altamente desejável, permitindo a sua utilização na construção de filtros para o tratamento terciário de águas residuais [2]. O paracetamol é um composto ativo amplamente utilizado como fármaco possuindo propriedades analgésicas e antipiréticas, sendo a sua administração feita em humanos ou animais, e posteriormente libertados no meio ambiente por várias vias. A ocorrência deste fármaco e seus metabolitos nas águas residuais é descrita como uma preocupação crescente, sendo nocivos para os organismos aquáticos e podendo mesmo apresentar riscos para a saúde humana [3]. Inserido no âmbito do projeto Res2ValHum [4], foi efetuado um estudo preliminar em batch onde se testou a remoção de paracetamol utilizando composto produzido industrialmente em túnel, a partir de resíduos urbanos provenientes de recolha seletiva. As soluções de paracetamol usadas tinham concentrações compreendidas entre 20 e 375 mg L-1 (C0) e as massas de composto testadas foram entre 0,5 e 4,5 g (mcomposto). Os ensaios foram realizados ao longo do tempo e monitorizados recorrendo a HPLC - DAD. Foi estudada a influência de parâmetros, como a concentração inicial de fármaco, a massa de composto, o pH e a presença de surfactantes (presentes em águas residuais, ?águas cinzentas?). Verificou-se que a percentagem de remoção depende da massa de composto e da concentração inicial de paracetamol. Os resultados reportados na Figura 1 foram calculados a partir das concentrações de paracetamol em solução medidas para um tempo de 60 min, Ceq (Concentração de equilíbrio).  Programa Interreg V-A Espanha-Portugal (POCTEP) 2014-2020 e a União Europeia através do Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional -FEDER no âmbito do projeto RES2VALHUM -Valorização de Resíduos Orgânicos: Produção de Substâncias Húmicas (0366_RES2VALHUM_1_P

Comportamento voltamétrico de perilenos bismides modificados em GCE e SPE

Uma das necessidades mais emergentes no planeta é a deteção e quantificação de diversos analitos prejudiciais aos seres vivos, presentes no meio ambiente, de uma forma rápida, com baixo custo e com elevada seletividade. Os screen printed electrodes (SPE) têm sido usados extensivamente como transdutores de sensores químicos para vários analitos importantes. A modificação da superfície dos SPEs com moléculas capazes de fazer o reconhecimento de diversos analitos traduz-se no aumento da seletividade do elétrodo, devido às interações entre as duas espécies [1]. Entre as técnicas de imobilização (covalente e não covalente) de moléculas na superfície dos SPE, destacamos a modificação não covalente, visto este ser um método rápido, com elevada reprodutibilidade, de baixo custo, e sem a necessidade de reações violentas para a superfície do sensor para formar a ligação covalente. A utilização de moléculas com estruturas capazes de formar ligações π com nanoestruturas de carbono [2] é uma vantagem, pois permite a adsorção de espécies que irão fazer o reconhecimento de analitos sem danificar a superfície da matriz principal mantendo assim as excelentes características das nanoestruras de carbono, como os nanotubos de carbono e as folhas de grafeno. (...

Screen printed electrodes modified with carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotubes for the analysis of hydroquinone and ascorbic acid

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have demonstrated to be advantageous in electrochemical applications such as in energy storage devices and sensors. The presence of oxygenated carbon species, especially carboxylic acid moieties, together with metallic impurities are identified as chief factors for the catalytic properties of CNTs. The oxygen-containing groups are introduced randomly at the surface of CNTs by strong mineral acid treatment. These factors can be of extreme importance for the construction of biosensors based on carbon nanomaterials. In this study, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were chemically shortened and carboxylated by treatment with nitric acid for metal impurities removalusing a method described in the literature, originating MWCNT-COOH. Ethanol suspensions of MWCNT-COOH at different concentrations were used to modify the surfaces of commercially available screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). The SPEs modification with MWCNT-COOH was optimised and it was applied in order to obtain a reproducible electrochemical response. The morphology of the MWCNT-COOH modified SPEs was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Characterization of the CNT film generated on the surface of the working electrode and stability studies were carried out with potassium hexacyanoferrate. Results are compared with those obtained for commercially available carbon SPE and SPEMWCNT. Effect of solution acidity on the peak current and potential of the substances was studied at pH 3 and 7 where a correlation with the dissociation degree of carboxyl groups at the MWCNTs on the electrode surface occurs. The catalytic properties of the MWCNT-COOH-modified SPEs as well as their analytical advantages as voltammetric detectors are discussed through the analysis of ascorbic acid (AA) and hydroquinone (HQ)

Yoga respiratory training improves respiratory function and cardiac sympathovagal balance in elderly subjects: a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES: Since ageing is associated with a decline in pulmonary function, heart rate variability and spontaneous baroreflex, and recent studies suggest that yoga respiratory exercises may improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, we hypothesised that yoga respiratory training may improve respiratory function and cardiac autonomic modulation in healthy elderly subjects. DESIGN: 76 healthy elderly subjects were enrolled in a randomised control trial in Brazil and 29 completed the study (age 68 \ub1 6 years, 34% males, body mass index 25 \ub1 3 kg/m\ub2). Subjects were randomised into a 4-month training program (2 classes/week plus home exercises) of either stretching (control, n=14) or respiratory exercises (yoga, n=15). Yoga respiratory exercises (Bhastrika) consisted of rapid forced expirations followed by inspiration through the right nostril, inspiratory apnoea with generation of intrathoracic negative pressure, and expiration through the left nostril. Pulmonary function, maximum expiratory and inspiratory pressures (PE(max) and PI(max), respectively), heart rate variability and blood pressure variability for spontaneous baroreflex determination were determined at baseline and after 4 months. RESULTS: Subjects in both groups had similar demographic parameters. Physiological variables did not change after 4 months in the control group. However, in the yoga group, there were significant increases in PE(max) (34%, p<0.0001) and PI(max) (26%, p<0.0001) and a significant decrease in the low frequency component (a marker of cardiac sympathetic modulation) and low frequency/high frequency ratio (marker of sympathovagal balance) of heart rate variability (40%, p<0.001). Spontaneous baroreflex did not change, and quality of life only marginally increased in the yoga group. CONCLUSION: Respiratory yoga training may be beneficial for the elderly healthy population by improving respiratory function and sympathovagal balance. Trial Registration CinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00969345; trial registry name: Effects of respiratory yoga training (Bhastrika) on heart rate variability and baroreflex, and quality of life of healthy elderly subjects

Comparison of cadmium binding by humic and fulvic acids extracted from compost samples of different feedstock

Compost is a bio-sustainable material produced by the controlled decomposition of the organic wastes. Composting can be employed for the urban organic waste treatment in alternative to incineration or landfill disposal [1]. The properties of compost are closely related to the presence of humic-like substances (HS). Both fulvic acids (FA) and humic acids (HA) contain a significant amount of carboxylic acids and phenolic groups that are responsible for some of their properties like solubility and ability to complex metal ions [2]. In the scope of the project Res2ValHum [3], composts produced from different feedstock were analysed and compared regarding the ability of the FA and the HA extracts to bind Cd2+. The free cadmium ion concentration was measured using the electroanalytical technique AGNES (absence of gradients and Nernstian equilibrium stripping) [4]. The cadmium binding by FA and HA extracts of two compost samples: compost of algae (CA) and compost of sludge sewage (CSS) is illustrated in Figure 1. Results indicate that the extent of the binding of cadmium by FA is similar despite the nature of the compost. In opposition, the HA extracts from the algae compost exhibit a larger capacity to bind cadmium ion in comparison to the extracted from the sludge sewage compost. These results indicate that the nature of the feedstock seem to affect more the structure of the HA (in comparison to the FA) formed during the composting process. The chemical characterization of these extracts by different analytical techniques are in course in order to fully understand the referred effect.0366_RES2VALHUM_1_P - Valorização de resíduos orgânicos: produção de substâncias húmicas, cofinanciada pelo Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento regional (FEDER) através do Programa INTERREG V-A Espanha-Portugal (POCTEP) 2014-202

Lack of reliable clinical predictors to identify obstructive sleep apnea in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE: Obstructive sleep apnea is common among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and may contribute to poor cardiovascular outcomes. However, obstructive sleep apnea is largely unrecognized in this population. We sought to identify the clinical predictors of obstructive sleep apnea among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Consecutive patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were recruited from a tertiary University Hospital and were evaluated using validated sleep questionnaires (Berlin and Epworth) and overnight portable monitoring. Ninety patients (males, 51%; age, 46±15 years; body mass index, 26.6±4.9 kg/m2) were included, and obstructive sleep apnea (respiratory disturbance index ≥15 events/h) was present in 37 patients (41%). RESULTS: Compared with the patients without obstructive sleep apnea, patients with obstructive sleep apnea were older and had higher body mass index, larger waist circumference, larger neck circumference, and higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation. Excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth scale) was low and similar in the patients with and without obstructive sleep apnea, respectively. The only predictors of obstructive sleep apnea (using a logistic regression analysis) were age ≥45 years (odds ratio [OR], 4.46; 95% confidence interval [CI 95%], 1.47-13.54; p = 0.008) and the presence of atrial fibrillation [OR, 5.37; CI 95%, 1.43-20.12; p = 0.013]. CONCLUSION: Consistent clinical predictors of obstructive sleep apnea are lacking for patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which suggests that objective sleep evaluations should be considered in this population, particularly among elderly patients with atrial fibrillation