Using choreographies to support the gamification process on the development of an application to reduce electricity costs

Building automation systems contribute to reduce electricity costs by managing distributed energy resources in an efficient way. However, a large share of consumption cannot be optimized through automation alone, since it mainly depends on human interactions. Gamification can be used as one form of changing users’ behaviours [1], but its implementation does require assumptions on the behaviour patterns that need to be identified, encouraged, or discouraged. To tackle this problem, we propose a framework that joins building automation solutions with gamification techniques to enable behavioural demand response.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

CAV-2 Vector Development and Gene Transfer in the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems

The options available for genetic modification of cells of the central nervous system (CNS) have greatly increased in the last decade. The current panoply of viral and nonviral vectors provides multifunctional platforms to deliver expression cassettes to many structures and nuclei. These cassettes can replace defective genes, modify a given pathway perturbed by diseases, or express proteins that can be selectively activated by drugs or light to extinguish or excite neurons. This review focuses on the use of canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2) vectors for gene transfer to neurons in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. We discuss (1) recent advances in vector production, (2) why CAV-2 vectors preferentially transduce neurons, (3) the mechanism underlying their widespread distribution via retrograde axonal transport, (4) how CAV-2 vectors have been used to address structure/function, and (5) their therapeutic applications

Multi-Objective Planning of Community Energy Storage Systems Under Uncertainty

This paper evaluates how the planning of a community energy storage (CES) system under different energy trading schemes (ETSs) can benefit low voltage (LV) prosumers and the CES provider equitably. First, we consider an ETS where the CES provider trades energy with prosumers at the average grid energy trading price, second, an ETS where the CES provider trades energy at a higher price than the grid energy trading price, and third, an ETS where the CES provider trades energy at a lower price than the grid energy trading price. To this end, we present a multi-objective stochastic optimization framework to minimize the investment and annual operating costs of the CES provider and annual operating costs of prosumers, taking into account the uncertainties of real and reactive energy consumption and photovoltaic (PV) generation of prosumers. The uncertainties are modeled using the normal probability density function. Then, the roulette wheel mechanism (RWM) is exploited to formulate a scenario-based stochastic program. The initial scenarios obtained from the RWM, are then reduced using the K-Means clustering algorithm, to make the problem tractable. Our experiments show that the ETS where the CES provider trades energy at the average grid energy trading price benefits prosumers and the CES provider more equitably than the other two ETSs.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, 1 table, submitted for an Elsevier journa

Applying semantic web technologies to knowledge sharing in aerospace engineering

This paper details an integrated methodology to optimise Knowledge reuse and sharing, illustrated with a use case in the aeronautics domain. It uses Ontologies as a central modelling strategy for the Capture of Knowledge from legacy docu-ments via automated means, or directly in systems interfacing with Knowledge workers, via user-defined, web-based forms. The domain ontologies used for Knowledge Capture also guide the retrieval of the Knowledge extracted from the data using a Semantic Search System that provides support for multiple modalities during search. This approach has been applied and evaluated successfully within the aerospace domain, and is currently being extended for use in other domains on an increasingly large scale

Influence of elevation and slope exposure on must volatiles of Mencía cultivar from Ribeira Sacra (NW Spain)

Resumen del póster presentado al Congreso que bajo el lema "Science and horticulture for people" se celebró en Lisboa del 22 al 27 de Agosto de 2010.Peer reviewe

Efectos del deshojado precoz sobre la composición aromática del vino Albariño en el valle del Salnés (D.O. Rías Baixas)

Este trabajo pretende estudiar los efectos del deshojado precoz sobre la composición aromática del vino Albariño. Para ello se llevó a cabo el deshojado en dos estados fenológicos de la planta, floración y cuajado y a dos intensidades distintas, 4 y 8 hojas basales. Los resultados se compararon con un control en el que no se realizó ningún deshojado. Los análisis químicos clásicos no mostraron diferencias significativas para ningún parámetro estudiado entre los vinos elaborados con los distintos tratamientos. La identificación y cuantificación de los compuestos volátiles se realizó mediante cromatografía de Gases (GC-FID). Los resultados obtenidos mostraron diferencias significativas para 14 compuestos de los 36 analizados. Se podría concluir, en este primer año de estudio, que el deshojado precoz es capaz de aumentar la composición volátil del vino Albariño

The Coexpression of Reelin and Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase in a Subpopulation of Dentate Gyrus Neurons Is Downregulated in Heterozygous Reeler Mice

Reelin is an extracellular matrix protein expressed in several interneuron subtypes in the hippocampus and dentate gyrus. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is also expressed by interneurons in these areas. We investigated whether reelin and nNOS are co-localized in the same population of hippocampal interneurons, and whether this colocalization is altered in the heterozygous reeler mouse. We found colocalization of nNOS in reelin-positive cells in the CA1 stratum radiatum and lacunosum moleculare, the CA3 stratum radiatum, and the dentate gyrus subgranular zone, molecular layer, and hilus. In heterozygous reeler mice, the colocalization of nNOS in reelin-positive cells was significantly decreased only in the subgranular zone and molecular layer. The coexpression of reelin and nNOS in several hippocampal regions suggests that reelin and nNOS may work synergistically to promote glutamatergic function, and the loss of this coexpression in heterozygous reeler mice may underlie some of the behavioral deficits observed in these animals

Disruption of diphenylalanine assembly by a Boc-modified variant

Peptide-based biomaterials are key to the future of diagnostics and therapy, promoting applications such as tissue scaffolds and drug delivery vehicles. To realise the full potential of the peptide systems, control and optimisation of material properties are essential. Here we invesigated the co-assembly of the minimal amyloid motif peptide, diphenylalanine (FF), and its tert-butoxycarbonyl (Boc)-modified derivative. Using Atomic Force Microscopy, we demonstrated that the co-assembled fibers are less rigid and show a curvier morphology. We propose that the Boc-modification of FF disrupts the hydrogen bond packing of adjacent N-termini, as supported by Fourier transform infrared and fluorescence spectroscopic data. Such rationally modified co-assemblies offer chemical functionality for after-assembly modification and controllable surface properties for tissue engineering scaffolds, along with tunable morphological vs. mechanical properties

The interplay between acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections and depression: a vicious circle of major clinical importance.

Purpose of review Previous studies suggest an association between depression and increased risk of various type of infections, including acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). Here, we review the latest advancement in our understanding of immunity in patients with depression and its relevance to disease management and diagnosis, with a special focus on patients suffering from ABSSSI. Recent findings Recent studies have highlighted the role of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neuro-endocrine stress signaling pathways and behavioral attitudes (substance abuse and homelessness) in the pathogenesis of infections in depressed patients. Furthermore, acute bacterial infections, in turn, have emerged as a possible risk for depression development because of different mechanisms including antibiotic-driven changes in the microbiota. Summary Recent evidences have emphasized the threat that comanagement of depression and infection pose to infectious disease physician and psychiatrist. Depressed patients with ABSSSI must be closely monitored for drug side-effects, drug-drug interactions, toxicity, and adequate compliance. New management strategies including new long-acting antibiotics (e.g., dalbavancin) are welcome