Fast and Robust Detection of Fallen People from a Mobile Robot

This paper deals with the problem of detecting fallen people lying on the floor by means of a mobile robot equipped with a 3D depth sensor. In the proposed algorithm, inspired by semantic segmentation techniques, the 3D scene is over-segmented into small patches. Fallen people are then detected by means of two SVM classifiers: the first one labels each patch, while the second one captures the spatial relations between them. This novel approach showed to be robust and fast. Indeed, thanks to the use of small patches, fallen people in real cluttered scenes with objects side by side are correctly detected. Moreover, the algorithm can be executed on a mobile robot fitted with a standard laptop making it possible to exploit the 2D environmental map built by the robot and the multiple points of view obtained during the robot navigation. Additionally, this algorithm is robust to illumination changes since it does not rely on RGB data but on depth data. All the methods have been thoroughly validated on the IASLAB-RGBD Fallen Person Dataset, which is published online as a further contribution. It consists of several static and dynamic sequences with 15 different people and 2 different environments

Minimization of the Crossing Number in a Reconciled Tree

The problem of building a reconciled tree from a gene and a species tree is of great interest in bioinformatics, since it allows to highlight the relation between the evolution of the genes with the evolution of one or more species. In particular, a reconciled tree with a minimized number of crossings can help tracing down accurately the biological events of interest and avoiding wrong assumptions on the available data. The way the operation is performed affects heavily the usefulness of the resulting tree. The Minimized Crossing Number in a Reconciled Tree problem(MCNRT) problem is an NP-Complete problem. In this thesis we present an heuristic that aims to provide a solution for this problem. The proposed algorithm is based on the solution of the Generalized Tanglegram Layout problem, that has been adapted to work for the whole tree structure. Finally, the algorithm has been integrated in a running project, namely PrimeTV. The resulting code has been tested and proved able to optimize the number of crossings under different conditionsope

Epigenetic targeting of bromodomain protein BRD4 counteracts cancer cachexia and prolongs survival

Cancer cachexia is a devastating metabolic syndrome characterized by systemic inflammation and massive muscle and adipose tissue wasting. Although it is responsible for approximately one-third of cancer deaths, no effective therapies are available and the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. We previously identified the bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) protein BRD4 as an epigenetic regulator of muscle mass. Here we show that the pan-BET inhibitor (+)-JQ1 protects tumor-bearing mice from body weight loss and muscle and adipose tissue wasting. Remarkably, in C26-tumor-bearing mice (+)-JQ1 administration dramatically prolongs survival, without directly affecting tumor growth. By ChIP-seq and ChIP analyses, we unveil that BET proteins directly promote the muscle atrophy program during cachexia. In addition, BET proteins are required to coordinate an IL6-dependent AMPK nuclear signaling pathway converging on FoxO3 transcription factor. Overall, these findings indicate that BET proteins may represent a promising therapeutic target in the management of cancer cachexia

Net primary production and seasonal CO2 and CH4 fluxes in a Trapa natans L. meadow

The main hypothesis of this work is that Trapa natans L. and similar floating leaved macrophytes are only temporary sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide and that they favour water hypoxia and large methane efflux from sediment to the atmosphere, due to their shading effect and scarce ability to transfer oxygen to submerged tissues. For this purpose, from April to August 2005, T. natans production, dissolved O2, CO2 and CH4 concentrations in the water column and CO2 and CH4 fluxes across the wateratmosphere interface were measured in an oxbow lake (Lanca di Po, Northern Italy) where a monospecific floating mat of water chestnut develops. Net primary production by T. natans was determined via biomass harvesting while gas fluxes were determined via short-term incubations of light and dark floating chambers. From July onwards, when the water surface of the oxbow lake was entirely colonized by the plant, the dense canopy resulted in a physical barrier for light and water reareation. As a consequence of sediment and plant respiration, persistent hypoxia and often anoxia, and CO2 and CH4 supersaturation occurred in the water column. Net primary production of T. natans, calculated at peak biomass, was 13.05 ± 0.32 mol CO2 m-2. The T. natans mat was a net sink for atmospheric CO2 from mid June to mid August, with an uptake peak measured at the beginning of July (229 mmol m-2 d-1); estimated net ecosystem metabolism was ≤10.09 ± 1.90 mol CO2 m-2. Contextually, during the vegetative period of T. natans, the oxbow lake was a net source of methane (9.52 ± 2.10 mol m-2), and the resulting CH4 to CO2 flux ratio across the water-atmosphere interface was ≥0.94. The large methane release was probably due to the persistent hypoxia and anoxia induced by the T. natans meadow, which uncoupled methane production from methane oxidation

Carbamazepine-induced thrombocytopenic purpura in a child: Insights from a genomic analysis

To the Editor, Carbamazepine is an effective anticonvulsant and has a relatively low incidence of adverse effects, although it occasionally causes hema- tologic disorders. We herein describe a patient with carbamazepine- induced thrombocytopenic purpura that was investigated by pharma- cological, immunological and genomic assays

Desenvolvimento in vitro de Cattleya loddigesii Lindley (Orchidaceae) utilizando fertilizantes comerciais

A propagação massal via semeadura in vitro constituí ferramenta indispensável para propagação das principais espécies de orquídeas em extinção, como por exemplo, Cattleya loddigesii Lindl., a qual devido a ampla utilização na obtenção de híbridos acabou ocupando lugar de destaque em lista de espécies ameaçadas. Devido a este fator, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo estudar aspectos do desenvolvimento in vitro da espécie mediante avaliação do efeito dos meios de cultura MS, e de dois meios à base dos fertilizantes Hyponex e Kristalon laranja. Após 180 dias de cultivo, inferiu-se que o meio de cultura mais eficiente para a germinação e desenvolvimento in vitro de sementes é o à base de fertilizante Kristalon laranja, que apresentou as maiores médias para altura da planta, peso da matéria fresca e seca e comprimento da maior raiz e folha, podendo dessa forma ser utilizado tanto comercialmente quanto em programas de semeadura para recomposição de áreas degradadas, por apresentar maior facilidade e baixo custo de produção

ISYDE-Ψ* First step of the implementation of guidelines for psychology activities in cardiac rehabilitation and prevention *Italian SurveY on CarDiac REhabilitation – Psychology

The Italian SurveY on CarDiac REhabilitation – Psychology (ISYDE-Ψ) was developed, in line with the indications of the Italian National Guidelines Program, as part of a project to implement and apply the guidelines for psychology interventions in cardiac rehabilitation and prevention published in 2003. The Task Force on Psychological Interventions in Cardiac Rehabilitation conducted this pilot survey of the existing situation of Psychology in order to prepare the ground for implementation of the guidelines through interactive training. As part of the evaluation of training requirements a questionnaire was elaborated to gather information on the models of organization of and activities carried out by psychologists working in the surveyed cardiac rehabilitation facilities. Data collection for ISYDE-Ψ terminated at the end of March 2005, with replies from 68/107 (63.6%) structures. In the light of this response, the Task Force has developed a training project for psychologists working in cardiac rehabilitation, sponsored by the Italian Council of Psychologists, that will be implemented in different regions of the country with the aim of disseminating the guidelines and promoting their correct application despite the existing regional disparities in organization

Desenvolvimento in vitro de Dendrobium nobile Lindl. (Orchidaceae) em recipientes de diferentes volumes

Commercial cultivation of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. is of great importance to the agribusiness floricultural world, but the slow development of the plant contributes to the high unit value of the plant in the market. The massal propagation through sowing seeds in vitro is an important method for propagation orchid commercial species. The type of the flasks and the amount of culture medium used are variables that have received little attention although they directly affect the superficial area of the medium-air culture interface, depth, volume of air over the culture medium, and the identification of the ideal vessels for each species can optimize the production. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro development of D. nobile seedlings in different size vessels, each containing the same volume of MS culture (30 mL). D nobile seeds were inoculated in flasks of 100 mL, 200 mL, and 400 mL and cultivated in BOD for 180 days. The results showed that the development of the D. nobile seedlings was promoted by the use of 100 mL-flasks, which could then be used for commercial propagation. Comercialmente, o cultivo de Dendrobium nobile Lindl. é de grande importância para o agronegócio florícola mundial, mas seu lento desenvolvimento contribui para o elevado valor unitário da planta no mercado. A propagação massal via semeadura in vitro constitui ferramenta indispensável para propagação das principais espécies de orquídeas comerciais. O tipo de frasco e a quantidade de meio de cultura utilizado são variáveis que têm merecido pouca atenção, embora afetem diretamente a área superficial da interface meio de cultura-atmosfera, a profundidade e o volume de ar sobre o meio de cultura, sendo que o emprego do recipiente ideal para cada espécie pode otimizar sua velocidade de produção. O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar o desenvolvimento in vitro de plântulas de D. nobile em recipientes de diferentes tamanhos, contendo o mesmo volume de meio de cultura MS (30 mL). Sementes de D. nobile foram inoculadas em frascos de 100 mL, 200 mL e 400 mL e cultivadas em BOD por 180 dias. Os resultados demonstraram que o desenvolvimento de plântulas de D. nobile foi promovido pelo uso de frascos de 100 mL, os quais podem ser utilizados para propagação comercial

Functional Protein Network Activation Mapping Reveals New Potential Molecular Drug Targets for Poor Prognosis Pediatric BCP-ALL

Background: In spite of leukemia therapy improvements obtained over the last decades, therapy is not yet effective in all cases. Current approaches in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) research focus on identifying new molecular targets to improve outcome for patients with a dismal prognosis. In this light phosphoproteomics seems to hold great promise for the identification of proteins suitable for targeted therapy. Methodology/Principal Findings: We employed Reverse Phase Protein Microarrays to identify aberrantly activated proteins in 118 pediatric B-cell precursor (BCP)-ALL patients. Signal transduction pathways were assayed for activation/expression status of 92 key signalling proteins. We observed an increased activation/expression of several pathways involved in cell proliferation in poor clinical prognosis patients. MLL-rearranged tumours revealed BCL-2 hyperphosphorylation through AMPK activation, which indicates that AMPK could provide a functional role in inhibiting apoptosis in MLL-rearranged patients, and could be considered as a new potential therapeutic target. Second, in patients with poor clinical response to prednisone we observed the up-modulation of LCK activity with respect to patients with good response. This tyrosine-kinase can be down-modulated with clinically used inhibitors, thus modulating LCK activity could be considered for further studies as a new additional therapy for prednisone-resistant patients. Further we also found an association between high levels of CYCLIN E and relapse incidence. Moreover, CYCLIN E is more expressed in early relapsed patients, who usually show an unfavourable prognosis. Conclusions/Significance: We conclude that functional protein pathway activation mapping revealed specific deranged signalling networks in BCP-ALL that could be potentially modulated to produce a better clinical outcome for patients resistant to standard-of-care therapies

The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM) in inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis

The Triggering Receptors Expressed on Myeloid cells (TREM) are a family of cell-surface molecules that control inflammation, bone homeostasis, neurological development and blood coagulation. TREM-1 and TREM-2, the best-characterized receptors so far, play divergent roles in several infectious diseases. In the intestine, TREM-1 is highly expressed by macrophages, contributing to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis. Contrary to current understanding, TREM-2 also promotes inflammation in IBD by fueling dendritic cell functions. This review will focus specifically on recent insights into the role of TREM proteins in IBD development, and discuss opportunities for novel treatment approaches