GUARDIANS final report part 1 (draft): a robot swarm assisting a human fire fighter

Emergencies in industrial warehouses are a major concern for fire fighters. The large dimensions together with the development of dense smoke that drastically reduces visibility, represent major challenges. The Guardians robot swarm is designed to assist re ghters in searching a large warehouse. In this paper we discuss the technology developed for a swarm of robots assisting re ghters. We explain the swarming algorithms which provide the functionality by which the robots react to and follow humans while no communication is required. Next we discuss the wireless communication system, which is a so-called mobile ad-hoc network. The communication network provides also the means to locate the robots and humans. Thus the robot swarm is able to provide guidance information to the humans. Together with the fire fighters we explored how the robot swarm should feed information back to the human fire fighter. We have designed and experimented with interfaces for presenting swarm based information to human beings

Hemodialysis Affects Phenotype and Proliferation of CD4-Positive T Lymphocytes

CD4+ T lymphocytes of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are characterized by reduced levels of crucial surface antigens and changes in the cell cycle parameters. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) normalizes their altered phenotype and proliferative capacity. Mechanisms leading to the deficient responses of T lymphocytes are still not clear but it is postulated that immunological changes are deepened by hemodialysis (HD). Study of activation parameters of CD4+ T lymphocytes in hemodialyzed and predialysis CKD patients could bring insight into this problem. Two groups of patients, treated conservatively (predialysis, PD) and hemodialyzed (HD), as well as healthy controls, were included into the study; neither had received rhEPO. Proportions of main CD4+CD28+, CD4+CD25+, CD4+CD69+, CD4+CD95+, and CD4+HLA-DR+ lymphocyte subpopulations and proliferation kinetic parameters were measured with flow cytometry, both ex vivo and in vitro. No differences were seen in the proportions of main CD4+ lymphocyte subpopulations (CD4+CD28+, CD4+CD25+, CD4+HLA-DR+, CD4+CD69+, CD4+CD95+) between all examined groups ex vivo. CD4+ T lymphocytes of HD patients exhibited significantly decreased expression of co-stimulatory molecule CD28 and activation markers CD25 and CD69 after stimulation in vitro when compared with PD patients and healthy controls. HD patients showed also decreased percentage of CD4+CD28+ lymphocytes proliferating in vitro; these cells presented decreased numbers of finished divisions after 72 h of stimulation in vitro and had longer G0→G1 time when compared to healthy controls. CD4+ T lymphocytes of PD patients and healthy controls were characterized by similar cell cycle parameters. Our study shows that repeated hemodialysis procedure influences phenotype and proliferation parameters of CD4+ T lymphocytes

Targeting Infectious Agents as a Therapeutic Strategy in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent dementia in the world. Its cause(s) are presently largely unknown. The most common explanation for AD, now, is the amyloid cascade hypothesis, which states that the cause of AD is senile plaque forma- tion by the amyloid β peptide, and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles by hyperphosphorylated tau. A second, burgeoning theory by which to explain AD is based on the infection hypothesis. Much experimental and epidemiological data support the involvement of infections in the development of dementia. According to this mechanism, the infection either directly or via microbial virulence factors precedes the formation of amyloid β plaques. The amyloid β peptide, possessing antimicrobial properties, may be beneficial at an early stage of AD, but becomes detrimental with the progression of the disease, concomi- tantly with alterations to the innate immune system at both the peripheral and central levels. Infection results in neuroinflam- mation, leading to, and sustained by, systemic inflammation, causing eventual neurodegeneration, and the senescence of the immune cells. The sources of AD-involved microbes are various body microbiome communities from the gut, mouth, nose, and skin. The infection hypothesis of AD opens a vista to new therapeutic approaches, either by treating the infection itself or modulating the immune system, its senescence, or the body’s metabolism, either separately, in parallel, or in a multi-step way.Basque Government under the grant “Artificial Intelligence in BCAM number EXP. 2019/00432

Development and utilization of a somatic cell hybrid mapping panel to assign NotI linking probes to the long arm of human chromosome 6

A somatic cell hybrid mapping panel that defines seven regions of the long arm and one region of the short arm of human chromosome 6 has been developed. Utilizing this panel, 17 NotI boundary clones from a NotI linking library were regionally assigned to the long arm of chromosome 6. The majority of these clones (11) were found to localize within band regions 6q24-q27. The nonuniform distribution of NotI sites may indicate a cluster of HTF islands and likely represents a coincidence of coding sequences in this region of chromosome 6. Cross-hybridization of these linking clones to DNA from other species (zoo blots) provides further evidence for transcribed sequences in 7 of the NotI clones. These NotI clones were also used to identify corresponding NotI fragments using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, facilitating further physical mapping of this region. Finally, regional assignment of five polymorphic probes to the long arm of chromosome 6 is also presented. These hybrids and probes should facilitate the construction of a physical and genetic linkage map to assist in the identification of disease loci along chromosome 6.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/30194/1/0000582.pd

Observation of exotic meson production in the reaction π−p→η′π−p \pi^{-} p \to \eta^{\prime} \pi^- p at 18 GeV/c

An amplitude analysis of an exclusive sample of 5765 events from the reaction $\pi^{-} p \to \eta^{\prime} \pi^- p$ at 18 GeV/c is described. The $\eta^{\prime} \pi^-$ production is dominated by natural parity exchange and by three partial waves: those with $J^{PC} = 1^{-+}, 2^{++},$ and $4^{++}$. A mass-dependent analysis of the partial-wave amplitudes indicates the production of the $a_2(1320)$ meson as well as the $a_4(2040)$ meson, observed for the first time decaying to $\eta^{\prime}\pi^-$. The dominant, exotic (non-$q\bar{q})$ $1^{-+}$ partial wave is shown to be resonant with a mass of $1.597 \pm 0.010^{+0.045}_{-0.010}$ GeV/c^2 and a width of $0.340 \pm 0.040 \pm 0.050$ GeV/c^2 . This exotic state, the $\pi_1(1600)$, is produced with a $t$ dependence which is different from that of the $a_2(1320)$ meson, indicating differences between the production mechanisms for the two states.Comment: 5 pages with 4 figure

Evidence for Exotic J^{PC}=1^{-+} Meson Production in the Reaction pi- p --> eta pi- p at 18 GeV/c

Details of the analysis of the eta pi- system studied in the reaction pi^{-} p --> eta pi^{-} p at 18 GeV/c are given. Separate analyses for the 2 gamma and pi+ pi- pi0 decay modes of the eta are presented. An amplitude analysis of the data indicates the presence of interference between the a(2)(1320)- and a J^{PC}=1^{-+} wave between 1.2 and 1.6 GeV/c^2. The phase difference between these waves shows phase motion not attributable solely to the a(2)(1320)-. The data can be fitted by interference between the a(2)(1320)- and an exotic 1^{-+} resonance with M = 1370 +-16 +50 -30} MeV/c^2 and Gamma = 385 +- 40 +65 -105 MeV/c^2. Our results are compared with those of other experiments.Comment: 50 pages of text and 34 figure

Hyperactivation of monocytes and macrophages in MCI patients contributes to the progression of Alzheimer's disease

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease ultimately manifesting as clinical dementia. Despite considerable effort and ample experimental data, the role of neuroinflammation related to systemic inflammation is still unsettled. While the implication of microglia is well recognized, the exact contribution of peripheral monocytes/macrophages is still largely unknown, especially concerning their role in the various stages of AD. Objectives: AD develops over decades and its clinical manifestation is preceded by subjective memory complaints (SMC) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI); thus, the question arises how the peripheral innate immune response changes with the progression of the disease. Therefore, to further investigate the roles of monocytes/macrophages in the progression of AD we assessed their phenotypes and functions in patients at SMC, MCI and AD stages and compared them with cognitively healthy controls. We also conceptualised an idealised mathematical model to explain the functionality of monocytes/macrophages along the progression of the disease. Results: We show that there are distinct phenotypic and functional changes in monocyte and macrophage populations as the disease progresses. Higher free radical production upon stimulation could already be observed for the monocytes of SMC patients. The most striking results show that activation of peripheral monocytes (hyperactivation) is the strongest in the MCI group, at the prodromal stage of the disease. Monocytes exhibit significantly increased chemotaxis, free radical production, and cytokine production in response to TLR2 and TLR4 stimulation. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the peripheral innate immune system is activated during the progression from SMC through MCI to AD, with the highest levels of activation being in MCI subjects and the lowest in AD patients. Some of these parameters may be used as biomarkers, but more holistic immune studies are needed to find the best period of the disease for clinical intervention

Partial-wave analysis of the eta pi+ pi- system produced in the reaction pi-p --> eta pi+ pi- n at 18 GeV/c

A partial-wave analysis of 9082 eta pi+ pi- n events produced in the reaction pi- p --> eta pi+ pi- n at 18.3 GeV/c has been carried out using data from experiment 852 at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The data are dominated by J^{PC} = 0^{-+} partial waves consistent with observation of the eta(1295) and the eta(1440). The mass and width of the eta(1295) were determined to be 1282 +- 5 MeV and 66 +- 13 Mev respectively while the eta(1440) was observed with a mass of 1404 +- 6 MeV and width of 80 +- 21 MeV. Other partial waves of importance include the 1++ and the 1+- waves. Results of the partial wave analysis are combined with results of other experiments to estimate f1(1285) branching fractions. These values are considerably different from current values determined without the aid of amplitude analyses.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figure

A partial wave analysis of the π0π0\pi ^0\pi ^0 system produced in π−p\pi ^-p charge exchange collisions

A partial wave analysis of the of the $\pi ^0\pi ^0$ system produced in the charge exchange reaction: $\pi ^-p\to \pi ^0\pi ^0n$ at an incident momentum of $18.3 GeV/c$ is presented as a function of ${\pi ^0\pi ^0}$ invariant mass, $m_{\pi^0\pi^0}$, and momentum transfer squared, $| {t} |$, from the incident $\pi^-$ to the outgoing ${\pi ^0\pi ^0}$ system.Comment: 24 pages total,8 pages text, 14 figures, 1 table. Submitted to Phys Rev

Comportamento e bem-estar de peixe beta (Betta splendens) em aquário.

O trabalho será realizado no Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Espírito Santo/Campus Alegre, no laboratório de Nutrição e Produção de Espécies Ornamentais, localizado no município de Alegre, região Sul do estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil. Serão utilizados 70 exemplares machos de peixe Beta (Betta splendens) com idade entre 90 e 120 dias. Dos quais 15 exemplares de peixe Beta, machos adultos, com aproximadamente 90 dias serão manejados em aquário tipo cruzeta com quatro pontas de mesmo comprimento e distância do centro. Quatro testes serão realizados para analisar a preferência dos peixes quanto a tipo de (T1) substrato, de (T2) vegetações, de (T3) abrigos e de (T4) cores. Em cada teste será oferecido quatro tipos de preferências (P1, P2, P3 e P4) distribuídos aleatoriamente por sorteio. Serão analisados os comportamentos de frequência em cada preferência, duração em cada preferência e tempo de latência. No segundo trabalho serão utilizados 35 exemplares machos de peixe Beta com aproximadamente 90 dias distribuídos aleatoriamente em cinco tipos de alojamento (tratamentos); (T1) copos de 0,3 litros, (T2) beteiras 3 litros sem enriquecimento, (T3) beteiras 3 litros enriquecidas, (T4) aquários 38 litros sem enriquecimento e (T5) aquários 38 litros enriquecidos. Os comportamentos dos animais serão gravados durante todo o período experimental. Será realizado um total de dezesseis horas de observações para cada tratamento. Durante o mesmo período também será realizado observação focal durante cinco minutos intermitentes alternando entre os tratamentos no total de 150 minutos por período. Os comportamentos registrados serão organizados formando um etograma e comparados entre os diferentes tratamentos. No último trabalho serão utilizados os 35 exemplares machos de peixe Beta, advindos do experimento de enriquecimento, com aproximadamente 120 dias em aquário tipo labirinto. Localizado dentro do labirinto haverá quatro pontos; dois objetos estressores, espelho (E1) e predador (E2), e dois objetos recompensa ambiente enriquecido (R1) e alimento (R2). Comportamentos como lateralidade, latência, preferência, frequência e duração serão analisados durante 15 minutos na parta da manhã e 15 minutos na parte da tarde durante dois dias consecutivos. Então os animais terão cinco dias de descanso e retornarão ao labirinto para mais 15 minutos de observações comportamentais na parta da manhã e 15 minutos na parte da tarde durante dois dias consecutivos