Neural Connectivity with Hidden Gaussian Graphical State-Model

The noninvasive procedures for neural connectivity are under questioning. Theoretical models sustain that the electromagnetic field registered at external sensors is elicited by currents at neural space. Nevertheless, what we observe at the sensor space is a superposition of projected fields, from the whole gray-matter. This is the reason for a major pitfall of noninvasive Electrophysiology methods: distorted reconstruction of neural activity and its connectivity or leakage. It has been proven that current methods produce incorrect connectomes. Somewhat related to the incorrect connectivity modelling, they disregard either Systems Theory and Bayesian Information Theory. We introduce a new formalism that attains for it, Hidden Gaussian Graphical State-Model (HIGGS). A neural Gaussian Graphical Model (GGM) hidden by the observation equation of Magneto-encephalographic (MEEG) signals. HIGGS is equivalent to a frequency domain Linear State Space Model (LSSM) but with sparse connectivity prior. The mathematical contribution here is the theory for high-dimensional and frequency-domain HIGGS solvers. We demonstrate that HIGGS can attenuate the leakage effect in the most critical case: the distortion EEG signal due to head volume conduction heterogeneities. Its application in EEG is illustrated with retrieved connectivity patterns from human Steady State Visual Evoked Potentials (SSVEP). We provide for the first time confirmatory evidence for noninvasive procedures of neural connectivity: concurrent EEG and Electrocorticography (ECoG) recordings on monkey. Open source packages are freely available online, to reproduce the results presented in this paper and to analyze external MEEG databases

FRIDA, a Framework for Software Design, Applied in the Treatment of Children with Autistic Disorder.

The “FRIDA” framework is a guide for the agile development of accessible software for users with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as a tool for strengthening emotional and social skills in the treatment of autism. It is based on the use of accessible software for the development of emotional and social skills, and designed with a focus on the user with intellectual disabilities. A mixed quasi-experimental study is carried out with three focus groups: children with ASD, expert therapists in ASD treatments and software designers adapting the Design Thinking model for the co-creation of the functional characteristics of the software and its use in therapies. The findings and results show that using FRIDA facilitates the agile design of accessible apps by reducing their development time by 94% and increasing their usability level by more than 90%. This facilitates the treatment of people with ASD, especially in the development of emotional self-recognition skills and social adaptation. The experience applied collaborative design thinking models and agile software design methodologies, articulating knowledge between software developers, therapists, and families of users with ASD. Users were characterized separately, and the functionalities required for the software that would be developed and linked in the treatment of autism were identified.post-print5958 K

Exposition of cork oak roots to cryptogein reduced the Infection by Phytophtora cinnamomi

The oomycete P. cinnamomi has been described as strong contributing factor to the decline of cork oak and holm oak stands occurring in the Iberian Peninsula. There are no eradication methods available against this pathogen

Cable robot for non-standard architecture and construction: A dynamic positioning system

In the past few years, cable-driven robots have received some attention by the scientific community and the industry. They have special characteristics that made them very reliable to operate with the level of safeness that is required by different environments, such as, handling of hazardous materials in construction sites. This paper presents a cable-driven robot called SPIDERobot, that was developed for automated construction of architectural projects. This robot has a rotating claw and it is controlled by a set of 4 cables that allow 4 degrees of freedom. In addition to the robot, this paper introduces a Dynamic Control System (DCS) that controls the positioning of the robot and assures that the length of cables is always within a safe value. Results show that traditional force-feasible approaches are more influenced by the pulling forces or the geometric arrangement of all cables and their positioning is significantly less accurate than the DCS. Therefore, the architecture of the SPIDERobot is designed to enable an easily scaling up of the solution to higher dimensions for operating in realistic environments.This work is partly funded by the project PTDC/ATPAQI/ 5124/2012 - Robotic Technologies for Non-Standard Design and Construction in Architecture. This work is also financed by the ERDF European Regional Development Fund through the COMPETE Programme (operational programme for competitiveness) and by National Funds through the FCT Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology within project ”FCOMP - 01-0124-FEDER-022701”info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A utilização de elicitinas no combate contra Phytophthora cinnamomi na doença da tinta do castanheiro e no declínio do montado

Phytophthora cinnamomi e P. cambivora são considerados os agentes patogénicos da doença da tinta do castanheiro. Estes agentes invadem e destroem o sistema radicular, levando à morte das árvores e a importantes perdas económicas. O declínio do montado tem sido associado a vários agentes patogénicos, pragas e factores abióticos. Phytophthora cinnamomi tem sido referido como um potencial agente patogénico do sobreiro e azinheira. O aparecimento de mais estirpes de microrganismos patogénicos resistentes a pesticidas impõe o desenvolvimento de novas estratégias de biocontrolo, entre as quais a estimulação de reações de defesa. As elicitinas são proteínas de baixo peso molecular, secretadas por algumas espécies de oomycetes (Phytophthora e Pythium) que induzem reações de hipersensibilidade e aquisição de resistência sistémica nas plantas, contra um grande número de bactérias e fungos patogénicos. Este trabalho é uma síntese dos resultados sobre o efeito da aplicação radicular de várias elicitinas, na infeção do sobreiro, azinheira e castanheiro por P. cinnamomi. A avaliação foi efetuada por observação microscópica dos tecidos invadidos, em especial dos tecidos vasculares. Observou‑se a indução de reações de defesa contra P. cinnamomi quando se submeteram as raízes destas três espécies a pré‑tratamento com as elicitinas criptogeína, capsiceína ou cinamomina. A infeção ficou restrita aos tecidos corticais da raiz, onde o agente patogénico se desorganizou e não progrediu para os vasos, estando associado à acumulação de materiais que se presume serem tóxicos, produzidos nas células dos hospedeiros, em contato com as hifas em desorganização. Os ensaios laboratoriais indicaram que as elicitinas testadas se revelaram muito eficientes no biocontrolo de P. cinnamomi. Será de grande importância desenvolver tecnologia no sentido de obtenção de elicitinas a baixo custo e de criar sistemas eficientes da sua dispersão nas plantas

Effect of high hydrostatic pressure extraction on biological activities and phenolics composition of winter savory leaf extracts

Satureja montana L. has several biological properties related to its diverse composition of secondary metabolites. Nevertheless, it has been mainly studied for its essential oil, with only a few studies on the profile and bioactivities of the bioactive compounds from its leaf extracts being reported. This work aimed to study the antioxidant activity (by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay), antimicrobial minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) determination, antibiofilm (by colorimetry), impact upon DNA (anti- and pro-oxidant assay), and cytotoxicity (by cell metabolism viability assays) of S. montana extracts obtained by high-pressure-assisted extraction (HPE). The extract obtained at 348 MPa, 35% (v/v) ethanol presented the highest concentration of individual phenolic compounds, and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 20 mg/mL against Listeria monocytogenes. HPE extracts showed antioxidant activity not only in ORAC but they were also able to prevent/attenuate peroxide-induced damage upon DNA. Moreover, on its own, HPE extract induced less oxidative damage than the control extract. Concerning the cytotoxicity, HPE extracts (at 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL) were not harmful to HT29 cell lines, while control extracts (obtained at atmospheric pressure) at higher concentrations (>1.0 mg/mL) slightly reduced the metabolism of the cells. Finally, all extracts showed inhibition of the viability of 3 cancerous cell lines (>2.0 mg/mL for Caco-2, HeLa, and TR146) to below 15%.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Working in a tourism company: experience at Dixo´s Oporto Apartments

The present report is part of the curricular internship of the Master’s degree in Intercultural Studies for Business, from the Porto Accounting and Business School (Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto). This internship took place at the tourism field related company, Dixo’s Oporto Apartments. Globalization has been increasing at unprecedented rates and with that, the limits and the borders between countries and nations have been reducing. As a result, there has been a marked increase in the need for intercultural communication as it becomes reality and people depend more on this type of communication. The tourism sector is no exception from the inevitable changes imposed by globalization, and it too depends on intercultural communication. Cities such as Porto with a great flux of tourism rely on the finest quality services delivered by leading professionals. High standards can only be achieved by those who are used to intercultural communication and are familiarized with concepts such as globalization and interculturality. The purpose of this report is to describe and understand, at the most precise level the activities carried out during the internship based on the concepts and knowledge learnt during the master’s degree.O presente relatório insere-se no âmbito do estágio curricular do Mestrado em Estudos Interculturais para Negócio, no Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto (ISCAP). O estágio decorreu na empresa Dixo’s Oporto Apartments que se insere na área do Turismo. A globalização tem vindo a crescer a níveis nunca previstos e, com isso, os limites e as fronteiras entre países e nações vêm diminuindo. Com isso, a comunicação intercultural tem crescido assim como o crescimento da comunicação entre diferentes culturas, uma constante e as pessoas dependem cada vez mais desse tipo de comunicação sendo uma realidade óbvia atualmente. O turismo vive desse tipo de comunicação e da globalização. Cidades como o Porto, com grande fluxo turístico, contam com serviços de qualidade prestados por profissionais formados por excelência. Padrões elevados só podem ser alcançados por aqueles que estão acostumados a comunicação intercultural e familiarizados com conceitos como globalização e interculturalidade. O objetivo deste relatório é descrever e compreender da forma mais precisa as atividades desenvolvidas durante o estágio com base nos conceitos e conhecimentos aprendidos durante o mestrado