RESUMO

Identifying evidence of human modification of extinct animal remains, such as Pleistocene megafauna, is challenging due to the similarity of anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic taphonomic features observed under optical microscopy. Here, we re-investigate a Late Pleistocene ground sloth tooth from northeast Brazil, previously suggested as human-modified based only on optical observation. To characterize the macro- and micro-morphological characteristics of the marks preserved in this tooth and evaluate potential human modification, we used stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) supplemented by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), UV photoluminescence (UV/PL), synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF), and synchrotron micro-computed tomography (SR-µCT). These methods allowed us to discriminate non-anthropogenic taphonomic features (root and sedimentary damage), anthropogenic marks, and histological features. The latter shows the infiltration of exogenous elements into the dentine from the sediments. Our evidence demonstrates the sequence of anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic taphonomic modification of this tooth and supports its initial intentional modification by humans. We highlight the benefits of emerging imaging and spectral imaging techniques to investigate and diagnose human modification in fossil and archaeological records and propose that human modification of tooth tissues should be further considered when studying possibly anthropogenically altered fossil remains.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The accelerated development of technologies within the Internet of Things landscape has led to an exponential boost in the volume of heterogeneous data generated by interconnected sensors, particularly in scenarios with multiple data sources as in smart cities. Transferring, processing, and storing a vast amount of sensed data poses significant challenges for Internet of Things systems. In this sense, data reduction techniques based on artificial intelligence have emerged as promising solutions to address these challenges, alleviating the burden on the required storage, bandwidth, and computational resources. This article proposes a framework that exploits the concept of data reduction to decrease the amount of heterogeneous data in certain applications. A machine learning model that predicts a distortion rate and its corresponding reduction rate of the imputed data is also proposed, which uses the predicted values to select, among many reduction techniques, the most suitable approach. To support such a decision, the model also considers the context of the data producer that dictates the class of reduction algorithm that is allowed to be applied to the input stream. The achieved results indicate that the Huffman algorithm performed better considering the reduction of time-series data, with significant potential applications for smart city scenarios.

RESUMO

In recent years, the rate of urbanization has increased enormously, precipitating an escalating demand for improved services and applications in urban areas to improve the quality of life. In the Internet of Things (IoT)era, cities are transforming into smart urban centers. These cities incorporate connected devices, such as intelligent public lighting systems, to enhance their urban infrastructure. Therefore, this work explores the transformative potential of an IoT-enabled smart lighting system in urban environments, emphasizing its essential role in enhancing safety, economy, and sustainability. In this sense, LoRaCELL (Long-Range Cell) is introduced. LoRaCELL is an innovative system that utilizes edge devices for data collection, such as light intensity, humidity, temperature, air quality, solar ultraviolet radiation, ammeter, and voltmeter. It stands as a pioneering solution for intelligent public lighting systems, contributing to advancing IoT-driven urban development. The outcomes showed that the proposed system could successfully synchronize the devices with each other and send IoT sensing data at a low cost compared to traditional technologies such as LoRaWAN.

RESUMO

The peopling of the Americas and human interaction with the Pleistocene megafauna in South America remain hotly debated. The Santa Elina rock shelter in Central Brazil shows evidence of successive human settlements from around the last glacial maximum (LGM) to the Early Holocene. Two Pleistocene archaeological layers include rich lithic industry associated with remains of the extinct giant ground sloth Glossotherium phoenesis. The remains include thousands of osteoderms (i.e. dermal bones), three of which were human-modified. In this study, we perform a traceological analysis of these artefacts by optical microscopy, non-destructive scanning electron microscopy, UV/visible photoluminescence and synchrotron-based microtomography. We also describe the spatial association between the giant sloth bone remains and stone tools and provide a Bayesian age model that confirms the timing of this association in two time horizons of the Pleistocene in Santa Elina. The conclusion from our traceological study is that the three giant sloth osteoderms were intentionally modified into artefacts before fossilization of the bones. This provides additional evidence for the contemporaneity of humans and megafauna, and for the human manufacturing of personal artefacts on bone remains of ground sloths, around the LGM in Central Brazil.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The number of isotopic studies on Quaternary megafauna has increased over the last decades, yet, there is no published data addressing the status of scientific production of this research field. The present study shows the results of a bibliometric research carried out in the Scopus database where the publishing trends within this scientific field was analyzed using the open source software tool SciMAT. We retrieved 278 papers published from 1980 to 2019 and observed that a significant increase in publishing has mainly occurred in the last decade analyzed here. We also identified some of the field´s most influential articles and journals; recognized that carbon, oxygen and nitrogen isotopes are the most used markers in these studies; and that the most cited taxa are representatives of Equidae, Bovidae and Proboscidae. Also, Paleoecology is the basic thematic area, whereas Climate and Paleoenvironmental Changes is the one with the greatest development potential. Our results clearly show that the isotopic study on Quaternary megafauna is still under development and that some subjects could be further explored, such as analyzing more taxa within Carnivora, Pilosa, Notoungulata, Cetartiodactyla and Perissodactyla as well as using other less frequent stable isotope markers, such as strontium, calcium and hydrogen.

Assuntos

RESUMO

It is well known that power plants worldwide present access to difficult and hazardous environments, which may cause harm to on-site employees. The remote and autonomous operations in such places are currently increasing with the aid of technology improvements in communications and processing hardware. Virtual and augmented reality provide applications for crew training and remote monitoring, which also rely on 3D environment reconstruction techniques with near real-time requirements for environment inspection. Nowadays, most techniques rely on offline data processing, heavy computation algorithms, or mobile robots, which can be dangerous in confined environments. Other solutions rely on robots, edge computing, and post-processing algorithms, constraining scalability, and near real-time requirements. This work uses an edge-fog computing architecture for data and processing offload applied to a 3D reconstruction problem, where the robots are at the edge and computer nodes at the fog. The sequential processes are parallelized and layered, leading to a highly scalable approach. The architecture is analyzed against a traditional edge computing approach. Both are implemented in our scanning robots mounted in a real power plant. The 5G network application is presented along with a brief discussion on how this technology can benefit and allow the overall distributed processing. Unlike other works, we present real data for more than one proposed robot working in parallel on site, exploring hardware processing capabilities and the local Wi-Fi network characteristics. We also conclude with the required scenario for the remote monitoring to take place with a private 5G network.

Assuntos

RESUMO

In the present computational scenario, one can perceive the emergence of cryptocurrencies and the increased utilization of IoT devices, which are pushing to new challenges, opportunities, and behavior changes. It is still not known how these technologies will impact the current business and economic models. In this regard, this study proposes an economy of things architecture and an approach comparing several cryptocurrencies. Therefore, the proposed architecture aims to use these new opportunities to enable device-to-device (D2D) interaction based on this novel paradigm, called the Economy of Things (EoT). An experimental environment was conducted to compare characteristics of the cryptocurrencies Ripple, Iota, and Ethereum. The initial results show several interesting differences related to transaction costs, errors, speeds, and threads.

RESUMO

The Industry 4.0 paradigm, since its initial conception in Germany in 2011, has extended its scope and adoption to a broader set of technologies. It is being considered as the most vital mechanism in the production systems lifecycle. It is the key element in the digital transformation of manufacturing industry all over the world. This scenario imposes a set of major unprecedented challenges which require to be overcome. In order to enable integration in horizontal, vertical, and end-to-end formats, one of the most critical aspects of this digital transformation process consists of effectively coupling digital integrated service/products business models with additive manufacturing processes. This integration is based upon advanced AI-based tools for decentralized decision-making and for secure and trusted data sharing in the global value. This paper presents the FASTEN IIoT Platform, which targets to provide a flexible, configurable, and open solution. The platform acts as an interface between the shop floor and the industry 4.0 advanced applications and solutions. Examples of these efforts comprise management, forecasting, optimization, and simulation, by harmonizing the heterogeneous characteristics of the data sources involved while meeting real-time requirements.

RESUMO

The increase in the development of digital twins brings several advantages to inspection and maintenance, but also new challenges. Digital models capable of representing real equipment for full remote inspection demand the synchronization, integration, and fusion of several sensors and methodologies such as stereo vision, monocular Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), laser and RGB-D camera readings, texture analysis, filters, thermal, and multi-spectral images. This multidimensional information makes it possible to have a full understanding of given equipment, enabling remote diagnosis. To solve this problem, the present work uses an edge-fog-cloud architecture running over a publisher-subscriber communication framework to optimize the computational costs and throughput. In this approach, each process is embedded in an edge node responsible for prepossessing a given amount of data that optimizes the trade-off of processing capabilities and throughput delays. All information is integrated with different levels of fog nodes and a cloud server to maximize performance. To demonstrate this proposal, a real-time 3D reconstruction problem using moving cameras is shown. In this scenario, a stereo and RDB-D cameras run over edge nodes, filtering, and prepossessing the initial data. Furthermore, the point cloud and image registration, odometry, and filtering run over fog clusters. A cloud server is responsible for texturing and processing the final results. This approach enables us to optimize the time lag between data acquisition and operator visualization, and it is easily scalable if new sensors and algorithms must be added. The experimental results will demonstrate precision by comparing the results with ground-truth data, scalability by adding further readings and performance.

RESUMO

Pineoblastomas are uncommon pineal tumors, which demonstrate rapid growing and poor prognosis. We report the case of a 43-year-old man with an enhancing pineal region mass, which showed restriction of the diffusion on diffusion-weighted (DW) MR images. The surgical biopsy defined the diagnosis of pineoblastoma and the therapy was initiated with radiation and chemotherapy. Three months later, the follow-up MR imaging showed areas suggestive of necrosis and the DW images demonstrate no significant areas of restricted diffusion. The differential diagnosis of pineal region masses that could show restriction of diffusion is discussed.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Pineoblastomas are uncommon pineal tumors, which demonstrate rapid growing and poor prognosis. We report the case of a 43-year-old man with an enhancing pineal region mass, which showed restriction of the diffusion on diffusion-weighted (DW) MR images. The surgical biopsy defined the diagnosis of pineoblastoma and the therapy was initiated with radiation and chemotherapy. Three months later, the follow-up MR imaging showed areas suggestive of necrosis and the DW images demonstrate no significant areas of restricted diffusion. The differential diagnosis of pineal region masses that could show restriction of diffusion is discussed.

Pineoblastomas são tumores incomuns da glândula pineal, os quais têm crescimento rápido e prognóstico reservado. Os autores objetivam relatar o caso de um homem de 43 anos de idade com uma massa na região pineal com realce pelo contraste, a qual demonstrou restrição da difusão nas imagens de ressonância magnética (RM) pesadas em difusão. A biópsia cirúrgica definiu o diagnóstico de pineoblastoma e o tratamento foi iniciado com radio e quimioterapia. Três meses mais tarde, a RM de controle demonstrou áreas sugestivas de necrose e não mais eram observadas áreas de restrição da difusão da água. O diagnóstico diferencial das massas na região pineal que podem apresentar restrição da difusão é discutido.

Assuntos

RESUMO

PURPOSE: Stage IIIB cervical cancer patients with bilateral parametrial involvement have a poor prognosis with low survival rates. In an effort to improve outcome of these patients, we initiated a prospective, Phase I-II trial of concomitant chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil and hypofractionated twice-daily radiotherapy. This program was initiated on the basis of the encouraging results obtained in the treatment of bladder cancer using a similar regimen. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of treatment (toxicity, survival, and patterns of failure) using this novel approach. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 34 patients with Stage IIIB squamous cell cervical cancer and bilateral parametrial involvement entered the study. After inclusion of the first 14 patients, the study was put on hold for 6 months, and the patients were carefully observed. Once the toxicity level was found acceptable, the remaining 20 patients entered the study. External beam radiotherapy was delivered twice daily on Days 1 and 3, 15 and 17, 45 and 47, and 59 and 61. The whole pelvis was treated each treatment day at a dose of 2.5 Gy b.i.d. Low-dose-rate brachytherapy (35 Gy to Point A) was delivered on Day 29. Chemotherapy was administered on Days 1-3, 15-17, 45-47, and 59-61 and consisted of cisplatin 15 mg/m(2) and 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m(2). RESULTS: The treatments were well tolerated. None of the patients developed Grade 3-4 acute toxicity. Late Grade 3-4 GI or GU toxicity was seen in 4 (11.7%) and 1 (3%) patient, respectively. At a median follow-up of 60 months, 18 patients were alive. The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rate was 76% and 59%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This protocol, comprising concomitant chemotherapy and twice-daily hypofractionated split-course radiotherapy was associated with moderate toxicity and a survival that exceeds that previously reported for this high-risk population.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Os autores apresentam um caso de sinoviossarcoma na coxa direita de paciente jovem, do sexo feminino, precedido por episódio de trombose venosa femoral, onde, apesar de conduta adequada e em tempo hábil, a evoluçäo näo foi boa, surgindo metástase pélvica, seis meses após o diagnóstico. Descrevem a conduta diagnóstica e a terapêutica adotada, discutindo-a bem como tecem consideraçöes sobre os sarcomas de partes moles em geral, com base na literatura

Assuntos

RESUMO

Blood pressure changes were evoked in the anaesthetized rabbit and rat by stimulating electrically within the caudal raphe nuclei. The responses evoked in the two species were very different, mainly pressor in the rat (85% pressor, 5% depressor) compared with approximately similar proportions of depressor and pressor in the rabbit (29% and 27%, respectively). The responses evoked from a particular site could not be reversed by changing the stimulus strength. It is proposed that the haemodynamic responses evoked in the rabbit and the rat, in response to stimulation within raphe, are related to differences in the central organization of these nuclei and/or their connexions. These results are then discussed in relation to the observation that the tonic phase of desynchronized sleep is accompanied by hypotension in the rabbit and hypertension in the rat. Finally, it is suggested that the haemodynamic differences observed during desynchronized sleep in these two species are caused by differences in central nervous regulation which involve the caudal raphe nuclei, magnus, pallidus and obscurus (AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

Blood pressure changes were evoked in the anaesthetized rabbit and rat by stimulating electrically within the caudal raphe nuclei. The responses evoked in the two species were very different, mainly pressor in the rat (85% pressor, 5% depressor) compared with approximately similar proportions of depressor and pressor in the rabbit (29% and 27%, respectively). The responses evoked from a particular site could not be reversed by changing the stimulus strength. It is proposed that the haemodynamic responses evoked in the rabbit and the rat, in response to stimulation within raphe, are related to differences in the central organization of these nuclei and/or their connexions. These results are then discussed in relation to the observation that the tonic phase of desynchronized sleep is accompanied by hypotension in the rabbit and hypertension in the rat. Finally, it is suggested that the haemodynamic differences observed during desynchronized sleep in these two species are caused by differences in central nervous regulation which involve the caudal raphe nuclei, magnus, pallidus and obscurus

Assuntos

RESUMO

Male Wistar rats were decerebrated at precollicular level, by aspiration under ether anaesthesia. The experiments employed rats instrumented for chronic electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings or mean blood pressure (MBP) and heart rate (Hr) determination. Immediately after surgery, decerebrate (D) and sham operated (SO) animals presented a small and ismilar increase in their HR. Three and a half hours after surgery, SO group presented a normal HR, whilst D animals continued to show an increas ein their HR up to 4.5 h, when it stabilized. Twenty four hours after surgery both groups presented similar MBP (D:110ñ6; SO:108ñ11; SO:335ñ5 beats/min). The blockade of parasympathetic tonus induced significant increases in the HR of both groups, withou major changes in their MBP. Beta-adrenergic blockade reduced HR of both groups, bringin HR of D almost to control level. Simultaneously there was a reduction in MBP of D but not of SO animals. When parasympathetic blockade was superimposed to beta-adrenergic blockade, there was a significant increase in HR of SO, but not of D or in MBP of both groups. Thus we conclude that the decerebrate rat presents normal MBP with simultaneous tachycardia mainly caused by increased sympathetic outflow to the heart (AU)

Assuntos

Assuntos

RESUMO

Male Wistar rats were decerebrated at precollicular level, by aspiration under ether anaesthesia. The experiments employed rats instrumented for chronic electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings or mean blood pressure (MBP) and heart rate (Hr) determination. Immediately after surgery, decerebrate (D) and sham operated (SO) animals presented a small and ismilar increase in their HR. Three and a half hours after surgery, SO group presented a normal HR, whilst D animals continued to show an increas ein their HR up to 4.5 h, when it stabilized. Twenty four hours after surgery both groups presented similar MBP (D:110ñ6; SO:108ñ11; SO:335ñ5 beats/min). The blockade of parasympathetic tonus induced significant increases in the HR of both groups, withou major changes in their MBP. Beta-adrenergic blockade reduced HR of both groups, bringin HR of D almost to control level. Simultaneously there was a reduction in MBP of D but not of SO animals. When parasympathetic blockade was superimposed to beta-adrenergic blockade, there was a significant increase in HR of SO, but not of D or in MBP of both groups. Thus we conclude that the decerebrate rat presents normal MBP with simultaneous tachycardia mainly caused by increased sympathetic outflow to the heart

Assuntos

RESUMO

Summary This paper deals with the correlations of aggregation indices (K from negative binomial) of Acari and Collembola populations under Setaria sp.. in rotational and extensive pastures versus other factors, such as: air temperature, relative humidity, moisture and precipitation. The Arthropods were extracted from soil by modified Beriese Tullgren funnels and the samples were collected from January to December, 1977. It was verified that aggregation indices show smaller aggregation in Acari than in Collembola. Correlation indices and studied physical factors do not explain completelly animal behaviour. It was observed that studied factors have major influence upon Acari populations than Collembola. and the variable of more influence is precipitation.

Resumo Este trabalho trata da correlação entre os fatores temperatura do ar, umidade relativa, umidade do solo e precipitação e os índices de agregação (K da binomial negativa) de população de Acari e Collembola sob Setaria sp. em pastagem rotacional e extensiva. Os artrópodes foram extraídos do solo usando-se funis de Berlese Tullgren modificado e as coletas foram feitas de janeiro a dezembro de 1977. Verificou-se que cs índices de agregação indicam uma menor agregação em Acari que em Collembola e que as correlações com os fatores físicos estudados não explicam totalmente o comportamento dos animais. Observou-se uma maior influência dos fatores estudados sobre as populações de Acari. A variável que mais influência exerce é a precipitação.

RESUMO

Summary This paper deals with the correlations of aggregation indices (K from negative binomial) of Acari and Collembola populations under Setaria sp.. in rotational and extensive pastures versus other factors, such as: air temperature, relative humidity, moisture and precipitation. The Arthropods were extracted from soil by modified Beriese Tullgren funnels and the samples were collected from January to December, 1977. It was verified that aggregation indices show smaller aggregation in Acari than in Collembola. Correlation indices and studied physical factors do not explain completelly animal behaviour. It was observed that studied factors have major influence upon Acari populations than Collembola. and the variable of more influence is precipitation.

Resumo Este trabalho trata da correlação entre os fatores temperatura do ar, umidade relativa, umidade do solo e precipitação e os índices de agregação (K da binomial negativa) de população de Acari e Collembola sob Setaria sp. em pastagem rotacional e extensiva. Os artrópodes foram extraídos do solo usando-se funis de Berlese Tullgren modificado e as coletas foram feitas de janeiro a dezembro de 1977. Verificou-se que cs índices de agregação indicam uma menor agregação em Acari que em Collembola e que as correlações com os fatores físicos estudados não explicam totalmente o comportamento dos animais. Observou-se uma maior influência dos fatores estudados sobre as populações de Acari. A variável que mais influência exerce é a precipitação.