1° level of automation: the effectiveness of adaptive cruise control on driving and visual behaviour

The research activities have allowed the analysis of the driver assistance systems, called Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in relation to road safety. The study is structured according to several evaluation steps, related to definite on-site tests that have been carried out with different samples of users, according to their driving experience with the ACC. The evaluation steps concern: •The testing mode and the choice of suitable instrumentation to detect the driver’s behaviour in relation to the ACC. •The analysis modes and outputs to be obtained, i.e.: - Distribution of attention and inattention; - Mental workload; - The Perception-Reaction Time (PRT), the Time To Collision (TTC) and the Time Headway (TH). The main purpose is to assess the interaction between vehicle drivers and ADAS, highlighting the inattention and variation of the workloads they induce regarding the driving task. The research project considered the use of a system for monitoring visual behavior (ASL Mobile Eye-XG - ME), a powerful GPS that allowed to record the kinematic data of the vehicle (Racelogic Video V-BOX) and a tool for reading brain activity (Electroencephalographic System - EEG). Just during the analytical phase, a second and important research objective was born: the creation of a graphical interface that would allow exceeding the frame count limit, making faster and more effective the labeling of the driver’s points of view. The results show a complete and exhaustive picture of the vehicle-driver interaction. It has been possible to highlight the main sources of criticalities related to the user and the vehicle, in order to concretely reduce the accident rate. In addition, the use of mathematical-computational methodologies for the analysis of experimental data has allowed the optimization and verification of analytical processes with neural networks that have made an effective comparison between the manual and automatic methodology.

Analisi e studio di interventi di manutenzione straordinaria di Infrastrutture Viarie: il caso studio del cantiere Anas nella Galleria Valbiano

L’elaborato di tesi tratta la manutenzione programmata delle gallerie analizzando il caso studio del cantiere Anas nella Galleria Valbiano, posta sulla SS 3 bis "Tiberina". Si è introdotto il tema analizzando la storia di Anas e le varie tipologie di gallerie e pacchetti stradali presenti. Si sono poi descritte le tipologie di manutenzione effettuate sulla rete stradale e le indagini specifiche per valutare lo stato di fatto sia delle pavimentazioni stradali che delle gallerie. Si è introdotto il cantiere oggetto di studio, la Galleria Valbiano, andando ad analizzare le peculiarità dell’opera e il contesto in cui è inserita. Si è dedotto lo stato di fatto della galleria andando ad analizzare i dati ottenuti dalle prove svolte e si sono descritti i difetti riscontrati. Nella fase operativa si è descritta la gestione dei flussi veicolari durante il cantiere, la sua organizzazione, e tutti gli interventi eseguiti nella canna Sud della galleria in oggetto. Gli interventi eseguiti hanno compreso riparazione di fessure, ripristini corticali del rivestimento, ripristini dei giunti degradati, la realizzazione di dispositivi di raccolta delle acque di piattaforma e di drenaggio, il rivestimento illuminotecnico dei piedritti, il ripristino dello strato di usura della pavimentazione e la realizzazione dell’impianto di illuminazione.

Radar FMCW per la rilevazione di ostacoli in movimento

Lo scopo di questa attività di tesi è quello di rilevare dinamicamente la posizione di ostacoli mediante radar FMCW. I radar a onda continua modulati in frequenza sono alla base dei moderni sensori in ambito automotive, in quanto consentono allo stesso tempo di rilevare la distanza, l’angolazione e la velocità di un corpo detto target analizzando gli scostamenti temporali e in frequenza tra i segnali (detti chirp) trasmessi e quelli riflessi dai corpi. Nel lavoro di tesi si analizza sperimentalmente come il radar a onda continua MIMO (multiple input multiple output) RBK2, presente presso il laboratorio TLC del Campus di Cesena, può essere utilizzato per ricavare la velocità relativa di un target, che si avvicina o si allontana dal radar. Innanzitutto, vengono settati i parametri per l’acquisizione e per il processing necessario per ottenere una matrice Angolo-Range che caratterizza staticamente il target. Il mixer interno al radar, a seguito della ricezione di un segnale di eco, produce un segnale a frequenza intermedia il cui spettro presenta un picco in corrispondenza della distanza del target che lo ha riflesso. A questo punto si conosce la posizione del corpo e si procede con la stima della velocità sfruttando l’effetto Doppler: analizzando i chirp riflessi dallo stesso target in istanti successivi si ottengono una serie di picchi nella stessa posizione ma con fasi differenti, e da tale sfasamento si ricava la componente radiale della velocità del target. Sono stati studiati sia il caso di misure outdoor che quello di misure indoor, infine è stato elaborato un codice Matlab in grado di fornire un feedback riguardante una possibile collisione in seguito alla stima della velocità del corpo. Tale tecnologia gioca quindi un ruolo fondamentale nell’ambito della sicurezza stradale potendo prevenire incidenti.

Simultaneous determination of multibenzodiazepines by HPLC/UV: Investigation of liquid-liquid and solid-phase extractions in human plasma

A method for simultaneous determination of seven benzodiazepines (BZPs) (flunitrazepam, clonazepam, oxazepam, lorazepam, chlordiazepoxide, nordiazepam and diazepam using N-desalkylflurazepam as internal standard) in human plasma using liquid-liquid and solid-phase extractions followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is described. The analytes were separated employing a LC-18 DB column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 mu m) at 35 degrees C under isocratic conditions using 5 mM KH(2)PO(4) buffer solution pH 6.0: methanol: diethyl ether (55:40:5, v/v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL min(-1). UV detection was carried out at 245 nm. Employing LLE, the best conditions were achieved with double extraction of 0.5 mL, plasma using ethyl acetate and Na(2)HPO(4) pH 9.5 for pH adjusting. Employing SPE, the best conditions were achieved with 0.5 mL plasma plus 3 mL 0.1 M borate buffer pH 9.5, which were then passed through a C18 cartridge previously conditioned, washed for 3 times with these solvents: 3 mL 0.1 M borate buffer pH 9.5,4 mL Milli-Q water and 1 mL acetonitrile 5%, finally the BZPs elution was carried with diethyl ether: n-hexane: methanol (50:30:20). In both methods the solvent was evaporated at 40 degrees C under nitrogen flow. The validation parameters obtained in LLE were linearity range of 50-1200 ng mL(-1) plasma (r >= 0.9927), limits of quantification of 50 ng mL(-1) plasma, within-day and between-day CV% and E% for precision and accuracy lower than 15%, and recovery above 65% for all BZPs. In SPE, the parameter obtained were linearity range of 30-1200 ng mL(-1) plasma (r >= 0.9900), limits of quantification of 30 ng mL(-1) plasma, within-day and between-day CV% and E% for precision and accuracy lower than 15% and recovery above 55% for all BZPs. These extracting procedures followed by HPLC analysis showed their suitable applicability in order to examine one or more BZPs in human plasma. Moreover, it could be suggested that these procedures might be employed in various analytical applications, in special for toxicological/forensic analysis. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Determinação de lamivudina, estavudina e nevirapina, em comprimidos, por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência

A high performance liquid chromatography method was developed to quantify lamivudine, stavudine and nevirapine combined in tablets. The separation was carried out in less than 10 min using a phosphate buffer of pH 3.0 and acetonitrile (75:25, v/v) as mobile phase, a LiChrospher ODS column and UV detection at 266 nm. The method was linear over the range of 15-135 µg/mL (lamivudine), 4-36 µg/mL (stavudine) and 20-180 µg/mL (nevirapine). The accuracy ranged from 98.56 to 102.04% and intra-day and inter-day precision was less than 1% for the three drugs. The method showed robustness, remaining unaffected by deliberate variations in relevant parameters.

Validação de metodologia analítica por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência para quantificação de bupivacaína (S75-R25) em nanoesferas de poli(lactídeo-co-glicolídeo)

Bupivacaine (S75-R25, NovaBupi®) is an amide type local anesthetic widely used. The present work consists of the development and validation of analytical methodology for evaluation of NovaBupi® content in the poly-lactide-co-glycolide nanospheres (PLGA-NS) by high performance liquid chromatography. The separation was made using the reversed-phase column LC-18, acetonitrile/phosphate buffer 85:15 v/v as mobile phase and detection at 220 nm. The results obtained show that the analytical methodology is accurate, reproducible, robust and linear over the concentration range 10-220.0 g/mL of NovaBupi®. The method was applied to determine the encapsulation efficiency and evaluate the release profile of NovaBupi®, showing good results.

Determination of phenobarbital in human plasma by a specific liquid chromatography method: application to a bioequivalence study

A liquid chromatography method was developed and validated for the determination of phenobarbital in human plasma using phenytoin as internal standard. The drugs were extracted from plasma by liquid-liquid extraction and separated isocratically on a C12 analytical column, maintained at 35 ºC, with water:acetonitrile:methanol (58.8:15.2:26, v/v/v) as mobile phase, run at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min with detection at 205 nm. The method was linear in the range of 0.1-4 μg/mL (r²=0.9999) and demonstrated acceptable results for the precision, accuracy and stability studies. The method was successfully applied for the bioequivalence study of two tablet formulations (test and reference) of phenobarbital 100 mg after single oral dose administration to healthy human volunteers.

Isolation and quantitative HPLC-PDA analysis of lupeol in phytopharmaceutical intermediate products from Vernonanthura ferruginea (Less.) H. Rob.

Prior to obtain a standardized dried extract from V. ferruginea, lupeol was first time isolated from leaves and used as chemical maker. An analytical method using HPLC-PDA for lupeol determination in V. ferruginea intermediate products was developed using a C8 reverse-phase column, acetonitrile-acetic acid (99.99:0.01, v/v) as mobile phase at 0.8 mL min-1, oven temperature at 23-25 ºC, sample injection volume at 30 µL and detection at 210 nm. The method presented linearity from 10 to 160 µg mL-1, accuracy, precision, robustness and suitable sensitivity proving to be a useful tool to the obtainment process of lupeol standardized dried extracts of V. ferruginea.

Stability-indicating RP-HPLC method for simultaneous determination of gatifloxacin and flurbiprofen in binary combination

A stability-indicating RP-HPLC method is presented for determination of gatifloxacin and flurbiprofen in binary combination. Gatifloxacin, flurbiprofen and their degradation products were detected at 254 nm using a BDS Hypersil C8 (250 X 4.6 mm, 5 µm) column and mixture of 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 3.0) and methanol 30:70 v/v as mobile phase. Response was linear over the range of 15-105 mg mL-1 for gatifloxacin (r² > 0.998) and of 1.5-10.5 mg mL-1 for flurbiprofen (r² > 0.999). The developed method efficiently separated the analytical peaks from degradation products (peak purity index > 0.9999). The method developed can be applied successfully for determination of gatifloxacin and flurbiprofen in human serum, urine, pharmaceutical formulations, and their stability studies.

A Tomada de Decisão (Bio)ética: Estudo Preliminar Utilizando o Mobile Eye Tracking

RESUMO A tomada de decisão é uma das dimensões essenciais da formação do profissional da saúde, como mencionado nas atuais Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais do Curso de Graduação em Medicina. O processo decisório, no âmbito da saúde, envolve diferentes aspectos, incluindo os elementos (bio)éticos. Nesse sentido, pesquisas que investiguem a tomada de decisão em (bio)ética poderão elucidar passos ainda não completamente esclarecidos, permitindo uma construção mais efetiva das competências em (bio)ética, na graduação e na pós-graduação. Diante desta perspectiva, o objetivo deste estudo é explorar possibilidades de uso do Mobile Eye Tracking para o estudo do papel da atenção visual – durante a exibição de filmes de cinema – no processo decisório em (bio)ética.

It is always on your mind: experiences and perceptions of falling of older people and their carers and the potential of a mobile falls detection device

Background. Falls and fear of falling present a major risk to older people as both can affect their quality of life and independence. Mobile assistive technologies (AT) fall detection devices may maximise the potential for older people to live independently for as long as possible within their own homes by facilitating early detection of falls. Aims. To explore the experiences and perceptions of older people and their carers as to the potential of a mobile falls detection AT device. Methods. Nine focus groups with 47 participants including both older people with a range of health conditions and their carers. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed. Results. Four key themes were identified relating to participants’ experiences and perceptions of falling and the potential impact of a mobile falls detector: cause of falling, falling as everyday vulnerability, the environmental context of falling, and regaining confidence and independence by having a mobile falls detector. Conclusion. The perceived benefits of a mobile falls detector may differ between older people and their carers. The experience of falling has to be taken into account when designing mobile assistive technology devices as these may influence perceptions of such devices and how older people utilise them.

GATE - Uma abordagem baseada em middleware para aplicações interperceptivas envolvendo múltiplos dispositivos

In this work, we present the GATE, an approach based on middleware for interperceptive applications. Through the services offered by the GATE, we extension we extend the concept of Interperception for integration with several devices, including set-top box, mobile devices (cell phones), among others. Through this extension ensures the implementation of virtual environments in these devices. Thus, users who access the version of the computer environment may interact with those who access the same environment by other devices. This extension is just a part of the services provided by the GATE, that remerges as a new proposal for multi-user virtual environments creation.

Application of an HPLC method for analysis of propolis extract

Propolis obtained from honeybee hives has been widely used in medicine, cosmetics, and industry due to its versatile biological activities (antioxidant, antimicrobial, fungicidal, antiviral, antiulcer, immunostimulating, and cytostatic). These activities are mainly attributed to the presence of flavonoids in propolis, which points out the interest in quantifying these constituents in propolis preparations, as well as validation of analytical methodologies. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods have been reported to quantify isolated flavonoids or these compounds in complex biological matrices, such as herbal raw materials and extractive preparations. An efficient, precise, and reliable method was developed for quantification of propolis extractive solution using HPLC with UV detection. The chromatograms were obtained from various gradient elution systems (GES) tested in order to establish the ideal conditions for the analysis of propolis extractive solution, using methanol and water: acetonitrile (97.5 : 2.5, v/v) as mobile phase. Gradient reversed phase chromatography was performed using a stainless steel column (250 x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 mum) filled with Chromsep RP 18 (Varian), column temperature at 30.0 +/- 0.1degreesC and detection at 310 nm. The main validation parameters of the method were also determined. The method showed linearity for chrysin in the range 0.24-2.4 mug mL(-1) with good correlation coefficients (0.9975). Precision and accuracy were determined. The obtained results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method. The analytical procedure is reliable and offers advantages in terms of speed and cost of reagents.

Effect of Ionic Liquid on the Determination of Aromatic Amines as Contaminants in Hair Dyes by Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Electrochemical Detection

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Validação de metodologia analítica por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência para quantificação de bupivacaína (S75-R25) em nanoesferas de poli(lactídeo-co-glicolídeo)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)