Dynamic mental representations of habitual behaviours: Food choice on a web-based environment

Aim: Rather than being rigid, habitual behaviours may be determined by dynamic mental representations that can adapt to context changes. This adaptive potential may result from particular conditions dependent on the interaction between two sources of mental constructs activation: perceived context applicability and cognitive accessibility . Method: T wo web-shopping simulations of fering the choice between habitually chosen and non-habitually chosen food products were presented to participants. This considered two choice contexts dif fering in the habitual behaviour perceived applicability (low vs. high) and a measure of habitual behaviour chronicity . Results: Study 1 demonstrated a perceived applicability ef fect, with more habitual (non-organic) than non-habitual (organic) food products chosen in a high perceived applicability (familiar) than in a low perceived applicability (new) context. The adaptive potential of habitual behaviour was evident in the habitual products choice consistency across three successive choices, despite the decrease in perceived applicability . Study 2 evidenced the adaptive potential in strong habitual behaviour participants – high chronic accessibility – who chose a habitual product (milk) more than a non-habitual product (orange juice), even when perceived applicability was reduced (new context). Conclusion: Results portray consumers as adaptive decision makers that can flexibly cope with changes in their (inner and outer) choice contexts.

Structural and functional interaction between polyamine related molecules and biological membranes

Changes induced by PA on nucleic acid (NA) conformation and synthesis is proven to be a major reason for PA essentiality (1-3). However, PA interactions with other polyanions, for instance polyanionic membrane lipid bilayers and glyosaminoglycans have received less attention (3-4). The functional importance of these interactions still is an obscure but interesting area of cell and molecular biology, especially in mammalian cells for which specific PA transport systems are not fully characterized (5). In mammals, activity and turnover of the polyamine (PA) synthesis key enzyme is controlled by a set of proteins: Antizymes (OAZ1-3) and antizyme inhibitors (AZIN1 and 2). It is demonstrated that AOZ modulate polyamine uptake (6), and that PA transport to mitochondria is linked to the respiratory chain state and modulates mitochondrial permeability transition (7). Antizyme expression variants have been located in mitochondria, being proposed as a proapoptotic factor (7-8). AZIN 2 is only expressed in a reduced set of tissues that includes mast cells, where it is associated to mast cell granules membrane (9). This fact, together to the abnormalities observed in bone marrow derived mast cell granules when they are differentiated under restricted PA synthesis conditions (10 and unpublished results), point out to important roles of PA and their related proteins in structure and function of mast cell granules. We will also present novel biophysical results on tripartite interactions of PA that remark the interest of the characterization of PA interactions with lipid bilayers for biomedicine and biotechnology. Thus, the information reported in this paper integrates previously reported information with our still unpublished results, all indicating that PA and their related proteins also are important factors for structure and dynamics of biological membranes and their associated functions essential in human physiology; for instance, solute interchange with the environment (uptake and secretion), oxidative metabolism and apoptosis. The importance of these involved processes for human homeostasis claim for further research efforts. 1. Ruiz-Chica J, Medina MA, Sánchez-Jiménez F and Ramírez FJ (2001) Fourier Transform Raman study of the structural specificities on the interaction between DNA and biogenic polyamines. Biophysical J. 80:443-454. 2. Lightfoot HL, Hall J (2014) Endogenous polyamine function--the RNA perspective. Nucleic Acids Res. 42:11275-11290. 3. Igarashi K, Kashiwagi K (2010) Modulation of cellular function by polyamines. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 42:39-51. 4. Finger S, Schwieger C, Arouri A, Kerth A, Blume A (2014) Interaction of linear polyamines with negatively charged phospholipids: the effect of polyamine charge distance. Biol Chem. 395:769-778. 5. Poulin R, Casero RA, Soulet D. (2012) Recent advances in the molecular biology of metazoan polyamine transport. Amino Acids. 42:711-723. 6. Kahana C (2009) Regulation of cellular polyamine levels and cellular proliferation by antizyme and antizyme inhibitor. Essays Biochem. 4:47-61. 7. Agostinelli E, Marques MP, Calheiros R, Gil FP, Tempera G, Viceconte N, Battaglia V, Grancara S, Toninello A (2010) Polyamines: fundamental characters in chemistry and biology. Amino Acids 38:393-403. 8. Liu GY, Liao YF, Hsu PC, Chang WH, Hsieh MC, Lin CY, Hour TC, Kao MC, Tsay GJ, Hung HC (2006) Antizyme, a natural ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, induces apoptosis of haematopoietic cells through mitochondrial membrane depolarization and caspases' cascade. Apoptosis 11:1773-1788. 9. Kanerva K, Lappalainen J, Mäkitie LT, Virolainen S, Kovanen PT, Andersson LC (2009). Expression of antizyme inhibitor 2 in mast cells and role of polyamines as selective regulators of serotonin secretion. PLoS One 31:e6858. 10. García-Faroldi G, Rodríguez CE, Urdiales JL, Pérez-Pomares JM, Dávila JC, Pejler G, Sánchez-Jiménez F, Fajardo I (2010) Polyamines are present in mast cell secretory granules and are important for granule homeostasis. PLoS One 30:e15071.

La pensée mixte : une approche de la composition par l'interaction des pensées instrumentale, électroacoustique et informatique

La « pensée mixte » est une approche de la composition caractérisée par l’interaction de trois pensées: la pensée instrumentale, la pensée électroacoustique et la pensée informatique. Elle prend la forme d’un réseau où le compositeur fait des aller-retours entre les trois pensées et réalise des équivalences paramétriques. La pensée instrumentale se rattache à la tradition de l’écriture occidentale, la pensée électroacoustique fait allusion aux pratiques du studio analogique et de la musique acousmatique, et la pensée informatique fait référence aux pratiques numériques de la programmation visuelle et de l’analyse spectrale. Des lieux communs existent où s’opèrent l’interaction des trois pensées: la notion du studio instrumental de Ivo Malec, la notion de musique concrète instrumentale de Helmut Lachenmann, la composition assistée par ordinateur, la musique spectrale, l’approche instrumentale par montage, la musique acousmatique s’inspirant de la tradition musicale écrite et les musiques mixtes. Ces domaines constituent les influences autour desquelles j’ai composé un corpus de deux cycles d’œuvres: Les Larmes du Scaphandre et le Nano-Cosmos. L’analyse des œuvres met en évidence la notion de « pensée mixte » en abordant la pensée électroacoustique dans ma pratique instrumentale, la pensée informatique dans ma pratique musicale, et la pensée instrumentale dans ma pratique électroacoustique.

User interaction monitoring and analysis framework

An overview is given of a user interaction monitoring and analysis framework called BaranC. Monitoring and analysing human-digital interaction is an essential part of developing a user model as the basis for investigating user experience. The primary human-digital interaction, such as on a laptop or smartphone, is best understood and modelled in the wider context of the user and their environment. The BaranC framework provides monitoring and analysis capabilities that not only records all user interaction with a digital device (e.g. smartphone), but also collects all available context data (such as from sensors in the digital device itself, a fitness band or a smart appliances). The data collected by BaranC is recorded as a User Digital Imprint (UDI) which is, in effect, the user model and provides the basis for data analysis. BaranC provides functionality that is useful for user experience studies, user interface design evaluation, and providing user assistance services. An important concern for personal data is privacy, and the framework gives the user full control over the monitoring, storing and sharing of their data.

La pensée mixte : une approche de la composition par l'interaction des pensées instrumentale, électroacoustique et informatique

La « pensée mixte » est une approche de la composition caractérisée par l’interaction de trois pensées: la pensée instrumentale, la pensée électroacoustique et la pensée informatique. Elle prend la forme d’un réseau où le compositeur fait des aller-retours entre les trois pensées et réalise des équivalences paramétriques. La pensée instrumentale se rattache à la tradition de l’écriture occidentale, la pensée électroacoustique fait allusion aux pratiques du studio analogique et de la musique acousmatique, et la pensée informatique fait référence aux pratiques numériques de la programmation visuelle et de l’analyse spectrale. Des lieux communs existent où s’opèrent l’interaction des trois pensées: la notion du studio instrumental de Ivo Malec, la notion de musique concrète instrumentale de Helmut Lachenmann, la composition assistée par ordinateur, la musique spectrale, l’approche instrumentale par montage, la musique acousmatique s’inspirant de la tradition musicale écrite et les musiques mixtes. Ces domaines constituent les influences autour desquelles j’ai composé un corpus de deux cycles d’œuvres: Les Larmes du Scaphandre et le Nano-Cosmos. L’analyse des œuvres met en évidence la notion de « pensée mixte » en abordant la pensée électroacoustique dans ma pratique instrumentale, la pensée informatique dans ma pratique musicale, et la pensée instrumentale dans ma pratique électroacoustique.

Abstraction and use of groundwater for heating buildings in a hard rock environment

In order to turn more efficient the heating of class rooms in the lower floor of the old building of the University of Évora (a XVI century building), five drillings were organised inside the area of the university (Figure 1). The purpose was to use the temperature differential of groundwater in relation to air, by means of a heat exchanger, and use this process to heat the rooms using less energy, turning the heating process less expensive. The wells were drilled in fractured rocks (gneisses), and the purpose was to locate them at least around 100 m one from each other, whilst trying to have a hydraulic connection in-between. From the five initial wells, four were successful in terms of productivity, but just two of them (RA1 and RA2) proved to be hydraulically connected. The wells were equipped with screens for all their drilled depth (100 m), except for the first six meters and some two or three pipes of six meters each, to allow space for the installation for submersible pumps. The length of the installed screens guarantees a good efficiency of the system. In the wells with no connection, the heating system can work using each single well for abstraction and injection, but the process is much less efficient than in the cases where interaction between wells is possible through the rock’s fracture network.

Host-parasite interaction between crustaceans of six fish species from the Brazilian Amazon.

Host-parasite interactions between crustaceans and six fish species (Psectrogaster falcata, Ageneiosus ucayalensis, Acestrorhynchus falcirostris, Hemiodus unimaculatus, Serrasalmus gibbus and Geophagus proximus) from a reservoir in eastern Amazon, northern Brazil, were investigated. Eight hundred and seventy-eight parasites belonging to three crustacean species, Excorallana berbicensis, Argulus chicomendesi and Ergasilus turucuyus, which parasitized the hosts? mouth, gills and tegument, were collected from 295 fish and examined. High infestation levels were caused by E. berbicensis on the body surface of the hosts. Excorallana berbicensis showed aggregate dispersion, except in S. gibbus, while E. turucuyus showed random dispersion in A. falcirostris. The host?s sex did not influence infestation by E. berbicensis, and high parasitism failed to affect the body conditions of the fish. In the case of some hosts, rainfall rates, temperature, dissolved oxygen levels and water pH affected the prevalence and abundance of E. berbicensis, the dominant parasite species. Results revealed that the environment and life-style of the hosts were determining factors in infestations by parasites. Current assay is the first report on E. berbicensis for the six hosts, as well as on A. chicomendesi for G. proximus and P. falcata.

Adaptabilidade e estabilidade de progênies de meios-irmãos de pinhão-manso em diferentes regiões do Brasil.

RESUMO: Programas de melhoramento do pinhão-manso (Jatropha curcas L.) intensificaram-se nos últimos cinco anos, tendo sido selecionadas, localmente, plantas em diversas regiões do Brasil. O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar a interação genótipos x ambientes da produção de grãos de pinhão-manso, avaliada em três regiões brasileiras, e o progresso genético obtido com a seleção. A partir de progênies de meios-irmãos, selecionadas pela Embrapa Semiárido e pela EPAMIG, foram instalados, no ano de 2008, três testes de progênies, nos municípios de Planaltina, DF, Nova Porteirinha, MG e Pelotas, RS, utilizando-se delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com três repetições e cinco plantas por parcela. Como testemunhas foram utilizadas sementes de plantas não selecionadas e um dos materiais genéticos comercializados no Brasil. A interação genótipo x ambiente foi significativa. Foram identificadas oito progênies de adaptabilidade geral, três progênies de baixa adaptabilidade, duas progênies de adaptabilidade específica a ambientes favoráveis e duas progênies de adaptabilidade específica a ambientes desfavoráveis, em diferentes regiões do Brasil. As estimativas de progresso genético indicam eficiência da seleção massal, com ganhos de 28, 76 e 177%, nos municípios de Planaltina, DF, de Nova Porteirinha, MG, e de Pelota, RS, respectivamente. Observa-se que os ganhos de seleção obtidos pelo método centroide são mais equilibrados entre ambientes e, por isso, preferíveis. As novas médias, estimadas com o plantio das progênies selecionadas, em toneladas por hectare, são de 2,34 ton.ha-1, em Planaltina, DF; de 2,37 ton.ha-1, em Nova Porteirinha, MG, e de 2,09 ton.ha-1 , em Pelotas, RS. ABSTRACT: Physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) breeding programs have intensified in the past five years, locally selecting plants from various Brazilian regions. The objective of this study was to quantify the genotype x environment interaction of the physic nut grain production and the genetic progress obtained with the selection. From Half-sib progenies selected by Embrapa and EPAMIG, in 2008, three progeny trials were installed in the cities of Planaltina-DF, Nova Porteirinha-MG and Pelotas-RS, using a randomized block design with three replications of five plants per plot. Non-selected plant seeds and genetic material commercialized in Brazil were used as control. The genotype x environment interaction was significant for the J. curcas grain yield expression. We identified eight progenies of broad adaptability, three progenies of low adaptability, two progenies of specific adaptability to favorable environments and two progenies of specific adaptability to unfavorable environments of different Brazilian regions. Estimates of genetic progress indicate mass selection efficiency, with genetic gains of 28%, 76% and 177% in the Planaltina-DF, New Porteirinha-MG and Pelotas-RS, respectively. The genetic gains obtained by the centroid method were more balanced among environments, and therefore, preferable. The new means estimated with the cultivating of the selected progenies are: 2.34 ton.ha-1 in Planaltina-DF, 2.37 ton.ha-1 in Nova Porteirinha- MG and 2.09 ton.ha-1 in Pelotas-RS.

The interactive dynamics in the university context: the classroom environment

Interpersonal relationships in human communities gained a great value since the begging of mankind, these relationships are constructed on interaction and socialization. The educational context is not exempt of these interactive and communicative processes, and it is specifically in the classroom where they can be found. The classroom can be identified as a physical and a humane space, in which dynamics are developed from the interactions between teachers and students, learning content, learning strategies and the class environment. All of these aspects are presented in the classroom as part of the teaching and learning processes. It is interesting to analyze the classroom environment and the interactive dynamics that are developed in it, regardless of the student’s age, wether in the case of infants, adolescents or adults. In this particular case, we analyze the classroom environment at the university level. Understanding the interactive dynamics that are being developed in the classroom, determine whether or not an environment is appropriate for the teaching and learning processes, which must be considered, if someone chooses an integral and quality of education.

Environmental effect on sunflower oil quality.

Sunflower is one of the most important oilseed crops and produces a high-quality edible oil. Balance of fatty acids in standard sunflower oil shows preponderance of linoleic rather than oleic acid, and conditions during seed development, such as temperature, changes the oleic/linoleic ratio of the oil. This work aimed to evaluate the environmental effect on fatty acid profile in a group of standard and high oleic varieties and hybrids. Seeds were produced during regular season crop and during off-season crop featuring different temperatures from anthesis to maturity. Fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography. Levels of oleic acid, in standard oil genotypes, raised as the crop developed in warmer environment while levels of linoleic acid decreased, and the opposite was observed when the crop was grown under lower temperature. High oleic genotypes were less sensitive to environment switching and showed lower variation on fatty acid composition.

Biplot analysis of strawberry genotypes recommended for the State of Espírito Santo.

Most strawberry genotypes grown commercially in Brazil originate from breeding programs in the United States, and are therefore not adapted to the various soil and climatic conditions found in Brazil. Thus, quantifying the magnitude of genotype x environment (GE) interactions serves as a primary means for increasing average Brazilian strawberry yields, and helps provide specific recommendations for farmers on which genotypes meet high yield and phenotypic stability thresholds. The aim of this study was to use AMMI (additive main effects and multiplicative interaction) and GGE biplot (genotype main effects + genotype x environment interaction) analyses to identify high-yield, stable strawberry genotypes grown at three locations in Espírito Santo for two agricultural years. We evaluated seven strawberry genotypes (Dover, Camino Real, Ventana, Camarosa, Seascape, Diamante, and Aromas) at three locations (Domingos Martins, Iúna, and Muniz Freire) in agricultural years 2006 and 2007, totaling six study environments. Joint analysis of variance was calculated using yield data (t/ha), and AMMI and GGE biplot analysis was conducted following the detection of a significant genotypes x agricultural years x locations (G x A x L) interaction. During the two agricultural years, evaluated locations were allocated to different regions on biplot graphics using both methods, indicating distinctions among them. Based on the results obtained from the two methods used in this study to investigate the G x A x L interaction, we recommend growing the Camarosa genotype for production at the three locations assessed due to the high frequency of favorable alleles, which were expressed in all localities evaluated regardless of the agricultural year.

Safe and Collaborative Navigation & Interaction With Mobile Manipulators in Domestic Appliance Test Labs

Safe collaboration between a robot and human operator forms a critical requirement for deploying a robotic system into a manufacturing and testing environment. In this dissertation, the safety requirement for is developed and implemented for the navigation system of the mobile manipulators. A methodology for human-robot co-existence through a 3d scene analysis is also investigated. The proposed approach exploits the advance in computing capability by relying on graphic processing units (GPU’s) for volumetric predictive human-robot contact checking. Apart from guaranteeing safety of operators, human-robot collaboration is also fundamental when cooperative activities are required, as in appliance test automation floor. To achieve this, a generalized hierarchical task controller scheme for collision avoidance is developed. This allows the robotic arm to safely approach and inspect the interior of the appliance without collision during the testing procedure. The unpredictable presence of the operators also forms dynamic obstacle that changes very fast, thereby requiring a quick reaction from the robot side. In this aspect, a GPU-accelarated distance field is computed to speed up reaction time to avoid collision between human operator and the robot. An automated appliance testing also involves robotized laundry loading and unloading during life cycle testing. This task involves Laundry detection, grasp pose estimation and manipulation in a container, inside the drum and during recovery grasping. A wrinkle and blob detection algorithms for grasp pose estimation are developed and grasp poses are calculated along the wrinkle and blobs to efficiently perform grasping task. By ranking the estimated laundry grasp poses according to a predefined cost function, the robotic arm attempt to grasp poses that are more comfortable from the robot kinematic side as well as collision free on the appliance side. This is achieved through appliance detection and full-model registration and collision free trajectory execution using online collision avoidance.

Dynamics of galaxies in the cluster environment: a resonant origin for the ISP?

The internal dynamics of elliptical galaxies in clusters depends on many factors, including the environment in which the galaxy is located. In addition to the strong encounters with the other galaxies, we can also consider the gravitational interaction with the ubiquitous Cluster Tidal Field (CTF). As recognized in many studies, one possible way in which CTF affects the dynamics of galaxies inside the cluster is related to the fact that they may start oscillating as “rigid bodies” around their equilibrium positions in the field, with the periods of these oscillations curiously similar to those of stellar orbits in the outer parts of galaxies. Resonances between the two motions are hence expected and this phenomenon could significantly contribute to the formation of the Intracluster Stellar Population (ISP), whose presence is abundantly confirmed by observations. In this thesis work, we propose to study the motion of an elliptical galaxy, modelled as a rigid body, in the CTF, especially when its center of mass traces a quasi-circular orbit in the cluster gravitational potential. This case extends and generalizes the previous models and findings, proceeding towards a much more realistic description of galaxy motion. In addition to this, the presence of a further oscillation, namely that of the entire galaxy along its orbit, will possibly increase the probability of having resonances and, consequently, the rate of ISP production nearly to observed values. Thus, after reviewing the dynamics of a rigid body in a generic force field, we will assess some physically relevant studies and report their main results, discussing their implications with respect to our problem. We will conclude our discussion focusing on the more realistic scenario of an elliptical galaxy whose center of mass moves on a quasi-circular orbit in a spherically symmetric potential. The derivation of the fundamental equations of motion will serve as the basis for future modelling and discussions.

AGV Safety Areas Obstacle Detection and Interaction with Point Cloud Derived Map

This thesis project aims to the development of an algorithm for the obstacle detection and the interaction between the safety areas of an Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) and a Point Cloud derived map inside the context of a CAD software. The first part of the project focuses on the implementation of an algorithm for the clipping of general polygons, with which has been possible to: construct the safety areas polygon, derive the sweep of this areas along the navigation path performing a union and detect the intersections with line or polygon representing the obstacles. The second part is about the construction of a map in terms of geometric entities (lines and polygons) starting from a point cloud given by the 3D scan of the environment. The point cloud is processed using: filters, clustering algorithms and concave/convex hull derived algorithms in order to extract line and polygon entities representing obstacles. Finally, the last part aims to use the a priori knowledge of possible obstacle detections on a given segment, to predict the behavior of the AGV and use this prediction to optimize the choice of the vehicle's assigned velocity in that segment, minimizing the travel time.

Thermodynamic Study Of The Micellization Of Zwitterionic Surfactants And Their Interaction With Polymers In Water By Isothermal Titration Calorimetry.

The micellization of a homologous series of zwitterionic surfactants, a group of sulfobetaines, was studied using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) in the temperature range from 15 to 65 °C. The increase in both temperature and the alkyl chain length leads to more negative values of ΔGmic(0) , favoring the micellization. The entropic term (ΔSmic(0)) is predominant at lower temperatures, and above ca. 55-65 °C, the enthalpic term (ΔHmic(0)) becomes prevalent, figuring a jointly driven process as the temperature increases. The interaction of these sulfobetaines with different polymers was also studied by ITC. Among the polymers studied, only two induced the formation of micellar aggregates at lower surfactant concentration: poly(acrylic acid), PAA, probably due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between the carboxylic group of the polymer and the sulfonate group of the surfactant, and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate), PSS, probably due to the incorporation of the hydrophobic styrene group into the micelles. The prevalence of the hydrophobic and not the electrostatic contributions to the interaction between sulfobetaine and PSS was confirmed by an increased interaction enthalpy in the presence of electrolytes (NaCl) and by the observation of a significant temperature dependence, the latter consistent with the proposed removal of hydrophobic groups from water.