Off the Shelf Cloud Robotics for the Smart Home: Empowering a Wireless Robot through Cloud Computing.

In this paper, we explore the possibilities offered by the integration of home automation systems and service robots. In particular, we examine how advanced computationally expensive services can be provided by using a cloud computing approach to overcome the limitations of the hardware available at the user's home. To this end, we integrate two wireless low-cost, off-the-shelf systems in this work, namely, the service robot Rovio and the home automation system Z-wave. Cloud computing is used to enhance the capabilities of these systems so that advanced sensing and interaction services based on image processing and voice recognition can be offered.

Analisis descriptivo de los accidentes biologicos registrados en la Mutua de Accidentes de Trabajo / Descriptive analysis of biological accidentes in mutal work accident

Hay varias profesiones, como jardinería, policía, limpieza, bomberos, trabajadores sociales y especialmente el personal sanitario, que presentan un elevado riesgo de padecer accidentes biológicos en su trabajo. Es por ello, que se realiza un análisis descriptivo de los accidentes biológicos registrados en la mutua de accidentes de trabajo (MCMutual Copérnico) de Barcelona desde el 1 de enero al 31 de diciembre de 2013. Durante este período de tiempo se han registrado 364 nuevos casos de accidentes biológicos, de los cuales se dieron en un 90% en personal sanitario, y de ellos un 61,8% en enfermería. La mayor accidentalidad se produjo por pinchazos con agujas (81,8%). En cuanto al sexo afectado, éste fue mayoritariamente el femenino en un 83,5% de los casos. La zona del cuerpo donde ocurren los accidentes en su mayoría corresponde a las manos (91,2%). Se observa asimismo que la serología de la fuente que predomina en los casos es desconocida (45,8%). Se deduce de todo ello que sería necesario mejorar y aumentar las medidas de carácter preventivo, para la disminución de los accidentes biológicos que pudieran ser evitables (AU)

The are professions, such gardening, police, cleaning, fire, social workers and specially health care workers, who are at high risk of biological accidents in their occupational tasks. It is therefore, a descriptive analysis of biological accidents in mutual work accident (MC- Mutual Copérnico) of Barcelona from January 1 to December 31, 2013 is performed. During this period there have been 364 new cases of biological accidents, which occurred in 90% of healthcare workers, of whom 61.8% in nursing. Most accidents occurred needle stick (81.8%). Regarding the affected sex, this was mostly female (83.5%) cases. The area of body where the accidents occur mostly correspond to the hands (91.2%). It also notes that the serology of the source that dominates cases is unknown (45.8%). It follows from this that would be necessary to improve and increase preventive measures for the reduction of biological accidents that could be avoidable (AU)

Biological activity and redistribution of nucleolar proteins of two different cell lines treated with cis-dichloro-1,2-propylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetato ruthenium (III) (RAP).

The interaction of a newly synthesized antitumor complex cis-dichloro-1,2-propylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetato ruthenium (III) (RAP) with DNA was investigated in vitro through a number of techniques including comet assay, immunoprecipitation, and immunolocalization of certain nucleolar proteins (the upstream binding factor (UBF) and fibrillarin) involved in DNA transcription, rRNA processing, and ribosomal assembly. The results showed that RAP binds to the DNA of two cell lines (H4 and Hs-683) causing a delay in cell proliferation rate leading to a number of cellular modifications. These modifications include DNA-damage assessed by the single cell gel electrophoresis method (comet assay) and variation in the expression of nucleolar proteins; UBF was more abundant in RAP treated cells, this was explained by the high affinity of this protein to DNA modified by RAP. On the other hand, fibrillarin was found in less quantities in RAP treated cells which was explained by a de-regulation of the ribosomal machinery caused by RAP.

Análisis y minimización del riesgo de rotura de stock aplicado a la gestión en farmacia hospitalaria / Stockout risk analysis and minimization applied to hospital pharmacy management

Objetivo Determinar el valor que debería tomar el stock de seguridad de los fármacos dispensados en un hospital de tercer nivel en función del nivel de riesgo y del número de días que se desee resistir sin rotura de stock. Método Se ha analizado estadísticamente la demanda registrada durante 120 días consecutivos de infliximab, un fármaco que, por su alto coste y la inmediatez de abastecimiento esperada en la clínica, tiene un adecuado perfil para el estudio. A partir del histórico de datos de adquisición y dispensación existentes en nuestro servicio, se generó una tabla para relacionar el nivel de riesgo asumido con el número de unidades en stock y el número de días que debe durar el stock de seguridad. Adicionalmente, se calcula en el artículo el valor que debería tomar dicho stock conforme a diferentes reglas heurísticas utilizadas por los Servicios de Farmacia. Resultados En el periodo analizado, la demanda diaria fue de 11,4±14,8 unidades de infliximab. Utilizando la metodología propuesta se debería fijar un stock de seguridad de 79 unidades. Este valor es comparado con las 47 y 119 unidades que ofrecen otras reglas utilizadas en el ámbito hospitalario. Conclusiones El método propuesto permite conocer el nivel de riesgo que se asume en la elección del stock de seguridad. Por tanto, permite diseñar una política de stocks de seguridad coherente con el nivel de riesgo adoptado. Bajo ciertas asunciones sería posible reducir la cota del stock de seguridad proporcionada por el método. Finalmente, es destacable la notable diferencia que puede llegar a existir entre los valores de stock de seguridad sugeridos por distintas reglas, tal y como se demuestra en el artículo (AU)

Objective To determine how many dispensary drugs should be in the safety stock in a tertiary hospital in accordance with the risk level and the number of days that the hospital is able to withstand a stockout. Methods We statistically analysed the infliximab order recorded over a period of 120 days. This drug is relevant for this study as it is costly and is immediately supplied to the clinic. Using the data records for purchasing and dispensing in our department, we created a table to compare the level of risk assumed with the number of units in stock and the number of days that the safety stock should last. In addition, we calculated how much stock there should be in accordance with different heuristic rules used by pharmacy departments. Results In the period being studied, the daily order was 11.4±14.8 units of infliximab. Using the methodology proposed, we discovered that there should be 79 units in the safety stock. Other hospital rules determine values of 47 and 119 units. Conclusions The method proposed allows us to discover the risk level that is assumed when selecting the safety stock. Therefore, we are able to design a safety stock policy consistent with the risk level adopted. Under certain assumptions the safety stock quota provided by this method could be reduced. Lastly, there is a notable difference between the safety stock values suggested by different rules, as it has been shown in this article (AU)

Stockout risk analysis and minimization applied to hospital pharmacy management.

OBJECTIVE: To determine how many dispensary drugs should be in the safety stock in a tertiary hospital in accordance with the risk level and the number of days that the hospital is able to withstand a stockout. METHODS: We statistically analysed the infliximab order recorded over a period of 120 days. This drug is relevant for this study as it is costly and is immediately supplied to the clinic. Using the data records for purchasing and dispensing in our department, we created a table to compare the level of risk assumed with the number of units in stock and the number of days that the safety stock should last. In addition, we calculated how much stock there should be in accordance with different heuristic rules used by pharmacy departments. RESULTS: In the period being studied, the daily order was 11.4±14.8 units of infliximab. Using the methodology proposed, we discovered that there should be 79 units in the safety stock. Other hospital rules determine values of 47 and 119 units. CONCLUSIONS: The method proposed allows us to discover the risk level that is assumed when selecting the safety stock. Therefore, we are able to design a safety stock policy consistent with the risk level adopted. Under certain assumptions the safety stock quota provided by this method could be reduced. Lastly, there is a notable difference between the safety stock values suggested by different rules, as it has been shown in this article.

In vitro expression and redistribution of nucleolar proteins following the treatment with cis-dichloro-1,2-propylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetato ruthenium (III) (RAP).

In this study, we used a newly synthesized antitumor complex [RuLCl2]H.4H2O (RAP), having the same antitumor effects as cisplatin but showing lower cytotoxicity. We found that RAP-DNA adducts induce a high expression of proteins with high molecular weight and a low expression of proteins with low molecular weight. We choose two proteins: the upstream binding factor (UBF), an RNA polymerase I-specific transcription factor that recognizes the ribosomal RNA gene promoter and initiates transcription; and fibrillarin, which is involved in many posttranscriptional processes including pre-rRNA processing, pre-rRNA methylation, and ribosome assembly. Our results showed that UBF was present in high quantities in TG cell extracts treated with RAP with a major abundance of UBF1 more than UBF2, which was explained by a high affinity of UBF1 for DNA modified by RAP than UBF2; while fibrillarin was present in low quantities in protein extracts treated with RAP. Also, following treatment with RAP, there was a similar redistribution of UBF along the nucleus of TG cells as in the controls but with the presence of higher quantities of this factor in the nucleoplasm, which could be explained by an increase of the UBF affinity for the no nucleolar chromatin as a consequence of the modifications induced by RAP. Fibrillarin was found in low quantities in the fibrillar centers and in the nucleoplasm after treatment with RAP.

Synthesis, interaction with double-helical DNA and biological activity of the water soluble complex cis-dichloro-1,2-propylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetato ruthenium (III) (RAP).

The effects exerted by the new complex cis-dichloro-1,2-propylenediaminetetraacetato ruthenium (III), H[RuCl(2)(PDTA-H(2))] [1, RAP], on DNA and cultured tumor cells (ovarian carcinoma TG cell line) were studied. The comparative study of circular dichroism (CD) spectra obtained from DNA and RAP-DNA system evidences the interaction of the complex with DNA. Compound 1 also interacted with tumor TG cells to slow their proliferation rate. BrdU incorporation was enhanced in cells treated with compound 1, as evidenced by a single-cell electrophoresis method (comet assay), in accordance with RAP-induced DNA damage. DNA migration of compound 1-treated cells was similar to that induced by noxious agents other than cross-linking chemicals. The stability of [RuCl(2)(PDTA-H(2))]-DNA binding is suggested by the high degree of damage that persisted after removal of compound 1 from the culture medium.

Salt stress enhances xylem development and expression of S-adenosyl-L-methionine synthase in lignifying tissues of tomato plants.

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine synthase (SAM; ATP: L-methionine adenosyltransferase, EC 2.5.1.6) catalyzes the biosynthesis of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet), a universal methyl-group donor. This enzyme is induced by salinity stress in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). To elucidate the role of SAM and AdoMet in the adaptation of plants to a saline environment, the expression pattern and histological distribution of SAM was investigated in control and salt-stressed tomato plants. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that SAM proteins were expressed in all cell types and plant organs, albeit with preferential accumulation in lignified tissues. Lignin deposition was estimated by histochemical tests and the extent of tissue lignification in response to salinity was quantified by image analysis. The average number of lignified cells in vascular bundles was significantly greater in plants under salt stress, with a maximal expansion of the lignified area found in the root vasculature. Accordingly, the greatest abundance of SAM gene transcripts and proteins occurred in roots. These results indicate that increased SAM activity correlated with a greater deposition of lignin in the vascular tissues of plants under salinity stress. A model is proposed in which an increased number of lignified tracheary elements in tomato roots under salt stress may enhance the cell-to-cell pathway for water transport, which would impart greater selectivity and reduced ion uptake, and compensate for diminished bulk flow of water and solutes along the apoplastic pathway.