Virtual Profiles Research Articles

Escorts afrolatinos en la era digital, o el arte de los masajistas

Abstract This article explores images of Afro-Latin men that appeared in gay dating phone applications during 2015. Photographs and profiles of escorts traveling to Chile are analyzed to discuss, among other themes, the ambivalent structure of African cultural representations in Chile, considering the change from printed to digital media, their respective contents, modes of production, and circulation. The article studies the forms of interaction that these devices and platforms encourage, the constructions of the Afro-Latin as stereotype, as well as other methods that escorts use to promote themselves. These profiles reveal how the prejudices of the African man or mulatto are reproduced. At the same time, the article argues that in these virtual profiles we can find autonomous strategies of self-representation.

RhoVe method: A new empirical pore pressure transform

A new empirical pore pressure transform has been developed that includes many of the advanced, state-of-the-art concepts that are useful in today’s pore pressure estimation and theory. The rhob-velocity-effective stress (Rho-V-e) method produces a model-driven, stand-alone set of “virtual” rock property relationships, which at intermediate positions are consistent with Bowers method default values for the Gulf of Mexico. The RhoVe method uses a single transform to convert both compressional sonic and bulk density to common estimates of effective stress and pore pressure where convergence of the two transformed properties offers a robust solution.Velocity-density conversion functions are mathematically linked to a continuous series of velocity-depth normal compaction trend functions. The calculations are limited by bounding end-member curves that provide a basis for intermediate (fractional) solutions of velocity-effective stress and density-effective stress relationships that are applied to a well of interest.Paired “virtual” velocity-depth compaction trends were iteratively solved by using published theoretical smectite and illite porosity trends and velocity-depth normal compaction trends. By using the RhoVe-derived velocity-density functions that match the well of interest in cross-plot, normal effective stress for each end-member and intermediate solution can be calculated. Effective stress is calculated by taking the difference between the integrated density-depth virtual overburden profile, converted from velocity-depth, and the inclusion of hydrostatic pressure. The method produces robust solutions as tested on multiple deep water Gulf of Mexico wells, and extends the predictability of high-velocity, low-effective stress rock types such as those found in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Wilcox-equivalent Paleogene and older section. The velocity-effective stress trend curves can also improve pore pressure characterization of the overlying overburden section extending to the mud line. Advantages of the RhoVe method are that it can be made interactive and fast, relative to the application of other acoustic transform methods.This paper attempts to build on previous efforts by other workers to include the role of clay type, clay volume and diagenesis on altering velocity-effective stress relationships and presents a technique in which the effects of clay diagenesis and other factors may be captured and utilized empirically for pore pressure analysis and prediction.

Solar Energetic Particle Transport Near a Heliospheric Current Sheet

Abstract Solar energetic particles (SEPs), a major component of space weather, propagate through the interplanetary medium strongly guided by the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). In this work, we analyze the implications that a flat Heliospheric Current Sheet (HCS) has on proton propagation from SEP release sites to the Earth. We simulate proton propagation by integrating fully 3D trajectories near an analytically defined flat current sheet, collecting comprehensive statistics into histograms, fluence maps, and virtual observer time profiles within an energy range of 1–800 MeV. We show that protons experience significant current sheet drift to distant longitudes, causing time profiles to exhibit multiple components, which are a potential source of confusing interpretations of observations. We find that variation of the current sheet thickness within a realistic parameter range has little effect on particle propagation. We show that the IMF configuration strongly affects the deceleration of protons. We show that in our model, the presence of a flat equatorial HCS in the inner heliosphere limits the crossing of protons into the opposite hemisphere.

New subgroup 16SrXI-F phytoplasma strain associated with sugarcane grassy shoot (SCGS) disease in India.

A novel phytoplasma subgroup strain SC-Phy385 (GenBank accession number HF586648) was found associated with Sugarcane Grassy Shoot (SCGS) disease in India. Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) leaf samples with 'grassy shoot' symptoms were collected from the western region of Maharashtra state. The analysis based on restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) profiles and 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that most of the phytoplasma strains belong to the 16SrXI-B group. However, SCGS phytoplasma strain SC-Phy385 showed unique RFLP profiles with a similarity coefficient of 0.87 using online interactive phytoplasma classification tool, iPhyClassifier. The actual and virtual RFLP profiles of SC-Phy385 using amplified products of the 16S rRNA partial gene and its multiple sequence alignment with other RYD group phytoplasma sequences revealed that this strain was different from phytoplasma groups described earlier, representing new subgroup 16SrXI-F. The 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analysis of reported RYD and BGWL group phytoplasmas showed that they are a genetically diverse group of phytoplasmas.

Penumbral Dose Characteristics of Physical and Virtual Wedge Profiles

Purpose: Both physical and virtual wedges are used in radiotherapy to get uniform and desired dose distribution in clinical setting. All linear accelerators of different venders have computer controlled dynamic wedges called virtual wedge filters. Penumbra is one of the important photon beam characteristics needed to be understood in radiation therapy at the time of commissioning of Treatment Planning system (TPS) as well as applying various treatment planning algorithms in clinical applications. In this study we measured the dose profiles of open field, physical wedges (PW) and virtual wedges (VW) for energies (6 MV & 15 MV), various field sizes (10 × 10, 15 × 15 & 20 × 20 cm2), depths (dmax, 10 cm, 20 cm) and wedge angles (15°, 30°, 45° and 60°). From beam profile we calculated the penumbral width for open and wedged fields. The study was carried out on Siemens ONCOR IMRT Plus linear accelerator. The obtained penumbral width of PW and VW of all wedge angles was subtracted from the penumbral width of open field. The deviations in penumbral width were compared and statistically analyzed as a function of energy, depth, field size and wedge angles. Material and Method: The penumbral width was measured using IBA CC13 ion chamber in IBA Blue phantom (a 3D water phantom). The source to surface distance (SSD) during our study was kept 100cm and measurement was taken for 10 × 10, 15 × 15, 20 × 20 cm2 field sizes and for 15°, 30°, 45°, 60° wedges. These measurements were taken for both 6 MV and 15 MV photon energies. Virtual wedge profiles were acquired using LDA-99 linear detector array (IBA, Germany). The deviations in penumbral width for both PW and VW were calculated by subtracting the penumbral width from open field penumbral width in gun direction (in-plane) and deviation in VW penumbral width, and were obtained by subtracting the open field penumbral width in left-right direction (cross-plane) direction. The measured deviations were plotted for both PW and VW. Statistics on the measured deviations was performed by using SPSS Version 15. Results & Conclusion: The results of one way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) show that the deviations are significant with energy and the deviations are higher in lower energy than higher energy. The deviations increase as depth increases, the deviations are also significant with depth. The deviations increase with field sizes; the deviations as a function of field size are highly significant. The deviations are higher in PW than VW but the deviations with wedge type are in-significant. As wedge angle increases, deviations also increase and the effect of wedge angle is highly significant on deviations.

487P Real-world feasibility of adjuvant TAC with pegylated G-CSF in resectable breast cancer: A single-center experience

Background Although adjuvant TAC is a viable treatment option for operable breast cancer, concern for non-negligible toxicity, particularly of febrile neutropenia, has been consistent. In this study, we aimed to figure out virtual toxicity profiles in patients who received adjuvant TAC with concurrent use of pegylated G-CSF. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 127 patients with operable breast cancer who received adjuvant TAC with pegylated G-CSF between July of 2014 and April of 2016 in Asan Medical Center (Seoul). All patients were supported by pegylated G-CSF from the first cycle of chemotherapy.Tabled 1Table: 487P Toxicity profilesToxicityTotal (n=145)AnyGradeGrade 3,Grade 4,grade,1/2,N (%)N (%)N (%)N (%)HematologicNeutropenia14 (11.0)1 (0.8)4 (3.1)9 (7.1)Febrile neutropenia7 (5.5)-7 (5.5)-Cycle 14 (57.1)Cycle 21 (14.3)Cycle 52 (28.6)Infection without4 (3.1)3 (2.4)1 (0.8)neutropeniaAnemia15 (11.8)14 (11)-1 (0.8)Thrombocytopenia1 (0.8)--1 (0.8)Non-HematologicStomatitis35 (27.6)35 (27.6)-Skin rash13 (10.2)12 (9.5)1 (0.8)Asthenia7 (5.5)7 (5.5)-Generalized edema29 (22.8)29 (22.8)-Myalgia57 (44.9)56 (44.1)1 (0.8)Headache or dizziness13 (10.2)13 (10.2)-Peripheral neuropathy43 (33.9)43 (33.9)-Fever6 (4.7)6 (4.7)-AST/ALT elevation3 (2.4)3 (2.4)Weight loss8 (6.3)8 (6.3)-Drug-induced--1 (0.8)pneumonitisCongestive heart failure---Alopecia28 (22.0)5 (4.0)1(0.8)Anorexia19 (15.0)19 (15.0)-Nausea63 (49.6)63 (49.6)-Vomitting11 (8.7)11 (8.7)-Abdominal discomfort*23 (18.1)23 (18.1)-Diarrhea21 (16.5)18 (14.2)3 (2.4)Constipation16 (12.6)16 (12.6)- Open table in a new tab Results During the median follow-up period of 8.8 months (range, 8.1-9.4), a total of 746 cycles of adjuvant TAC were administerd to 127 patients, and 5 patients eventually discontinued the treatment because of significant adverse events (n=2,1.6%) or refusal (n=3,2.4%). Febrile neutropenia was reported in 7 patients (5.5%), which were mostly confined to cycle 1 or 2 (71.4%). Median duration of hospital stay and time for recovery of neutropenia were 2 days. Toxicities were generally grade 1 or 2, of which nausea and myalgia were most frequent (Table). However, among 122 patients completed 6 cycles of adjuvant TAC, dose reduction or delay was found in 36 cases in 33 patients (27.0%); 13 cases:hematologic toxicities, 23 cases:non-hematologic toxicities. Febrile neutropenia (n=6, 4.8%) and peripheral neuropathy (n=6, 4.8%) were two most causative toxicities. Relative dose intensities of docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide were 96%, 97%, and 98%, respectively. There has been no documented relapse or death. Conclusions Concurrent use of pegylated G-CSF could significantly reduce the incidence of febrile neutropenia and its fatality. However, a considerable number of dose reduction or delay from non-hematologic toxicities warrants careful selection of patient receiving adjuvant TAC, and further improvement of docetaxel-based regimen is needed. Legal entity responsible for the study N/A Funding N/A Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Simulated Sensitivity of Tropical Cyclone Size and Structure to the Atmospheric Temperature Profile

AbstractThis study uses the WRF ARW to investigate how different atmospheric temperature environments impact the size and structure development of a simulated tropical cyclone (TC). In each simulation, the entire vertical virtual temperature profile is either warmed or cooled in 1°C increments from an initial specified state while the initial relative humidity profile and sea surface temperature are held constant. This alters the initial amount of convective available potential energy (CAPE), specific humidity, and air–sea temperature difference such that, when the simulated atmosphere is cooled (warmed), the initial specific humidity and CAPE decrease (increase), but the surface energy fluxes from the ocean increase (decrease).It is found that the TCs that form in an initially cooler environment develop larger wind and precipitation fields with more active outer-core rainband formation. Consistent with previous studies, outer-core rainband formation is associated with high surface energy fluxes, which leads to increases in the outer-core wind field. A larger convective field develops despite initializing in a low CAPE environment, and the dynamics are linked to a wider field of surface radial inflow. As the TC matures and radial inflow expands, large imports of relative angular momentum in the boundary layer continue to drive expansion of the TC’s overall size.

Assessment of DCE-MRI parameters for brain tumors through implementation of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model approaches for Gd-DOTA.

Dynamic-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is used for detailed characterization of pathology of lesions sites, such as brain tumors, by quantitative analysis of tracer's data through the use of pharmacokinetic (PK) models. A key component for PK models in DCE-MRI is the estimation of the concentration-time profile of the tracerin a nearby vessel, referred as Arterial Input Function (AIF). The aim of this work was to assess through full body physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model approaches the PK profile of gadoteric acid (Gd-DOTA) and explore potential application for parameter estimation in DCE-MRI based on PBPK-derived AIFs. The PBPK simulations were generated through Simcyp(®) platform and the predicted PK parameters for Gd-DOTA were compared with available clinical data regarding healthy volunteers and renal impairment patients. The assessment of DCE-MRI parameters was implemented by utilizing similar virtual profiles based on gender, age and weight to clinical profiles of patients diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme. The PBPK-derived AIFs were then used to compute DCE-MRI parameters through the Extended Tofts Model and compared with the corresponding ones derived from image-based AIF computation. The comparison involved: (i) image measured AIF of patients vs AIF of in silico profile, and, (ii) population average AIF vs in silico mean AIFs. The results indicate that PBPK-derived AIFs allowed the estimation of comparable imaging biomarkers with those calculated from typical DCE-MRI image analysis. The incorporation of PBPK models and potential utilization of in silico profiles to real patient data, can provide new perspectives in DCE-MRI parameter estimation and data analysis.

Fama e engajamento no Instagram: as celebridades e a convocação de públicos

Com foco no contexto atual das redes sociais brasileiras – polarizado e turbulento, a intenção deste trabalho é observar as possibilidades e tentativas de representação dos anônimos através das novas formas de interlocução que se manifestam entre as celebridades e os comuns, no ambiente digital. A ideia é fomentar a reflexão a respeito do impacto da mídia na constituição de grupos sociais ativos, analisando as investidas de representação, por parte das celebridades, em seus movimentos de convocação e de interlocução com públicos específicos. Para tanto, examinamos, na empiria, os perfis virtuais da cantora Daniela Mercury e do rapper Emicida.

Dynamic energy-aware scheduling for parallel task-based application in cloud computing

Green Computing is a recent trend in computer science, which tries to reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint produced by computers on distributed platforms such as clusters, grids, and clouds. Traditional scheduling solutions attempt to minimize processing times without taking into account the energetic cost. One of the methods for reducing energy consumption is providing scheduling policies in order to allocate tasks on specific resources that impact over the processing times and energy consumption. In this paper, we propose a real-time dynamic scheduling system to execute efficiently task-based applications on distributed computing platforms in order to minimize the energy consumption. Scheduling tasks on multiprocessors is a well known NP-hard problem and optimal solution of these problems is not feasible, we present a polynomial-time algorithm that combines a set of heuristic rules and a resource allocation technique in order to get good solutions on an affordable time scale. The proposed algorithm minimizes a multi-objective function which combines the energy-consumption and execution time according to the energy-performance importance factor provided by the resource provider or user, also taking into account sequence-dependent setup times between tasks, setup times and down times for virtual machines (VM) and energy profiles for different architectures. A prototype implementation of the scheduler has been tested with different kinds of DAG generated at random as well as on real task-based COMPSs applications. We have tested the system with different size instances and importance factors, and we have evaluated which combination provides a better solution and energy savings. Moreover, we have also evaluated the introduced overhead by measuring the time for getting the scheduling solutions for a different number of tasks, kinds of DAG, and resources, concluding that our method is suitable for run-time scheduling.

Virtual multi-offset reflection profiling with interferometric imaging for borehole radar

Interferometry is one of the most advanced signal-processing and imaging techniques. It is widely used in geophysical detection and remote sensing. Application of interferometric processing significantly improves the resolution in geophysical imaging. This paper reports the application of an interferometric imaging approach to cross-hole multi-offset transmission (CHMOT) borehole radar data to generate a virtual single-hole, multi-offset reflection (SHMOR) profile with the validation of a real SHMOR data set. In subsurface material property imaging, SHMOR is an effective technique for interface and fracture detection. However, borehole radar survey in SHMOR fashion is not practical for most cases. Transforming cross-hole transmission mode radar data to virtual single-hole, multi-offset reflection data using a wave interferometric virtual source (WIVS) approach was proposed previously but not fully validated with real SHMOR data. In this study, we compare WIVS-derived virtual SHMOR to real SHMOR profiles using data sets acquired in two boreholes (SIMA1 and SIMA2) drilled into crystalline igneous bedrocks. As the calibration and validation, the reflection from borehole SIMA2 (as the known object) is clearly imaged by both the real and WIVS-derived virtual SHMOR profiles in SIMA1. The diffractions and amplitude decay from sharp stratigraphic change also registered at both the real and WIVS-derived virtual SHMOR profiles. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of the WIVS approach to improve structural imaging in bedrocks for hydrogeological, geothermal, and petroleum reservoir development applications.

Electronic band structure and optical gain of GaNxBiyAs1−x−y/GaAs pyramidal quantum dots

The electronic band structure and optical gain of GaNxBiyAs1−x−y/GaAs pyramidal quantum dots (QDs) are investigated using the 16-band k ⋅ p model with constant strain. The optical gain is calculated taking both homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadenings into consideration. The effective band gap falls as we increase the composition of nitrogen (N) and bismuth (Bi) and with an appropriate choice of composition we can tune the emission wavelength to span within 1.3 μm–1.55 μm, for device application in fiber technology. The extent of this red shift is more profound in QDs compared with bulk material due to quantum confinement. Other factors affecting the emission characteristics include virtual crystal, strain profile, band anticrossing (BAC), and valence band anticrossing (VBAC). The strain profile has a profound impact on the electronic structure, specially the valence band of QDs, which can be determined using the composition distribution of wave functions. All these factors eventually affect the optical gain spectrum. With an increase in QD size, we observe a red shift in the emission energy and emergence of secondary peaks owing to transitions or greater energy compared with the fundamental transition.

The impact of the QNSE‐EDMF scheme and its modifications on boundary layer parameterization in WRF: modelling of CASES‐97

In recent years, many eddy‐diffusivity mass‐flux (EDMF) planetary boundary layer (PBL) parametrizations have been introduced. Yet most validations are based on idealized set‐ups and/or single‐column models. To address this gap, this article focuses on the effect the mass‐flux part has on the performance in the Quasi‐Normal Scale Elimination‐EDMF (QNSE‐EDMF) PBL scheme in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model by comparing the results to observations from the CASES‐97 field campaign. In addition, two refined versions, one introducing the parametrized clouds to the WRF radiation scheme, and the second adding a different entrainment formulation, have been evaluated.The introduction of mass flux reduced errors in the average moisture profile, but virtual temperature and wind speed profiles did not change as much. The modelled mixed‐layer depth, while still low compared to observations, was closer to observed values with the addition of mass flux. The major changes in the virtual potential temperature flux profiles were an increase in entrainment ratios and a slight decrease in surface values. Allowing for biases in the observed fluxes, modelled and observed flux profiles had a similar shape. However, the agreement among the modelled and between the modelled and observed water‐vapour flux profiles and vertical flux divergence was often poor, a likely result of the model's failure to capture the timing of the morning boundary‐layer water‐vapour maximum. Further, both virtual potential temperature and water‐vapour flux profiles display spurious spikes attributed to the way the non‐local and local terms interact in the model. Adding mass‐flux‐based clouds to the radiation calculation improved the time‐and space‐averaged modelled incoming short‐wave flux. The choice of the representation for entrainment/detrainment often affected the results to the same extent as adding mass flux.

Model for the evolution of the time profile in optimistic parallel discrete event simulations

We investigate synchronisation aspects of an optimistic algorithm for parallel discrete event simulations (PDES). We present a model for the time evolution in optimistic PDES. This model evaluates the local virtual time profile of the processing elements. We argue that the evolution of the time profile is reminiscent of the surface profile in the directed percolation problem and in unrestricted surface growth. We present results of the simulation of the model and emphasise predictive features of our approach.

Transport of solar electrons in the turbulent interplanetary magnetic field

The turbulent transport of solar energetic electrons in the interplanetary magnetic field is investigated by means of a test-particle Monte-Carlo simulation. The magnetic fields are modeled as a combination of the Parker field and a turbulent component. In combination with the direct calculation of diffusion coefficients via the mean-square displacements, this approach allows one to analyze the effect of the initial ballistic transport phase. In that sense, the model complements the main other approach in which a transport equation is solved. The major advancement is that, by recording the flux of particles arriving at virtual detectors, intensity and anisotropy-time profiles can be obtained. Observational indications for a longitudinal asymmetry can thus be explained by tracing the diffusive spread of the particle distribution. The approach may be of future help for the systematic interpretation of observations for instance by the solar terrestrial relations observatory (STEREO) and advanced composition explorer (ACE) spacecrafts.

A Vida Escrita em Bytes. A Sociedade Superinformacional e as Novas Tecnologias: Será o Fim da Privacidade e da Dignidade Humana?

As recentes tecnologias alteraram a forma de comunicação social do ser humano, que passa a estabelecer contato direto com diversas pessoas em qualquer lugar do mundo. Aliado a esse fato, tem-se uma virtualização cada vez maior da pessoa humana, culminando em uma imersão no mundo virtual, que acaba por criar uma dependência cada vez maior da tecnologia para poder existir socialmente. Essa transformação no mundo dos conceitos faz com que o virtual passe a ter repercussão direta no mundo real. Atraído pelo brilho e o fascínio da rede virtual, a pessoa não encontra limites para a sua autopromoção. A vida privada é cada vez mais exposta para um número indeterminado de pessoas. Assim, a pessoa que se expõe nos meios virtuais em busca de aceitação, esquece-se que não está somente se desnudando de suas vestes ou de sua intimidade, mas, principalmente, está se despindo de sua dignidade. A busca desenfreada por algumas curtidas não encontra limite no bom senso, coisificando a pessoa e transformando-a em mero perfil virtual. A pessoa humana encontra, neste estado, a total falta de dignidade, sem que se perceba, torna-se um objeto em exposição. A internet é um palco propício para a espetacularização do eu virtual, o que faz dela um campo fértil para a indignidade. A história da civilização remonta a luta e a conquista da dignidade da pessoa humana, todavia, a época em que se vive assiste um movimento inverso. Contemporaneamente não é mais o estado ou o particular a constituir ameaça constante a dignidade humana. Aqueles que, seduzidos pela possibilidade de se tornarem a personalidade do momento, voluntariamente abdicam da sua dignidade em um processo cuja reversibilidade é questionável. A legislação não consegue acompanhar a velocidade das transformações ocorridas no mundo virtual e esse descompasso pode deixar a pessoa desprotegida principalmente em relação aos seus direitos à intimidade, privacidade e a própria dignidade humana.

Stereo-synthetic aperture radar technique without using control points to estimate terrain height

A stereo-synthetic aperture radar (stereo-SAR)-based technique is proposed to estimate the unknown terrain profile of a target area. This technique first mathematically builds up a virtual reference profile. An algorithm is afterward developed to estimate the relative height difference between the desired and reference profiles by using the trigonometric relationship between their relative SAR range distances, which allows for building up the height of the desired profile from the reference profile. This technique is advantageous and is simple in implementation because the virtual reference profile is constructed by using the same SAR range information as that used for the terrain profile under estimation, which is established by considering the measurement difference between two SAR receivers. It does not require the use of an existing known profile as the reference. Furthermore, we present a technique for calibrating the measured SAR range information, which significantly improves the estimation accuracy. Three practical examples are presented to demonstrate the feasibility of the developed technique.

Cross-pose face recognition based on multiple virtual views and alignment error

Although studied for decades, effective face recognition remains difficult to accomplish on account of occlusions and pose and illumination variations. Pose variance is a particular challenge in face recognition. Effective local descriptors have been proposed for frontal face recognition. When these descriptors are directly applied to cross-pose face recognition, the performance significantly decreases. To improve the descriptor performance for cross-pose face recognition, we propose a face recognition algorithm based on multiple virtual views and alignment error. First, warps between poses are learned using the Lucas–Kanade algorithm. Based on these warps, multiple virtual profile views are generated from a single frontal face, which enables non-frontal faces to be matched using the scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm. Furthermore, warps indicate the correspondence between patches of two faces. A two-phase alignment error is proposed to obtain accurate warps, which contain pose alignment and individual alignment. Correlations between patches are considered to calculate the alignment error of two faces. Finally, a hybrid similarity between two faces is calculated; it combines the number of matched keypoints from SIFT and the alignment error. Experimental results show that our proposed method achieves better recognition accuracy than existing algorithms, even when the pose difference angle was greater than 30°.

Vestibular implants: Hope for improving the quality of life of patients with bilateral vestibular loss.

The vestibular system plays an essential role in crucial tasks such as postural control, gaze stabilization, and spatial orientation. Currently, there is no effective treatment for a bilateral loss of the vestibular function (BVL). The quality of life of affected patients is significantly impaired. During the last decade, our group has explored the potential of using electrical stimulation to artificially restore the vestibular function. Our vestibular implant prototype consists of a custom modified cochlear implant featuring one to three vestibular electrodes implanted in the proximity of the ampullary branches of the vestibular nerve; in addition to the main cochlear array. Special surgical techniques for safe implantation of these devices have been developed. In addition, we have developed stimulation strategies to generate bidirectional eye movements as well as the necessary interfaces to capture the signal from a motion sensor (e.g., gyroscope) and use it to modulate the stimulation signals delivered to the vestibular nerves. To date, 24 vestibular electrodes have been implanted in 11 BVL patients. Using a virtual motion profile to modulate the "baseline" electrical stimulation, vestibular responses could be evoked with 21 electrodes. Eye movements with mean peak eye velocities of 32°/s and predominantly in the plane of the stimulated canal were successfully generated. These are within the range of normal compensatory eye movements during walking and were large enough to have a significant effect on the patients' visual acuity. These results indicate that electrical stimulation of the vestibular nerve has a significant functional impact; eye movements generated this way could be sufficient to restore gaze stabilization during essential everyday tasks such as walking. The innovative concept of the vestibular implant has the potential to restore the vestibular function and have a central role in improving the quality of life of BVL patients in the near future.

Información y verdad en el uso de las redes sociales por parte de adolescentes

Uno de los retos más importantes que presenta Internet es el de la veracidad de la información en la Red. Aunque la mentira es una posibilidad inherente en la comunicación humana, Internet ha favorecido que cualquiera pueda crear un contenido falso en la Red. Por otra parte, Internet ha propiciado nuevas formas de sociabilidad y de experimentación en los más jóvenes. En este sentido, las redes sociales permiten el juego con los perfiles virtuales e incluso la creación de falsos perfiles. El presente artículo aborda estos dos temas, además de profundizar en los retos que ello presenta desde el punto de vista moral y educativo, especialmente en los más jóvenes.