Citizen science, involving the public in scientific processes alongside researchers, offers promise for health research and collaborative health management. This participatory approach engages laypersons in knowledge production, yielding insights unattainable through traditional methods. This article highlights citizen science's practical contributions to healthcare, advocating for its role in reshaping the healthcare model. Drawing from four recent projects, it emphasises the importance of professional and patient involvement in solution development. These experiences underscore the need for rigorous criteria identification and early-stage involvement to ensure project success.Recommendations to advance citizen science in health management include extending value-based health principles to product development, diversifying participant profiles, integrating citizen scientists into early research phases, leveraging technology for data collection, and ensuring methodological rigour. These suggestions aim to enhance the effectiveness of citizen science in addressing health challenges and fostering collaborative innovation in healthcare.The future of social and healthcare services must actively include citizens and professionals throughout the process to humanise these services, enhancing health products, services and environments.

Remote patient monitoring systems are increasingly gaining attention among researchers and healthcare providers who have also started adopting innovative solutions. It is easy to understand why remote monitoring platforms would enhance treatment efficiency and access to healthcare solutions for patients who face difficulties travelling to hospitals, especially older persons and chronic patients who require frequent monitoring of their vital signs and other health indicators, rehabilitation or other social and healthcare support. Therefore, these platforms are, in turn, sources of information for patients about their disease. The fact that they have access to information gives them more knowledge and makes them more in touch with and responsible for it. It empowers them. Besides, from a clinician's point of view, these platforms are a storage system for providing valuable and varied patient information, thus allowing them to have a holistic view of their patients and empowering them. In short, access to and availability of information empowers the patient-clinical staff team.Once these data have been collected, a thorough analysis and interpretation is necessary. This interpretation requires the interdisciplinary collaboration of the technical-clinical and scientific community to develop relevant and exciting functionalities for the improvement of health.This study presents a collection of case studies that collect some insight into the design based on human factors and user experience applied to three monitoring technologies and artificial intelligence algorithms to improve the prevention and management of different conditions.The usability and acceptance measures are generally well received and successful and are particularly effective when conducted during the preparation of the experiment. In other words, if the experiment includes the end-user (patient and clinical staff) as part of the design.

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like (NOD) receptors rely on the interface between immunity and metabolism. Dietary factors constitute critical players in the activation of innate immunity and modulation of the gut microbiota. The latter have been involved in worsening or improving the control and promotion of diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, diseases known as non-communicable metabolic diseases (NCDs), and the risk of developing cancer. Intracellular NODs play key coordinated actions with innate immune ‘Toll-like’ receptors leading to a diverse array of gene expressions that initiate inflammatory and immune responses. There has been an improvement in the understanding of the molecular and genetic implications of these receptors in, among others, such aspects as resting energy expenditure, insulin resistance, and cell proliferation. Genetic factors and polymorphisms of the receptors are determinants of the risk and severity of NCDs and cancer, and it is conceivable that dietary factors may have significant differential consequences depending on them. Host factors are difficult to influence, while environmental factors are predominant and approachable with a preventive and/or therapeutic intention in obesity, T2D, and cancer. However, beyond the recognition of the activation of NODs by peptidoglycan as its prototypical agonist, the underlying molecular response(s) and its consequences on these diseases remain ill-defined. Metabolic (re)programming is a hallmark of NCDs and cancer in which nutritional strategies might play a key role in preventing the unprecedented expansion of these diseases. A better understanding of the participation and effects of immunonutritional dietary ingredients can boost integrative knowledge fostering interdisciplinary science between nutritional precision and personalized medicine against cancer. This review summarizes the current evidence concerning the relationship(s) and consequences of NODs on immune and metabolic health.

The adequate acquisition of X-ray images is crucial for effectively monitoring and treating patients with significant spinal deformities, particularly those with mobility limitations, mainly children. Patients with these considerations include individuals with cerebral palsy, who face additional challenges in doctor-patient interactions due to speech and cognitive restrictions. Moreover, patients with spasticity resulting from paralysis may exhibit uncontrollable limb movements.In the absence of suitable devices forcing patients to maintain a stable seated position during imaging, they often adopt inadequate postures, risking misdiagnosis and unnecessary radiation exposure if exam repetition is needed. To address this issue, an X-ray Sitting Support device has been designed to accommodate patients with these pathologies and ensure high-quality radiographic images while prioritizing patient safety and comfort.The development of the X-Ray Sitting Support device was based on a Human Factors plan and User Experience methodologies, with an iterative process focusing on physical ergonomics, usability, and patient acceptance. Feedback from patients, medical personnel, and caregivers was integrated throughout the design process, from defining requirements to real-world prototype validation. This comprehensive approach ensured that the imaging sitting support met the needs of both patients and medical professionals, enhancing the effectiveness and safety of radiological examinations for individuals unable to stand.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) implies different conditions where insulin resistance constitutes a major hallmark of the disease. The disease incurs a high risk for the development of cardiovascular complications, and takes its toll in regard to the gut-liver axis (pancreas, primary liver and colorectal)-associated immunity. The modulation of immunometabolic responses by immunonutritional factors (IFs) has emerged as a key determinant of the gut-liver axis' metabolic and immune health. IFs from plant seeds have shown in vitro and pre-clinical effectiveness primarily in dealing with various immunometabolic and inflammatory diseases. Only recently have immunonutritional studies established the engagement of innate intestinal immunity to effectively control immune alterations in inflamed livers preceding the major features of the MetS. However, integrative analyses and the demonstration of causality between IFs and specific gut-liver axis-associated immunometabolic imbalances for the MetS remain ill-defined in the field. Herein, a better understanding of the IFs with a significant role in the MetS, as well as within the dynamic interplay in the functional differentiation of innate immune key effectors (i.e., monocytes/macrophages), worsening or improving the disease, could be of crucial relevance. The development of an adequate intermediary phenotype of these cells can significantly contribute to maintaining the function of Tregs and innate lymphoid cells for the prevention and treatment of MetS and associated comorbidities.

The usability validation process of medical devices outside controlled environments such as test facilities, laboratories, or by expert groups is vital to scrutinising the viability of the developed solution. This work outlines a case study in which the Spanish emergency service 061-Andalucia took part in the validation process of a non-contact vital sign measuring device through image processing, describing the methodology, participant sample, data analysis and conclusions. The measured vital signs were heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, temperature, and blood pressure contactless at 2 meters (6.5 ft). In the study, three emergency service teams from three different operation bases in Malaga (Spain) underwent the validation process under semi-real conditions. Each team was provided with one measurement device used during the work shift on patients who were not in a critical stage, conscious and willing to participate in the study after being informed and signing a consent form. The primary goals of the validation were to analyse the ease of the process, reliability, and robustness of the measurements against the standard measurement equipment of the emergency service in different scenarios, as well as detect errors and limitations under semi-real conditions of use. Besides providing evidence of a potential improvement in the service through this new camera system, the satisfaction of the users/ patient and reducing equipment weight. Under these harsh conditions, the measurement device with a technical readiness level 7 reached reliability and robustness between 70% and 100%, depending on the measured vital signs and a high acceptance among the professionals of 66,66%.

Food ingredients have critical effects on the maturation and development of the immune system, which innate - lymphoid (ILCs) and myeloid - cells play key roles as important regulators of energy storage and hepatic fat accumulation. Therefore, the objective of this study is to define potential links between a dietary immunonutritional induction of the selective functional differentiation of monocytes-derived macrophages, ILCs and lipid homeostasis in hepatocarcinoma (HCC)-developing mice. Hepatic chemically injured (diethylnitrosamine/thiacetamide) Rag2-/- and Rag2-/-Il2-/- mice were administered with serine-type protease inhibitors (SETIs) obtained from Chenopodium quinoa. Early HCC-driven immunometabolic imbalances (infiltrated macrophages, glucose homeostasis, hepatic lipid profile, ILCs expansion, inflammatory conditions, microbiota) in animals put under a high-fat diet for 2 weeks were assessed. It was also approached the potential of SETIs to cause functional adaptations of the bioenergetics of human macrophage-like cells (hMLCs) in vitro conditioning their capacity to accumulate fat. It is showed that Rag2-/-Il2-/- mice, lacking ILCs, are resistant to the SETIs-induced hepatic macrophages (CD68+F4/80+) activation. Feeding SETIs to Rag2-/- mice, carrying ILCs, promoted the expansion towards ILC3s (CD117+Nkp46+CD56+) and reduced that of ILC2s (CD117+KLRG1+) into livers. In vitro studies demonstrate that hMLCs, challenged to SETIs, develop a similar phenotype of that found in mice and bioenergetic adaptations leading to increased lipolysis. It is concluded that SETIs promote liver macrophage activation and ILCs adaptations to ameliorate HCC-driven immunometabolic imbalances.

The number of Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) in the vehicle has continuously increased during the last years. There is, however, a lack of understanding in how this information can be better conveyed to the driver, in order to optimize its help. Drivers may become overexposed to visual information when driving, or acoustic alerts can be masked in noised environments. Moreover, if the user is not paying attention to the road or using headphones, visual and acoustic alerts would not be as efficient or desirable, but the key is the multimodal communication.Therefore, a study has been carried to evaluate the effectiveness of a new haptic and acoustic ADAS system comparing it to conventional visual ADAS. This new system is called Vibe system, that consists of a seat with haptic actuators and acoustic signals. In order to carry out the experiment, 20 subjects in ‘standard’ sleeping conditions and 10 in ‘sleep deprived’ conditions participated in the experiment. The experimentations were taken place in the dynamic driving simulator developed by the IBV’s Human Autonomous Vehicle (HAV). Users were immersed in driving tasks, in day and night conditions, with CARLA SW in the HAV simulator while several visual, auditive and haptic alerts appeared to simulate different ADAS of some of the most common vehicle brands. In every hazardous situation during the driving tasks, the following alerts were triggered: drowsiness, blind spot alert, overspeed alert and lane change. The driving behavior, the mental status and the user opinion of each user was gathered using telemetry, physiological signals and validated questionnaires such as TAM or SUS.In a general overview, there are barely no statistically significant difference in the main parameters between the haptic and the conventional visual ADAS evaluated, so the effect of each signal is similar in controlled conditions. Currently, the acceptance of traditional ADAS is slightly higher but haptic ADAS acceptance improves along sessions, even being a new technology.

This study explored the effects of Chenopodium quinoa's ingredients on the major lipids' hepatic profile and the functional selective differentiation of monocyte-derived macrophages and innate lymphoid cells in mice on a high-fat diet. Six-week-old Rag2(-/-) and Rag2(-/-)Il2(-/-) mice received (12 days) a low-molecular-weight protein fraction (LWPF) or the lipid fraction (qLF) obtained from the cold pressing of C. quinoa's germen. At the end of the experiment, mouse serum and liver tissue were collected. The differences in triglycerides, phospholipids, and the major lipids profile were analyzed. Infiltrated monocyte-derived macrophages and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and the expression of liver metabolic stress-related mRNA were measured. In the Rag2(-/-) mice, feeding them LWPF appeared to improve, to a larger extent, their hepatic capacity to utilize fatty acids in comparison to the qLF by preventing the overwhelming of triglycerides (TGs), despite both reducing the hepatic lipid accumulation. An analysis of the hepatic major lipids profile revealed significant increased variations in the PUFAs and phospholipid composition in the Rag2(-/-) mice fed with the LWPF or LF. The Rag2(-/-)Il2(-/-) mice, lacking innate and adaptive lymphocytes, seemed resistant to mobilizing hepatic TGs and unresponsive to lipid accumulation when fed with the LF. Notably, only the Rag2(-/-) mice fed with the LWPF showed an increased proportion of hepatic CD68+F4/80+ cells population, with a better controlled expression of the innate immune 'Toll-like' receptor (TLR)-4. These changes were associated with an oriented expansion of pluripotential CD117+ cells towards ILC2s (CD117+KLRG1+). Thus, C. quinoa's ingredients resulted in being advantageous for improving the mechanisms for controlling the hepatic lipotoxicity derived from a high-fat diet, promoting liver macrophage and ILCs expansion to a selective functional differentiation for the control of HFD-driven immune and metabolic disturbances.

Over 1.6 billion people (aged 15 years and above) worldwide are currently either overweight or obese, and this number is predicted to increase to 2.3 billion by 2050 (WHO). Excessive or impaired energy storage in the liver incurs a high risk of liver dysfunction and development of obesity, lipodystrophy, or cachexia, and impairs organismal homeostasis. Chenopodium quinoa seeds constitute a good source of immunonutritional compounds, enabling the selective functional differentiation and function of intrahepatic monocyte-derived macrophages. The latter play a key role in controlling adiposity associated with innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), which determine the induction of diet-induced obesity (DIO). Herein, two immune-conditioned mouse models—Rag2−/− and Rag2−/−IL2−/−—were used to examine the influences preventing DIO with a protein-rich fraction (PRF) and oil obtained from C. quinoa seeds. Variations in myeloid cells and precursors of ILCs were evaluated by FACS analyses as well as the hepatosomatic index to estimate liver inflammation. Only the administration of C. quinoa PRF prevented alterations in the liver/body weight ratio, both in animals carrying ILCs (i.e., Rag2−/−) and not (Rag2−/−IL2−/−). These effects were associated with significantly decreased variations in the hepatic triglyceride content. FACS revealed that PRF from C. quinoa favors the hepatic infiltration of myeloid and enables the selective functional differentiation and function of intrahepatic monocyte-derived macrophages, preserving tissue integrity and function.

Lung cancer is one of the most deadly and common cancers in the world. The molecular features of patient’s tumours dictate the different therapeutic decisions, which combines targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Altered cellular metabolism is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Tumour cells reprogram their metabolism to adapt to their novel requirements of growth, proliferation, and survival. Together with the Warburg effect, the role of lipid metabolism alterations in cancer development and prognosis has been highlighted. Several lipid related genes have been shown to promote transformation and progression of cancer cells and have been proposed as biomarkers for prognosis. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms of the regulation of lipid metabolism and the biological consequences in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been elucidated yet. There is an urgent necessity to develop multidisciplinary and complementary strategies to improve NSCLC patients´ well-being and treatment response. Nutrients can directly affect fundamental cellular processes and some diet-derived ingredients, bioactive natural compounds and natural extracts have been shown to inhibit the tumour growth in preclinical and clinical trials. Previously, we described a supercritical extract of rosemary (SFRE) (12 - 16% composition of phenolic diterpenes carnosic acid and carnosol) as a potential antitumoral agent in colon and breast cancer due to its effects on the inhibition of lipid metabolism and DNA synthesis, and in the reduction of resistance to 5-FluoroUracil (5-FU). Herein, we demonstrate SFRE inhibits NSCLC cell bioenergetics identifying several lipid metabolism implicated targets. Moreover, SFRE synergises with standard therapeutic drugs used in the clinic, such as cisplatin, pemetrexed and pembrolizumab to inhibit of cell viability of NSCLC cells. Importantly, the clinical relevance of SFRE as a complement in the treatment of NSCLC patients is suggested based on the results of a pilot clinical trial where SFRE formulated with bioactive lipids (PCT/ES2017/070263) diminishes metabolic and inflammatory targets in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), such as MAPK (p=0.04), NLRP3 (p=0.044), and SREBF1 (p=0.047), which may augment the immune antitumour function. Based on these results, SFRE merits further investigation as a co-adjuvant in the treatment of NSCLC. Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT05080920

The current pandemic situation due to the appearance of the coronavirus-2 or SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has increased the demand and familiarization of the population with infrared cameras and their thermal interpretation. Infrared radiation and the technology behind it have become a necessity not only developing new applications for the present but also for the future. In the post-pandemic world, commercial solutions to existing problems are being developed with this technology and with very efficient approaches, reducing costs and complementing many areas.Institute of Biomechanics of Valencia (IBV) is constantly innovating in the field of infrared thermal imaging and its applications in the well-being of people through research, experimentation and user validation. 3D models have been developed merging anthropometric data and thermal information based on scanners, 3D reconstruction and imagen processing. Some of the algorithms for monitoring and reconstruction system are based on a FLIR A35 thermal camera and an INTEL RealSense D455 depth sensor, a low-cost, high-performance sensor.Artificial intelligence techniques applied to images, mainly in visible or RGB datasets, have undergone significant development in recent years, however there is a gap in the application in thermal images. The IBV has compiled a powerful database for years from many users, insulation in clothes, extreme scenarios and different poses and face orientations. Many networks, models and libraries of computer vision, have been explored and some AI techniques (machine and deep learning) have been applied to extract information from those images, although open solutions and networks do not work accurately. The thermal database has been used to retrain these network models and the results have been considerably better.Near real-time, low-cost 3D thermal reconstruction, with embedded AI techniques, has been applied in facemasks evaluation, face recognition, feature and key points extraction, segmentation and development of automatic thermal measure algorithms. From feature extraction and landmark information, aspects such as thermotype, age and sex, have been also determined, or even the effects of the emotions, rotations or artifacts like glasses, facemasks or beards on the identification of the user. IBV has a huge background in this technology and develops new innovative solutions in order to tackle with new challenges, from determining the effect a facemask has, in thermal comfort or breathing rate to helping physician to diagnose certain diseases, such as circulatory, vascular problems and the effect of therapies or cosmetic products. In this way, information on the thermoregulatory behavior of the human body is provided, allowing to relate changes in thermal maps, to certain pathologies or to the effect of a treatment, skin affections, varicose veins or joint injuries.

Dynamic driving simulators have been a key tool to reduce time and costs during the design and development of new automobile models or advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) (Lyga et al., 2020). However, more efforts are needed to enhance the acceptance of new technologies by considering the human factors early in the process.Due to the high development costs or to the low fidelity of the final result, to develop and build a medium cost dynamic driving simulator with a good level of immersivity is not an easy task. The simulator should have a high level of immersivity, to achieve high correlation with field operational tests, and minimize the sickness effect of the simulators. A simulator with these capabilities can be used to validate different devices or systems from the automobile field with users, measuring physiological signals, behavior, movements and telemetry data.IBV has achieved this dynamic driving simulator by using an open-source software, CARLA (Team, n.d.), in which the different scenarios can be simulated. This simulator is based in a client server architecture, a motion platform with 6 degrees of freedom and 550 kg of payload (“Motion Platform PS-6TM-550 (6DoF, 550kg) - Motion Systems,” n.d.), three main screens with two rearview screens and an HMI (Human Machine Interface). This HMI can be used as an additional screen showing relevant travel information to the user, as a display of the user´s signals or as a panel with a driving assistance system among other things.The possibility of validating different products with a dynamic simulator of these characteristics, in which emotional responses associated to the different driving conditions can be generated and evaluated, with defined and customized experimentation conditions, and without having to develop their own simulator, can save a lot of time and money to the different companies.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prototypical inflammation-associated loss of cognitive function, with approximately 90% of the AD burden associated with invading myeloid cells controlling the function of the resident microglia. This indicates that the immune microenvironment has a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Multiple peripheral stimuli, conditioned by complex and varied interactions between signals that stem at the intestinal level and neuroimmune processes, are involved in the progression and severity of AD. Conceivably, the targeting of critical innate immune signals and cells is achievable, influencing immune and metabolic health within the gut–brain axis. Considerable progress has been made, modulating many different metabolic and immune alterations that can drive AD development. However, non-pharmacological strategies targeting immunometabolic processes affecting neuroinflammation in AD treatment remain general and, at this point, are applied to all patients regardless of disease features. Despite these possibilities, improved knowledge of the relative contribution of the different innate immune cells and molecules comprising the chronically inflamed brain network to AD pathogenesis, and elucidation of the network hierarchy, are needed for planning potent preventive and/or therapeutic interventions. Moreover, an integrative perspective addressing transdisciplinary fields can significantly contribute to molecular pathological epidemiology, improving the health and quality of life of AD patients. This review is intended to gather modifiable immunometabolic processes based on their importance in the prevention and management of AD.

Here two real case studies of design and development with different grades of complexity are presented. A medical instrument prototype of a pneumatic retraction and holding system for surgical procedures and an electromedical device for non-invasive glucose measuring developed both from a TRL 4 to reach a TRL 7. The products were designed in the frame time of six months and fifteen months, respectively. The medical instrument was developed using a conventional Lean project and engineering design approach. Meanwhile, the electromedical device was created using Lean project management alongside a human-centred design and person-oriented innovation approaches. Based on the Lean approach, both products were built on a common ground project development path that the IBV follows. Besides, both projects had a common limiting factor, the need to meet a very demanding schedule of deadlines. The paper details the development stages followed in both products to compare how the human-centred design methods are integrated and could have been incorporated in the medical instrument case. Based on the Institute of Biomechanics’ (IBV) background in project management in the design, development and innovation of medical devices, this paper seeks to share applied knowledge on successfully implementing human factors plan and ergonomics in the engineering design process.

Neurodegenerative diseases are commonly associated to metabolic imbalances due to dysfunction of central hubs that contribute to neuro-immune regulation and physiology. Compelling evidence highlighted the microbiome as a new player with an important role as either trigger or driver of immunometabolic events within the neuroimmune axis. In this context, immunonutritional components can have important consequences for neurodegenerative disorders as they can influence and modulate neuroimmune signals that stem at intestinal level. However, the underlying mechanism(s) of the diet on neuroimmune interactions are still largely unknown. Understanding the role of innate immune "toll-like" receptors (TLRs), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ), and mitochondrial biosynthesis in relation to immunometabolic-responsive neurodegenerative disorders might provide new therapeutic targets and facilitate the development of coadjutant treatments to the classical pharmacological approach (e.g., different fatty acid content in medium chain triglycerides diets) or modification of the lipid and energetic homeostasis. The proposed mechanism of the signaling modulation of TLRs, PPARγ activation and preservation of the mitochondrial bioenergetically function provides a rationale for efficacy in the treatment of diet-responsive neuroinflammatory processes. Notably, further pre/clinical studies are needed to either decrease or mitigate potential adverse effects of neurodegenerative diseases via immunonutritional precision strategies.

Complex interactions between innate and adaptive immune effectors are an important component in the induction of obesity. Particularly, different subsets of myeloid cells play key roles in metabolic liver diseases and, therefore, are promising targets for intervention strategies. Chenopodium quinoa seeds constitute a good source of immunonutritional compounds, which help prevent high-fat, diet-enhanced innate immune signaling via TLR4/MyD88 that boosts inflammation. Herein, two metabolic mouse models—wild type (WT) and tributyltin treated (TBT)—were used to examine the effects associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) and administered with wheat or C. quinoa bread. Variations in myeloid cells were obtained from a hemogram analysis, and rt-qPCR (mRNA) served to evaluate macrophage markers (i.e., CD68/CD206 ratio) as well as liver inflammation (i.e., Lyve-1) to gain insights into their selective functional differentiation into metabolically injured livers. Only administration of C. quinoa bread prevented alterations in the liver/body weight ratio either in WT animals or those treated with TBT. These effects were associated with significantly increased variations in the peripheral myeloid cell population. Hepatic mRNA markers revealed that C. quinoa enables a selective functional differentiation and function of intrahepatic monocyte-derived macrophages preserving tissue integrity and function.

Emotion recognition is crucial to increase user acceptance in autonomous driving. SUaaVE project aims to formulate ALFRED, defined as the human-centered artificial intelligence to humanize the vehicle actions by estimating the emotions felt by the passengers and managing preventive or corrective actions, providing tailored support. This paper presents the development of an emotional model able to estimate the values of valence (how negative or positive a stimulus is) and arousal (the level of excitement) from the analysis of physiological signals. The model has been validated with an experimental test simulating different driving scenarios of autonomous vehicles. The results found that driving mode can influence the emotional state felt by the passengers. Further exploration of this emotional model is therefore advised to detect on board experiences and to lead to new applications in the framework of empathic vehicles.

Sleeping or drowsiness while driving contributes to human error, being one of the most relevant causes of traffic collisions and accidents in the world. Although it is foreseen that completely automated vehicles can reduce significantly these numbers, there will be a sequential incorporation of automated vehicles, from existing vehicles, level 0 or 1, to level 2 and level 3 of automation (according to SAE definition) in which the risk of drowsiness can persist or even increase. For this reason, reliable detection of drowsiness is one of the leading objectives in the development of new Advanced Driver Assistance systems. The main hypothesis in the present work is that the physical response in drivers can be indirectly measured via biophysical parameters, such as changes in heart variability (HRV), and that measurement can lead to early drowsiness detection. Following this principle, the main objective of this paper is to present the development a non-invasive system integrated in the vehicle steering wheel to detect the presence of somnolence while driving and validate it via KSS. The final purpose is to integrate the system in vehicles to create warnings or alarms for the driver to avoid accidents related with fatigue or drowsiness.

Caffeic acid is one of the most abundant hydroxycinnamic acids in fruits, vegetables, and beverages. This phenolic compound reaches relevant concentrations in the colon (up to 126 µM) where it could come into contact with the intestinal cells and exert its anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this investigation was to study the capacity of caffeic acid, at plausible concentrations from an in vivo point of view, to modulate mechanisms related to intestinal inflammation. Consequently, we tested the effects of caffeic acid (50–10 µM) on cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and prostaglandin (PG)E2, cytokines, and chemokines (IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 -MCP-1-, and IL-6) biosynthesis in IL-1β-treated human myofibroblasts of the colon, CCD-18Co. Furthermore, the capacity of caffeic acid to inhibit the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, to hinder advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation, as well as its antioxidant, reducing, and chelating activity were also investigated. Our results showed that (i) caffeic acid targets COX-2 and its product PGE2 as well as the biosynthesis of IL-8 in the IL-1β-treated cells and (ii) inhibits AGE formation, which could be related to (iii) the high chelating activity exerted. Low anti-ACE, antioxidant, and reducing capacity of caffeic acid was also observed. These effects of caffeic acid expands our knowledge on anti-inflammatory mechanisms against intestinal inflammation.