The Music and Technology that Keeps Us Alive

My culminating experience will be a live performance demonstrating new skills I have acquired during my time at Berklee Valencia form Fall 2014 to Summer 2015. The work is as follows: • Live Performance – Original songs from newly released EP on Berklee’s Disrupcion Records. • Writing, producing, recording, mixing, and mastering five (5) original songs, in conjunction with band members, released on Berklee’s Disrupcion Records. • Custom 3D Projection Mapping Structure designed using Sketchup CAD modeling software. • Creation of visual performance interface using Adobe Premier, Adobe After Effects, and Resolume • Live controller and MIDI Interface (Orbit)https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-production-technology/1010/thumbnail.jp

Titik at Tunog: Pahambing na Palatitikan ng Wikang Ingles at Filipino

Sa talakayan ng Unibersal na Gramatika ni Chomsky (1956) ipinaliwanag niya kung paano nag- uugnay ang mga wika sa mga tuntunin ng unibersal na patakaran ng mga estruktura at kaayusan ng mga wika. Sa diwang ito, ang layunin ng papel na ito ay ang kritikal na pag-aralan at paghambingin ang mga pagkakatulad at pagkakaiba ng wikang Filipino at Ingles sa larang ng ponolohiya at palatitikan upang makapagbigay ng karampatang rekomendasyon kung paano mas mapayayabong ang magandang koneksiyon sa pagitan ng dalawang wika

Throughput and Power Consumption Comparisons of Zigbee-based and ISM-based Implementations of WSAN

Wireless sensor and actuator networks have expanding applications which requires better throughput, power efficiency and cost effectiveness. This study intends to contribute to the growing pool of knowledge on WSAN especially in the design for novel applications such as image or video over WSANs, and solar energy and RF energy harvesting for the WSAN nodes. Two basic scalable wireless sensor and actuator networks were implemented and characterized in terms of throughput and power consumption. The two WSANs are the Zigbee-based WSAN which is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol, and the ISM-based Zigbee which makes use of the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio bands. The star topology was used for both WSAN implementations. The throughput is quantified with varied factors including distance from node to node, obstructions in between nodes and cochannel interference. As distance and obstructions between nodes are increased, the throughput for both networks decreases with varying degrees. Co-channel interference is also considered. The ISM-based WSAN network is weak in dealing with co-channel interference and error rate as compared to the Zigbee-based WSAN, thus requiring it to have a better data encryption. Power consumption is generally larger for the ISM-based WSAN as compared to its Zigbee-based counterpart. However, the ISM-based nodes consume the same power even up to a few hundreds of meters distance and are thus practical for covering large distances. Therefore, the Zigbee-based WSAN system is more appropriate for closed environment, such as in room automation and home automation applications where distance from node to node is relatively shorter. The ISMbased WSAN prototype, on the other hand, can be developed further for applications in larger areas such as deployment in fields and cities, since transmission is not generally limited by distance and obstructions

Splenic peliosis with spontaneous splenic rupture: report of two cases

BACKGROUND: Peliosis is a rare condition characterised by multiple cyst-like, blood-filled cavities within the parenchyma of solid organs. Most commonly affecting the liver, isolated splenic peliosis is an even more unique phenomenon. Patients with the condition are often asymptomatic. However, this potentially lethal condition can present with spontaneous organ rupture. We present two such cases, discuss their management and review what is currently known in the existing literature. CASE PRESENTATION: A previously well twenty-six year old woman presented with abdominal pain following a trivial episode of coughing. A diagnosis of spontaneous splenic rupture was made following clinical and radiological examination. She underwent emergency splenectomy and made a full, uneventful recovery. Histopathological examination confirmed splenic peliosis. The second case describes an eighty six year old lady who sustained a trivial fall and developed pain in her left side. A CT confirmed splenic rupture. She became haemodynamically unstable during her admission and underwent emergency splenectomy. Histopathological examination revealed splenic peliosis. She went on to make an uneventful recovery. CONCLUSION: Splenic peliosis is very rare. It has a number of associations including immunosuppression, drug therapy and infection. Although patients are often asymptomatic, life-threatening spontaneous organ rupture may occur. If the diagnosis of peliosis is confirmed, additional investigations should be considered to detect its presence in other organs. Furthermore, the presence of the condition may be relevant if further medical or surgical intervention is planned

Optimal and continuous anaemia control in a cohort of dialysis patients in Switzerland

BACKGROUND: Guidelines for the management of anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) recommend a minimal haemoglobin (Hb) target of 11 g/dL. Recent surveys indicate that this requirement is not met in many patients in Europe. In most studies, Hb is only assessed over a short-term period. The aim of this study was to examine the control of anaemia over a continuous long-term period in Switzerland. METHODS: A prospective multi-centre observational study was conducted in dialysed patients treated with recombinant human epoetin (EPO) beta, over a one-year follow-up period, with monthly assessments of anaemia parameters. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty patients from 27 centres, representing 14% of the dialysis population in Switzerland, were included. Mean Hb was 11.9 +/- 1.0 g/dL, and remained stable over time. Eighty-five % of the patients achieved mean Hb >or= 11 g/dL. Mean EPO dose was 155 +/- 118 IU/kg/week, being delivered mostly by subcutaneous route (64-71%). Mean serum ferritin and transferrin saturation were 435 +/- 253 microg/L and 30 +/- 11%, respectively. At month 12, adequate iron stores were found in 72.5% of patients, whereas absolute and functional iron deficiencies were observed in only 5.1% and 17.8%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that diabetes unexpectedly influenced Hb towards higher levels (12.1 +/- 0.9 g/dL; p = 0.02). One year survival was significantly higher in patients with Hb >or= 11 g/dL than in those with Hb <11 g/dL (19.7% vs 7.3%, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: In comparison to European studies of reference, this survey shows a remarkable and continuous control of anaemia in Swiss dialysis centres. These results were reached through moderately high EPO doses, mostly given subcutaneously, and careful iron therapy management

Serum iPTH, calcium and phosphate, and the risk of mortality in a European haemodialysis population

Background. A number of US observational studies reported an increased mortality risk with higher intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcium and/or phosphate. The existence of such a link in a European haemodialysis population was explored as part of the Analysing Data, Recognising Excellence and Optimising Outcomes (ARO) Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Research Initiative

Birth cohort-specific trends of sun-related behaviors among individuals from an international consortium of melanoma-prone families

Background: Individuals from melanoma-prone families have similar or reduced sun-protective behaviors compared to the general population. Studies on trends in sun-related behaviors have been temporally and geographically limited. Methods: Individuals from an international consortium of melanoma-prone families (GenoMEL) were retrospectively asked about sunscreen use, sun exposure (time spent outside), sunburns, and sunbed use at several timepoints over their lifetime. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine the association between these outcomes and birth cohort defined by decade spans, after adjusting for covariates. Results: A total of 2407 participants from 547 families across 17 centers were analyzed. Sunscreen use increased across subsequent birth cohorts, and although the likelihood of sunburns increased until the 1950s birth cohort, it decreased thereafter. Average sun exposure did not change across the birth cohorts, and the likelihood of sunbed use increased in more recent birth cohorts. We generally did not find any differences in sun-related behavior when comparing melanoma cases to non-cases. Melanoma cases had increased sunscreen use, decreased sun exposure, and decreased odds of sunburn and sunbed use after melanoma diagnosis compared to before diagnosis. Conclusions: Although sunscreen use has increased and the likelihood of sunburns has decreased in more recent birth cohorts, individuals in melanoma-prone families have not reduced their overall sun exposure and had an increased likelihood of sunbed use in more recent birth cohorts. These observations demonstrate partial improvements in melanoma prevention and suggest that additional intervention strategies may be needed to achieve optimal sun-protective behavior in melanoma-prone families.This work was supported by: the European Commission under the 6th and 7th Framework Programme [LSH-CT-2006-018702] to JNB; Cancer Research UK Programme Awards (C588/A4994 and C588/ A10589) to DTB/JNB; a Cancer Research UK Project Grant (C8216/A6129) to DTB/JNB; the US National Institutes of Health [R01 CA83115 (PAK, DEE, DTB)], the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia [NHMRC 107359, 402761, 633004, 566946, 211172, 1093017, 1147843 (AC)]; the Cancer Council New South Wales (project grant 77/00, 06/10); the Cancer Institute New South Wales [CINSW 05/TPG/1-01, 10/TPG/1-02], 15/CDF/1-14 (AC); CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior); FAPESP (Fundação para o Amparo da Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) – SP, Brazil # 2007/04313-2; the Cancer Research Foundations of Radiumhemmet and the Swedish Cancer Society; the Paulsson Trust, Lund University; grant support from the Swedish Cancer Society and European Research Council Advanced Grant (ERC-2011-294576); the research at the Melanoma Unit in Barcelona is partially funded by Spanish Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias grants PI15/ 00716 and PI15/00956; CIBER de Enfermedades Raras of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain, co-financed by European Regional Development Fund “A way to achieve Europe” ERDF; AGAUR 2014_SGR_603 of the Catalan Government, Spain; Diagnoptics; a grant from “Fundació La Marató de TV3” 201331-30, Catalonia, Spain; a grant from “Fundación Científica de la Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer” GCB15152978SOEN, Spain, and CERCA Programme / Generalitat de Catalunya. Part of the work was carried out at the Esther Koplowitz Center, Barcelona; Italian Ministry of Health RF-2016- 02362288 to PG; the Comisión Honoraria de Lucha Contra el Cáncer, CSIC, Fundación Manuel Pérez, Montevideo, Uruguay; Francisco Cuellar is supported by a scholarship awarded by CONACYT, Mexico (152256/158706)