3,553 research outputs found
Acoustic cloaking and mirages with flying carpets
Carpets under consideration here, in the context of pressure acoustic waves
propagating in a compressible fluid, do not touch the ground: they levitate in
mid-air (or float in mid-water), which leads to approximate cloaking for an
object hidden underneath, or touching either sides of a square cylinder on, or
over, the ground. The tentlike carpets attached to the sides of a square
cylinder illustrate how the notion of a carpet on a wall naturally generalizes
to sides of other small compact objects. We then extend the concept of flying
carpets to circular cylinders. However, instead of reducing its scattering
cross-section like in acoustic cloaks, we rather mimic that of another
obstacle, say a square rigid cylinder. For instance, show that one can hide any
type of defects under such circular carpets, and yet they still scatter waves
just like a smaller cylinder on its own. Interestingly, all these carpets are
described by non-singular acoustic parameters. To exemplify this important
aspect, we propose a multi-layered carpet consisting of isotropic homogeneous
fluids with constant bulk modulus and varying density which works over a finite
range of wavelengths. We have discussed some applications, with the sonar boats
or radars cases as typical examples. For instance, we would like to render a
pipeline lying on the bottom of the sea or floating in mid-water undetectable
for a boat with a sonar at rest just above it on the surface of the sea.
Another possible application would be protecting parabolic antennas.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures. Key words: Mathematical methods in physics;
Mathematical Physics, electromagnetic theory; Metamaterials;Anisotropic
optical materials; invisibility; cloa
On the Nash points of subanalytic sets
Based on a recently developed rank Theorem for Eisenstein power series, we
provide new proofs of the following two results of W. Pawlucki: I) The non
regular locus of a complex or real analytic map is an analytic set. II) The set
of semianalytic or Nash points of a subanalytic set X is a subanalytic set,
whose complement has codimension two in X.Comment: Important: Our original pre-print arXiv:2205.03079 had two set of
distinct results. We have divided that pre-print in two. This paper contains
the second set of results ; v2 of the original submission contains the first
set of results. We have divided our pre-prin
Automating lichen monitoring in ecological studies using instance segmentation of time-lapse images
Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed of fungi, algae, and/or
cyanobacteria that thrive in a variety of environments. They play important
roles in carbon and nitrogen cycling, and contribute directly and indirectly to
biodiversity. Ecologists typically monitor lichens by using them as indicators
to assess air quality and habitat conditions. In particular, epiphytic lichens,
which live on trees, are key markers of air quality and environmental health. A
new method of monitoring epiphytic lichens involves using time-lapse cameras to
gather images of lichen populations. These cameras are used by ecologists in
Newfoundland and Labrador to subsequently analyze and manually segment the
images to determine lichen thalli condition and change. These methods are
time-consuming and susceptible to observer bias. In this work, we aim to
automate the monitoring of lichens over extended periods and to estimate their
biomass and condition to facilitate the task of ecologists. To accomplish this,
our proposed framework uses semantic segmentation with an effective training
approach to automate monitoring and biomass estimation of epiphytic lichens on
time-lapse images. We show that our method has the potential to significantly
improve the accuracy and efficiency of lichen population monitoring, making it
a valuable tool for forest ecologists and environmental scientists to evaluate
the impact of climate change on Canada's forests. To the best of our knowledge,
this is the first time that such an approach has been used to assist ecologists
in monitoring and analyzing epiphytic lichens.Comment: 6 pages, 3 Figures, 8 Tables, Accepted for publication in IEEE
International Conference on Machine Learning and Applications (ICMLA),
copyright IEE
Atmospheric pressure plasma spraying of silane-based coatings targeting whey protein fouling and bacterial adhesion management
International audienc
Distinct phenotypic and genomic signatures underlie contrasting pathogenic potential of Staphylococcus epidermidis clonal lineages
Copyright © 2019 Espadinha, Sobral, Mendes, MĂ©ric, Sheppard, Carriço, de Lencastre and Miragaia. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.Background: Staphylococcus epidermidis is a common skin commensal that has emerged as a pathogen in hospitals, mainly related to medical devices-associated infections. Noteworthy, infection rates by S. epidermidis have the tendency to rise steeply in next decades together with medical devices use and immunocompromized population growth. Staphylococcus epidermidis population structure includes two major clonal lineages (A/C and B) that present contrasting pathogenic potentials. To address this distinction and explore the basis of increased pathogenicity of A/C lineage, we performed a detailed comparative analysis using phylogenetic and integrated pangenome-wide-association study (panGWAS) approaches and compared the lineages's phenotypes in in vitro conditions mimicking carriage and infection. Results: Each S. epidermidis lineage had distinct phenotypic signatures in skin and infection conditions and differed in genomic content. Combination of phenotypic and genotypic data revealed that both lineages were well adapted to skin environmental cues. However, they appear to occupy different skin niches, perform distinct biological functions in the skin and use different mechanisms to complete the same function: lineage B strains showed evidence of specialization to survival in microaerobic and lipid rich environment, characteristic of hair follicle and sebaceous glands; lineage A/C strains showed evidence for adaption to diverse osmotic and pH conditions, potentially allowing them to occupy a broader and more superficial skin niche. In infection conditions, A/C strains had an advantage, having the potential to bind blood-associated host matrix proteins, form biofilms at blood pH, resist antibiotics and macrophage acidity and to produce proteases. These features were observed to be rare in the lineage B strains. PanGWAS analysis produced a catalog of putative S. epidermidis virulence factors and identified an epidemiological molecular marker for the more pathogenic lineage. Conclusion: The prevalence of A/C lineage in infection is probably related to a higher metabolic and genomic versatility that allows rapid adaptation during transition from a commensal to a pathogenic lifestyle. The putative virulence and phenotypic factors associated to A/C lineage constitute a reliable framework for future studies on S. epidermidis pathogenesis and the finding of an epidemiological marker for the more pathogenic lineage is an asset for the management of S. epidermidis infections.DE and CM were supported by Ph.D. grants PD/BD/52206/2013 and SFRH/BD/129483/2017, respectively, from the Fundação para a CiĂȘncia e Tecnologia (FCT). This work was partially supported by project PTDC/FIS-NAN/0117/2014, project PTDC/CVT-CVT/29510/2017, project PTDC/BIA-MIC/31645/2017, and project EXPOSE - SAICT-POL/23222/2016 from FCT; Projects LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-007660 (Microbiologia Molecular, Estrutural e Celular) and UID/Multi/04378/2019) funded by FEDER funds through COMPETE2020 - Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI); by ONEIDA project (LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER- 016417) co-funded by FEEI - âFundos Europeus Estruturais e de Investimentoâ from âPrograma Operacional Regional Lisboa2020â and by national funds through FCT; Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização, Programa Operacional Regional de Lisboa (FEDER) and Fundação para a CiĂȘncia e a Tecnologia.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Identification of genes involved in genodermatoses : Example of naso-plantar keratodermia in the french breed dogue de bordeaux
The genetic structure of the canine species, with over 300 breeds created and modified by man, provides
a unique model to identify genes and alleles responsible for genetic diseases. Our laboratory
has been working for over ten years to deliver genomic resources to further our understanding of
the genetic bases of particular traits or of genetic diseases in dogs, with a view to using them as models
for the same traits in humans. We present here our chromosome mapping studies carried out on candidate
genes or genes involved in genodermatoses, as well as our on-going molecular genetics study
on naso-plantar keratodermia in the French breed Dogue de Bordeaux.Compte tenu de la structure
génétique de l'espÚce canine, avec plus de 300 races construites et façonnées par l'homme,
le chien prĂ©sente un intĂ©rĂȘt tout Ă fait particulier pour identifier les gĂšnes et les
allÚles responsables de maladies génétiques. Notre laboratoire travaille depuis plus de 10
ans à produire les connaissances génomiques nécessaires à la compréhension des bases
génétiques de traits particuliers ou de maladies génétiques chez le chien, afin de les
utiliser comme modĂšles des mĂȘmes traits chez l'homme. Nous exposerons ici les travaux dĂ©jĂ
effectués sur le positionnement sur les chromosomes canins de gÚnes candidats ou impliqués
dans des génodermatoses, ainsi que le travail de génétique moléculaire en cours sur la
kératodermie naso-plantaire, chez le Dogue de Bordeaux
Epidemiological Determinants of Patient Non-Conveyance to the Hospital in an Emergency Medical Service Environment
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Background: The increasing prevalence of comorbidities worldwide has spurred the need for time-effective pre-hospital emergency medical services (EMS). Some pre-hospital emergency calls requesting EMS result in patient non-conveyance. Decisions for non-conveyance are sometimes driven by the patient or the clinician, which may jeopardize the patientsâ healthcare outcomes. This study aimed to explore the distribution and determinants of patient non-conveyance to hospitals in a Middle Eastern national Ambulance Service that promotes the transportation of all emergency call patients and does not adopt clinician-based non-conveyance decision. Methods: Using R Language, descriptive, bivariate, and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted for 334,392 multi-national patient non-conveyance emergency calls from June 2018 to July 2022, from a total of 1,030,228 calls to which a response unit was dispatched. Results: After data pre-processing, 237,862 cases of patient non-conveyance to hospital were retained, with a monthly average of 41.96% (n = 8799) of the emergency service demands and a standard deviation of 5.49% (n = 2040.63). They predominantly involved South Asians (29.36%, n = 69,849); 64.50% (n = 153,427) were of the age category from 14 to 44 years; 61.22% (n = 145,610) were male; 74.59% (n = 177,424) from the urban setting; and 71.28% (n = 169,552) had received on-scene treatment. Binary logistic regression with full variables and backward methods identified the final models of the determinants of patient non-conveyance decisions with an Akaike information criterion prediction estimator, respectively, of (250,200) and (250,169), indicating no significant difference between both models (Chi-square test; p-value = 0.63). Conclusions: Despite exercising a cautious protocol by encouraging patient transportation to hospital, patient non-conveyance seems to be a problem in the healthcare system that strains the pre-hospital medical response teamsâ resources. Policies and regulations should be adopted to encourage individuals to access other primary care centers when required rather than draining emergency services for non-emergency situations.Peer reviewe
Epidemiology of prehospital emergency calls according to patient transport decision in a middle eastern emergency care environment: Retrospective cohortâbased
© 2024 The Author(s). Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Background and Aim: Though emergency medical services (EMS) respond to all types of emergency calls, they do not always result in the patient being transported to the hospital. This study aimed to explore the determinants influencing emergency callâresponseâbased conveyance decisions in a Middle Eastern ambulance service. Methods: This retrospective quantitative analysis of 93,712 emergency calls to the Hamad Medical Corporation Ambulance Service (HMCAS) between January 1 and May 31, 2023, obtained from the HMCAS electronic system, was analyzed to determine pertinent variables. Sociodemographic, emergency dispatchârelated, clinical, and miscellaneous predictors were analyzed. Descriptive, bivariate, ridge logistic regression, and combination analyses were evaluated. Results: 23.95% (N = 21,194) and 76.05% (N = 67,285) resulted in patient nontransport and transportation, respectively. Sociodemographic analysis revealed that males predominantly activated EMS resources, and 60% of males (n = 12,687) were not transported, whilst 65% of females (n = 44,053) were transported. South Asians represented a significant proportion of the transported patients (36%, n = 24,007). âHomeâ emerged as the primary emergency location (56%, n = 37,725). Bivariate analysis revealed significant associations across several variables, though multicollinearity was identified as a challenge. Ridge regression analysis underscored the role of certain predictors, such as missing provisional diagnoses, in transportation decisions. The upset plot shows that hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the most common combinations in both groups. Conclusions: This study highlights the nuanced complexities governing conveyance decisions. By unveiling patterns such as male predominance, which reflects Qatar's expatriate population, and specific temporal EMS activity peaks, this study accentuates the importance of holistic patient assessment that transcends medical histories.Peer reviewe
Exploring factors influencing time from dispatch to unit availability according to the transport decision in the pre-hospital setting: an exploratory study
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Background: Efficient resource distribution is important. Despite extensive research on response timings within ambulance services, nuances of time from unit dispatch to becoming available still need to be explored. This study aimed to identify the determinants of the duration between ambulance dispatch and readiness to respond to the next case according to the patientsâ transport decisions. Methods: Time from ambulance dispatch to availability (TDA) analysis according to the patientsâ transport decision (Transport versus Non-Transport) was conducted using R-Studioâą for a data set of 93,712 emergency calls managed by a Middle Eastern ambulance service from January to May 2023. Log-transformed Hazard Ratios (HR) were examined across diverse parameters. A Cox regression model was utilised to determine the influence of variables on TDA. KaplanâMeier curves discerned potential variances in the time elapsed for both cohorts based on demographics and clinical indicators. A competing risk analysis assessed the probabilities of distinct outcomes occurring. Results: The median duration of elapsed TDA was 173 min for the transported patients and 73 min for those not transported. The HR unveiled Significant associations in various demographic variables. The KaplanâMeier curves revealed variances in TDA across different nationalities and age categories. In the competing risk analysis, the âNot Transportedâ group demonstrated a higher incidence of prolonged TDA than the âTransportedâ group at specified time points. Conclusions: Exploring TDA offers a novel perspective on ambulance servicesâ efficiency. Though promising, the findings necessitate further exploration across diverse settings, ensuring broader applicability. Future research should consider a comprehensive range of variables to fully harness the utility of this period as a metric for healthcare excellence.Peer reviewe
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