Comparison of Localization Methods Using Calibrated and Simulated Fingerprints for Indoor Systems Based on Bluetooth and WLAN Technologies

This paper compares two different localization algorithms to face the problem of indoor positioning using Bluetooth and WLAN technologies, which we have called: the fusion algorithm and the combination algorithm. The first algorithm is based on the construction of a fusion map using WiFi and Bluetooth power values. Considering the three lowest values of a defined distance, we compute the coordinates of the target point that we want to localize. In the second algorithm, the location determination is carried out independently with every single technology; then, results are combined to obtain a final estimated position. The performance of these methods has been tested experimentally using a simulated map and a real calibrated one. Using a real calibrated map, the localization errors obtained with the fusion algorithm are smaller than with the combination one, while when using a simulated map there is almost no difference between both algorithms. The results of the experiments made with the real calibrated map are a little better than using the simulated map, but the improvement obtained using the real map is not enough to confirm that using this one is worth, because of the effort necessary to build it

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided transvascular needle biopsy of thoracic and abdominal lesions: a multicenter experience

Background and study aims Traditionally in the case of a vascular interposition, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has been contraindicated. A transvascular route (TV) is feasible and probably a safe alternative approach in selected patients, but data are scarce. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the diagnostic yield and safety of EUS-TV-FNA in thoracic and abdominal lesions. Secondary aims included evaluation of the clinical impact and technical aspects. Patients and methods A retrospective multicenter study was conducted with inclusion of all consecutive patients that underwent EUS-TV-FNA from July 2007 to January 2020. Feasibility, cytopathology, procedure details, and safety were evaluated. Univariate analysis was performed to identify variables associated with incidents, cytopathological diagnosis, and clinical impact. Results Data were collected from a total of 49 cases and 50 EUS-TV-FNAs. The aorta (n = 19) and portal system (n = 17) were the most frequently punctured. The most frequent lesions were mediastinal lymph nodes (n = 13) and pancreatic tumors (n = 11). The diagnostic yield was 86 %, and there were nondiagnostic samples in seven cases. Overall sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 88% (95 % CI, 0.74-0.96), 100% (95 % CI, 0.59-1), and 90% (95 % CI, 0.78-0.96), respectively. Only three incidents were detected: two mural hematomas and a self-limited bleeding of gastroduodenal artery. In most patients, there was a significant impact on clinical management (88%). Arterial vessel and ASA-III had a trend with incidents (both, P < 0.08). Rapid on-site evlauation was found to be an independent predictor for obtaining a conclusive sample (OR 6.2; 95%CI, 1.06-36.73, P < 0.04). Conclusions EUS-TV-FNA is feasible, seems to be safe, and can be recommended when no other targets are available, and the information obtained would impact on the clinical plan

Conformal TiO2_2 aerogel-like films by plasma deposition: from omniphobic antireflective coatings to perovskite solar cells photoelectrodes

The ability to control porosity in oxide thin films is one of the key factors that determine their properties. Despite the abundance of dry processes for the synthesis of oxide porous layers, the high porosity range is typically achieved by spin-coating-based wet chemical methods. Besides, special techniques such as supercritical drying are required to replace the pore liquid with air while maintaining the porous network. In this study, we propose a new method for the fabrication of ultra-porous titanium dioxide thin films at room or mild temperatures (T lower or equal to 120 degrees Celsius) by the sequential process involving plasma deposition and etching. These films are conformal to the substrate topography even for high-aspect-ratio substrates and show percolated porosity values above 85 percent that are comparable to advanced aerogels. The films deposited at room temperature are amorphous. However, they become partly crystalline at slightly higher temperatures presenting a distribution of anatase clusters embedded in the sponge-like structure. Surprisingly, the porous structure remains after annealing the films at 450 degrees Celsius in air, which increases the fraction of the embedded anatase nanocrystals. The films are antireflective, omniphobic, and photoactive becoming super-hydrophilic subjected to UV light irradiation The supported percolated nanoporous structure can be used as an electron-conducting electrode in perovskite solar cells. The properties of the cells depend on the aerogel film thickness reaching efficiencies close to those of commercial mesoporous anatase electrodes. This generic solvent-free synthesis is scalable and is applicable to ultra-high porous conformal oxides of different compositions with potential applications in photonics, optoelectronics, energy storage, and controlled wetting.Comment: 31 pages, 10 Figs. plus Supporting Information 7 pags, 6 figs. Full Pape

Multicenter study of lumen-apposing metal stents with or without pigtail in endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage for malignant obstruction - BAMPI TRIAL: an open-label, randomized controlled trial protocol

Background It is unclear whether the insertion of an axis-orienting double-pigtail plastic stent (DPS) through biliary lumen-apposing meal stent (LAMS) in EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) improves the stent patency. The aim of this study is to determine whether this technical variant offers a clinical benefit in EUS-guided biliary drainage (BD) for the management of distal malignant biliary obstruction. Methods/design This is a multicenter open-label, randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups. Eighty-four patients with malignant biliary obstruction will undergo EUS-BD (CDS type) using LAMS in 7 tertiary hospitals in Spain and will be randomized to the LAMS and LAMS plus DPS groups. The primary endpoint is the rate of recurrent biliary obstruction, as a stent dysfunction parameter, detected during follow-up. Secondary endpoints: technical and clinical success (reduction in bilirubin > 50% within 14 days of stent placement), safety, and others (number of reinterventions, time to biliary obstruction, prognostic factors, survival rate). Discussion The BAMPI trial has been designed to determine whether the addition of a coaxial axis-orienting DPS through LAMS is superior to LAMS alone to prevent stent dysfunction

Long-term follow-up of certolizumab pegol in uveitis due to immune-mediated inflammatory diseases : multicentre study of 80 patients

Objectives To evaluate effectiveness and safety of certolizumab pegol (CZP) in uveitis due to immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID). Methods Multicentre study of CZP-treated patients with IMID uveitis refractory to conventional immunosuppressant. Effectiveness was assessed through the following ocular parameters: best-corrected visual acuity, anterior chamber cells, vitritis, macular thickness and retinal vasculitis. These variables were compared between the baseline, and first week, first, third, sixth months, first and second year. Results We studied 80 (33 men/47 women) patients (111 affected eyes) with a mean age of 41.6±11.7 years. The IMID included were: spondyloarthritis (n=43), Behçet's disease (n=10), psoriatic arthritis (n=8), Crohn's disease (n=4), sarcoidosis (n=2), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (n=1), reactive arthritis (n=1), rheumatoid arthritis (n=1), relapsing polychondritis (n=1), Conclusions CZP seems to be effective and safe in uveitis related to different IMID, even in patients refractory to previous biological drugs

Familial hypercholesterolaemia in children and adolescents from 48 countries: a cross-sectional study

Background: Approximately 450 000 children are born with familial hypercholesterolaemia worldwide every year, yet only 2·1% of adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia were diagnosed before age 18 years via current diagnostic approaches, which are derived from observations in adults. We aimed to characterise children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH) and understand current approaches to the identification and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia to inform future public health strategies. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, we assessed children and adolescents younger than 18 years with a clinical or genetic diagnosis of HeFH at the time of entry into the Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Studies Collaboration (FHSC) registry between Oct 1, 2015, and Jan 31, 2021. Data in the registry were collected from 55 regional or national registries in 48 countries. Diagnoses relying on self-reported history of familial hypercholesterolaemia and suspected secondary hypercholesterolaemia were excluded from the registry; people with untreated LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) of at least 13·0 mmol/L were excluded from this study. Data were assessed overall and by WHO region, World Bank country income status, age, diagnostic criteria, and index-case status. The main outcome of this study was to assess current identification and management of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia. Findings: Of 63 093 individuals in the FHSC registry, 11 848 (18·8%) were children or adolescents younger than 18 years with HeFH and were included in this study; 5756 (50·2%) of 11 476 included individuals were female and 5720 (49·8%) were male. Sex data were missing for 372 (3·1%) of 11 848 individuals. Median age at registry entry was 9·6 years (IQR 5·8-13·2). 10 099 (89·9%) of 11 235 included individuals had a final genetically confirmed diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia and 1136 (10·1%) had a clinical diagnosis. Genetically confirmed diagnosis data or clinical diagnosis data were missing for 613 (5·2%) of 11 848 individuals. Genetic diagnosis was more common in children and adolescents from high-income countries (9427 [92·4%] of 10 202) than in children and adolescents from non-high-income countries (199 [48·0%] of 415). 3414 (31·6%) of 10 804 children or adolescents were index cases. Familial-hypercholesterolaemia-related physical signs, cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiovascular disease were uncommon, but were more common in non-high-income countries. 7557 (72·4%) of 10 428 included children or adolescents were not taking lipid-lowering medication (LLM) and had a median LDL-C of 5·00 mmol/L (IQR 4·05-6·08). Compared with genetic diagnosis, the use of unadapted clinical criteria intended for use in adults and reliant on more extreme phenotypes could result in 50-75% of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia not being identified. Interpretation: Clinical characteristics observed in adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia are uncommon in children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia, hence detection in this age group relies on measurement of LDL-C and genetic confirmation. Where genetic testing is unavailable, increased availability and use of LDL-C measurements in the first few years of life could help reduce the current gap between prevalence and detection, enabling increased use of combination LLM to reach recommended LDL-C targets early in life

Determination of wood moisture content with terrestrial laser scanner

The aim of this work is to evaluate the ability of terrestrial laser scanning technology to detect the moisture content in timber structures. For this purpose, an extensive experimental campaign was carried out under laboratory conditions. During the campaign, several wood samples were digitised using the Faro Focus 120 phase-shift laser scanner for which a radiometric calibration model is available. The digital level (intensity) of each 3D point cloud was then converted into reflectance values (0-1). These reflectance values were related to the moisture content of samples which was obtained using the oven-drying method and the resistive xylohygrometer device. Finally, a simple methodology based on experimental analytical equations was proposed. The results show that the laser scanner could be a potential non-destructive tool for the diagnosis of wooden construction systems, as it is not only able to detect deformations but also to infer the moisture content of specific areas in wood elements

Assessment of the elastic properties of hihg-fired gypsum using the digital image correlation method

The main purpose of this work is to analyze the elastic properties (i.e. Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio) of gypsum specimens manufactured by traditional methods (non-industrial kilns). More specifically we have evaluated the Bajo Aragon variant by means of a low-cost digital image correlation approach. The accuracy of the data was contrasted with the press, obtaining an RMSE of 0.008%, corroborating the viability of the method. The results obtained during this experimental campaign revealed a gypsum with an average compressive strength, Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of 4.01 MPa, 2989 MPa and 0.24 respectively

Evaluation of a slam-based point cloud for deflection analysis in historic timber floors

This paper aims at evaluating the possibility of using wearable mobile mapping solutions as a tool for detecting deflections in timber floors. These construction systems are prone to present this type of damage due to the mechanical properties of the wood (relatively low flexural stiffness and creep behaviour). During this study we have evaluated the chance of introducing an additional stage to the general workflow. This stage is devoted to reduce the noise of the 3D point cloud by using the Statistical Outlier Removal filter in combination with a noise-reduction filter such as the Anisotropic filter, the PointCleannet or the Scored-based denoised networks (Deep Learning methods). According with our results, the use of this strategies improves the quality of the 3D point cloud form a qualitative and quantitative point of view. However, these improvements seem to be not sufficient for using this product as a universal source of information for deflection analysis. In this sense, and according with the sensor and study case exploited, this type of point clouds could be used in floors with 5-8-meter length and a relative deflection of about L/200 or higher

Optimización de la construcción de tableros de hormigón con cimbra autolanzable: estudio del rasante

El objeto de esta ponencia es describir los ensayos shear off, realizados sobre paneles de hormigón armado, ejecutados en dos fases, con una junta de hormigonado vertical entre ambas, en la que se han dispuesto armaduras de espera tipo loop joint, a fin de estudiar cómo se comportan en Estado Límité Último y en Estado Límite de Servicio (fisuración a rasante). El hormigón ensayado ha sido un hormigón autocompactante (SCC), con el que se han ejecutado tres paneles, uno de control con la armadura pasante de lado a lado del panel a través de la junta y sin discontinuidad, y otros dos con esperas loop joint en la junta. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que no hay diferencias entre los paneles con loop joint y el panel de control y, por tanto, avalan la aplicación de estas esperas en viaductos de sección cajón