Combining novelty detectors to improve accelerometer-based fall detection

Research on body-worn sensors has shown how they can be used for the detection of falls in the elderly, which is a relevant health problem. However, most systems are trained with simulated falls, which differ from those of the target population. In this paper, we tackle the problem of fall detection using a combination of novelty detectors. A novelty detector can be trained only with activities of daily life (ADL), which are true movements recorded in real life. In addition, they allow adapting the system to new users, by recording new movements and retraining the system. The combination of several detectors and features enhances performance. The proposed approach has been compared with a traditional supervised algorithm, a support vector machine, which is trained with both falls and ADL. The combination of novelty detectors shows better performance in a typical cross-validation test and in an experiment that mimics the effect of personalizing the classifiers. The results indicate that it is possible to build a reliable fall detector based only on ADL

Pyrolysis and char reactivity of a poor-quality refuse-derived fuel (RDF) from municipal solid waste

The present study focuses on analyzing the pyrolysis and combustion behaviors of a refuse-derived fuel (RDF), which is generated in a MSW treatment plant located in Zaragoza (Spain). Pyrolysis experiments were carried out in a TGA apparatus and a fixed-bed reactor at different peak temperatures (400 and 600 °C) and heating rates (5 and 40 °C min- 1). The reactivity towards oxygen of produced chars was also measured in the same TGA device at a heating rate of 10 °C min- 1 and a final temperature of 800 °C. Pyrolysis results were significantly affected by peak temperature and heating rate. The found effect of peak temperature on char and fixed-carbon yields as well as on measured properties (H:C and O:C ratios, BET surface area and average pore diameter) was in agreement with previous studies. However, the effect of heating rate, especially on the release rate of volatiles, could be explained by a change in the pyrolysis reaction scheme. The RDF-derived chars obtained at the highest heating rate showed a higher reactivity in air. In addition, an increase in peak temperature also led to a higher reactivity. This result can indicate that the carbon present in the RDF-derived char is dispersed within an ash matrix containing a high number of active sites, the distribution of which could be improved when heating rate (and, to a lesser extent, peak temperature) is increased. The addition of 10 wt.% RDF to two-phase olive mill waste prior to slow pyrolysis led to an apparent increase in the carbonization efficiency as well as to an enhancement of the resultant char''s reactivity in air

The effectiveness of early lens extraction with intraocular lens implantation for the treatment of primary angle-closure glaucoma (EAGLE) : study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Differences in the epigenetic and reprogramming properties of pluripotent and extra-embryonic stem cells implicate chromatin remodelling as an important early event in the developing mouse embryo

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>During early mouse development, two extra-embryonic lineages form alongside the future embryo: the trophectoderm (TE) and the primitive endoderm (PrE). Epigenetic changes known to take place during these early stages include changes in DNA methylation and modified histones, as well as dynamic changes in gene expression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In order to understand the role and extent of chromatin-based changes for lineage commitment within the embryo, we examined the epigenetic profiles of mouse embryonic stem (ES), trophectoderm stem (TS) and extra-embryonic endoderm (XEN) stem cell lines that were derived from the inner cell mass (ICM), TE and PrE, respectively. As an initial indicator of the chromatin state, we assessed the replication timing of a cohort of genes in each cell type, based on data that expressed genes and acetylated chromatin domains, generally, replicate early in S-phase, whereas some silent genes, hypoacetylated or condensed chromatin tend to replicate later. We found that many lineage-specific genes replicate early in ES, TS and XEN cells, which was consistent with a broadly 'accessible' chromatin that was reported previously for multiple ES cell lines. Close inspection of these profiles revealed differences between ES, TS and XEN cells that were consistent with their differing lineage affiliations and developmental potential. A comparative analysis of modified histones at the promoters of individual genes showed that in TS and ES cells many lineage-specific regulator genes are co-marked with modifications associated with active (H4ac, H3K4me2, H3K9ac) and repressive (H3K27me3) chromatin. However, in XEN cells several of these genes were marked solely by repressive modifications (such as H3K27me3, H4K20me3). Consistent with TS and XEN having a restricted developmental potential, we show that these cells selectively reprogramme somatic cells to induce the <it>de novo </it>expression of genes associated with extraembryonic differentiation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data provide evidence that the diversification of defined embryonic and extra-embryonic lineages is accompanied by chromatin remodelling at specific loci. Stem cell lines from the ICM, TE and PrE can each dominantly reprogramme somatic cells but reset gene expression differently, reflecting their separate lineage identities and increasingly restricted developmental potentials.</p

Managed Aquifer Recharge as a Tool to Enhance Sustainable Groundwater Management in California

A growing population and an increased demand for water resources have resulted in a global trend of groundwater depletion. Arid and semi-arid climates are particularly susceptible, often relying on groundwater to support large population centers or irrigated agriculture in the absence of sufficient surface water resources. In an effort to increase the security of groundwater resources, managed aquifer recharge (MAR) programs have been developed and implemented globally. MAR is the approach of intentionally harvesting and infiltrating water to recharge depleted aquifer storage. California is a prime example of this growing problem, with three cities that have over a million residents and an agricultural industry that was valued at 47 billion dollars in 2015. The present-day groundwater overdraft of over 100 km3 (since 1962) indicates a clear disparity between surface water supply and water demand within the state. In the face of groundwater overdraft and the anticipated effects of climate change, many new MAR projects are being constructed or investigated throughout California, adding to those that have existed for decades. Some common MAR types utilized in California include injection wells, infiltration basins (also known as spreading basins, percolation basins, or recharge basins), and low-impact development. An emerging MAR type that is actively being investigated is the winter flooding of agricultural fields using existing irrigation infrastructure and excess surface water resources, known as agricultural MAR. California therefore provides an excellent case study to look at the historical use and performance of MAR, ongoing and emerging challenges, novel MAR applications, and the potential for expansion of MAR. Effective MAR projects are an essential tool for increasing groundwater security, both in California and on a global scale. This chapter aims to provide an overview of the most common MAR types and applications within the State of California and neighboring semi-arid regions

Satellite‐Based Monitoring of Irrigation Water Use: Assessing Measurement Errors and Their Implications for Agricultural Water Management Policy

Reliable accounting of agricultural water use is critical for sustainable water management. However, the majority of agricultural water use is not monitored, with limited metering of irrigation despite increasing pressure on both groundwater and surface water resources in many agricultural regions worldwide. Satellite remote sensing has been proposed as a low-cost and scalable solution to fill widespread gaps in monitoring of irrigation water use in both developed and developing countries, bypassing the technical, socioeconomic, and political challenges that to date have constrained in situ metering. In this paper, we show through a systematic meta-analysis that the relative accuracy of different satellite-based irrigation water use monitoring approaches remains poorly understood, with evidence of large uncertainties when water use estimates are validated against in situ irrigation data at both field and regional scales. Subsequently, we demonstrate that water use measurement errors result in large economic welfare losses for farmers and may negatively impact ability of policies to limit acute and nonlinear externalities of irrigation abstraction on both the environment and other water users. Our findings highlight that water resource planners must consider the trade-offs between accuracy and costs associated with different water use accounting approaches. Remote sensing has an important role to play in supporting improved agricultural water accounting—both independently and in combination with in situ monitoring. However, greater transparency and evidence is needed about underlying uncertainties in satellite-based models, along with how these measurement errors affect the performance of associated policies to manage different short- and long-term externalities of irrigation water use

Early detection of neovascular age-related macular degeneration : an economic evaluation based on data from the EDNA study

Funding: The project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment Programme (grant number: 12/142/07) and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment. The funder was not involved in the study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication. The Health Services Research Unit (HSRU) and the Health Economics Research Unit (HERU) are core funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorate (HSRU/2021-2024, HERU/2021-2024).Peer reviewedPostprin

Tribunal Consitucional e identidad sexual: flor nueva de romances viejos

Sr. Director: El Tribunal Constitucional acaba de publicar una notainformativa1por la que amplía la posibilidad de solicitar el cam-bio de sexo en el Registro Civil a los/las menores que lo deseen.Para ello se ampara en la inconstitucionalidad del párrafo 1.1 de laLey 3/2007 que regula la rectificación registral2, al vulnerar el prin-cipio de desarrollo de la personalidad y el derecho a la intimidad(arts. 10.1 y 18.1 CE..