Fast and secure automatic retrieval of data from multi-vendor devices - The portuguese experience

Nowadays protection systems generate large amounts of useful data. The most important of which are the oscillographic records, because they allow: fault location estimation; validation of relay settings; validation of coordination among protections. This important information traditionally resided in the protection units and could only be retrieved through vendor proprietary software. Retrieving this information could be conducted in two ways: a specialized technician had to physically go to the substation (expensive solution); by use of a slow analog modem with a tendency to breakdown (especially in remote areas exposed to lightning strikes) and a high probability to stop working due to communication errors. Recently EDP has begun to equip all the substations with an IP network through optical fiber. This fast and reliable network, which is also intended for other application other than remote access, eliminates the communication constraints. Due to technological differences the substations were, for this purpose, separated in two groups: Substations with a modern protection system complying with IEC 61850; Substations with older protection units for which a pilotproject was conducted using the communications gateway Kalkitech SYNC2000. This device communicates with protection units from several vendors, using standardized (ex.: IEC61850) or proprietary protocols (ex.: ABB SPABUS), and has mechanisms for retrieving oscillographic records. The usage of standard tools such as FTP and file sync programs proved to be cost effective and reliable to get the information to a central location

Traumatic asphyxia

Traumatic asphyxia is a rare condition in children that usually occurs after severe compression to the chest or abdomen. We report 3 cases in patients 18, 20, and 36 months of age who presented signs and symp- toms of traumatic asphyxia after car accidents. Two clinical features were consistent in all 3 patients: multiple petechiae on the face and bulbar conjunctival hemorrhage; 2 patients had facial cyanosis, and 1 had facial edema. In children, the number of clinical manifestations that should be evi- dent to diagnose traumatic asphyxia has not been ascertained. However, in any history of trauma with compression of the chest or abdomen and signs of increased intravenous craniocervical pressure, traumatic asphyxia should be suspected

Efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein catheterization in low birth weight newborn

Central venous catheterization is not the first choice of vascular access in neonates. Success depends on the size of the vessel and the skill of the health professional performing the procedure. The internal jugular vein provides a predictable path for central venous cannulation, although it is more difficult to cannulate infants than adults and even more difficult in smaller newborns. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study in 100 newborns, in which a 4 Fr ultrasound-guided central venous catheter was placed in the right internal jugular vein (RIJV). The study population was low birth weight (LBW) newborns <2500g, very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns <1500g and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) newborns <1000g. RESULTS: Background:There were 53% female patients, mean gestational age was 31weeks, mean weight 1352g and the CVC was placed at a mean of 12days of extrauterine life. Birth weight distribution was 39% LBW; 33% VLBW and 28% ELBW. A mean of two (1-8) attempts were necessary with a procedure duration of 16.8 (10-40) minutes. Success of RIJV catheterization was 94%. One attempt was necessary in 50% and up to 5 attempts in 95.7%. Success by weight was VLBW, 97.2%; ELBW, 92.9%; LBW, 91.7%. A venous hematoma occurred in 5% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided RIJV cannulation with real-time visualization to gain access to the central venous circulation in low birth weight newborns is effective and safe

Sigmoid fixation associated with rectopexy using a laparoscopic approach could prevent relapse of rectal prolapse in pediatric patients with spinal dysraphia

Recurrent rectal prolapse, resistant to medical treatment, is an indication for surgical treatment. Patients with spinal dysraphia frequently have already been treated by sclerotherapy or other surgical techniques, but unsuccessfully. Methods: We present 2 patients, who underwent laparoscopic rectopexy, with spinal dysraphia and complete rectal prolapse relapse after conservative treatment. In these patients, we performed, as an additional technique, fixation of the rectosigmoid to avoid recurrence by invagination or prolapse of the anterior wall. Results: Follow-up at 14 and 11 months, respectively, did not find any recurrence. Conclusion: We suggest that laparoscopic rectopexy with sigmoid fixation should be considered as an alternative for the treatment for patients with spinal dysraphia and rectal prolapse to avoid recurrence

Appendicoumbilical fistula, a cause of an umbilical mass with drainage

Reporte de un caso de una fístula apendico-umbilical

Bluebot: una propuesta accesible de robótica móvil para propósitos didácticos

La robótica es un tema de importancia central para el desarrollo científico y tecnológico, y sus aplicaciones industriales son innumerables. Por otra parte, el uso de robots como medio didáctico es una alternativa significativa como motivación para materias introductorias y avanzadas en carreras de Informática e Ingeniería Electrónica, y sirve como eje de integración horizontal y vertical de contenidos curriculares. La robótica móvil es uno de los campos de investigación que mayor auge está teniendo como investigación aplicada. Dentro de este campo consideramos específicamente a los robots móviles teleoperados, que son aquellos cuyos movimientos son comandados a distancia. Estos robots, de uso industrial y militar son usados para ejecutar tareas peligrosas o para acceder a lugares de difícil acceso para los seres humanos (desactivación de bombas, exploraciones submarinas, el interior de centrales nucleares, etc.) Son plataformas de alto costo, imposibles de ser consideradas para una aplicación didáctica. Este proyecto consiste en el desarrollo de un robot didáctico bluebot, con tecnología sencilla y al alcance de las capacidades de una escuela, centro educativo o universidad de recursos limitados. El proyecto incluye la construcción de un robot (hardware) y del soporte informático (software) que permita su manejo por usuarios sin experiencia o formación específica. Mediante técnicas de enseñanza experimental el alumno inicial aprende nociones formales de algoritmo, secuencia y ejecución de autómatas. Para el alumno avanzado de ingeniería y de las carreras de informática el robot proporciona la posibilidad de experimentar en forma práctica con conceptos avanzados como las vistas en las materias de informática teórica y de control automático. El robot se telecomanda desde una computadora personal y en un futuro se incorporará un sistema de sensado de posición y de velocidad basado en la captura de imágenes provenientes de una cámara digital de bajo costo (tipo webcam). El alumno proporciona instrucciones en un lenguaje que inicialmente se ha diseñado de bajo nivel aunque se contempla el desarrollo de una gramática libre de contexto de alto nivel en desarrollos futuros. Uno de los principales objetivos de este proyecto es formar desarrolladores con la capacidad y experiencia para poder definir nuevos sistemas, productos y mercados que utilicen esta tecnología. Existe en el país un gran potencial para desarrollos en rob´otica, tanto en el contexto industrial como en aplicaciones para la gestión del medio ambiente, por lo que se espera un alto grado de transferencia tecnológica como producto colateral de la formación que puede darse a través de estas experiencias teóricas y prácticas. Un proyecto de estas características, dado el atractivo social que genera el uso de la tecnología y el muy bajo costo de la misma, es ideal para ser promocionado en colegios y otras instituciones educativas, para fomentar el interés en los estudios universitarios. Ello conseguirá atraer más y mejores alumnos a las carreras técnicas de la universidad patrocinadora, actuando sobre una de las posibles razones por la merma de inscripción registrado en los recientes años. Por otra parte, el uso de esta tecnología como herramienta de estudio en las materias de las carreras de informática permitirá motivar a los alumnos de las mismas para participar en las asignaturas y así disminuir el índice de deserción, minimizar el tiempo de finalizado de la carrera, y extender las experiencias más allá de lo meramente formal. El desarrollo es lo suficientemente genérico como para que puedan participar alumnos de diferentes carreras, y diferentes niveles dentro de las mismas, favoreciendo la aplicación de los contenidos de cada materia en la solución de problemas concretos. Esto permite abordar un tema de gran importancia para la formación profesional, como es la integración curricular horizontal y vertical de los contenidos de varias asignaturas, lo cual hace posible que los alumnos comprendan el alcance y utilidad de los diferentes bloques curriculares y mejoren conceptualmente su articulación.Eje: Agentes y Sistemas InteligentesRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Karst: a very diverse concept

La gran diversidad intrínseca del karst y la variedad de campos científicos desde los que ha sido estudiado este medio ha generado un espectacular aumento de su conocimiento. Ese avance ha venido acompañado también de nuevas incógnitas y nuevos planteamientos. El presente trabajo trata de recoger una pequeña muestra de esa amplia diversidad, asociada a un elevado grado de especialización, que de forma integrada permite completar el puzzle del karst. Inicialmente, se presenta una revisión sintética del concepto de karst, del proceso de karstificación y de las morfologías asociadas al mismo. Seguidamente, y planteado a partir de una serie de interrogantes, se muestran algunos aspectos y curiosidades relacionadas con el karst. Las características microclimáticas subterráneas, el karst no tradicional o los depósitos y mineralizaciones asociados al karst, son algunos de los temas que se incluyen en este trabajo y que puede interesar a los docentes que imparten docencia sobre el karst.The great intrinsic diversity of karst and the variety of scientific fields in which it has been studied has generated a dramatic increase in our knowledge about it. This advance has also been accompanied by new questions and issues that open the door to new approaches. Our work intends to show a small sample of the wide diversity, often associated with a high degree of specialization, which allows completing the karst puzzle. In the first place, this paper provides a synthetic review of the concept of karst, the karstification process and the morphologies associated with it. Next, starting with a few questions, it shows some aspects and curiosities related to karst. The features of the underground microclimate, the non-traditional karst or deposits and mineralization associated with karst, are some of the topics included in this work, which can be interesting for the teachers dealing with the topic of karst in their classes

Potentially inappropriate prescriptions according to explicit and implicit criteria in patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. MULTIPAP : a cross-sectional study

Background Multimorbidity is a global health challenge that is associated with polypharmacy, increasing the risk of potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP). There are tools to improve prescription, such as implicit and explicit criteria. Objective To estimate the prevalence of PIP in a population aged 65 to 74 years with multimorbidity and polypharmacy, according to American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria® (2015, 2019), the Screening Tool of Older Person’s Prescription -STOPP- criteria (2008, 2014), and the Medication Appropriateness Index -MAI- criteria in primary care. Methods This was an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. The sample included 593 community-dwelling elderly aged 65 to 74 years, with multimorbidity and polypharmacy, who participated in the MULTIPAP trial. Socio-demographic, clinical, professional, and pharmacological-treatment variables were recorded. Potentially inappropriate prescribing was detected by computerized prescription assistance system, and family doctors evaluated the MAI. The MAI-associated factors were analysed using a logistic regression model. Results A total of 4,386 prescriptions were evaluated. The mean number of drugs was 7.4 (2.4 SD). A total of 94.1% of the patients in the study had at least one criterion for drug inappropriateness according to the MAI. Potentially inappropriate prescribing was detected in 57.7%, 43.6%, 68.8% and 71% of 50 patients according to the explicit criteria STOPP 2014, STOPP 2008, Beers 2019 and Beers 2015 respectively. For every new drug taken by a patient, the MAI score increased by 2.41 (95% CI 1.46; 3.35) points. Diabetes, ischaemic heart disease and asthma were independently associated with lower summated MAI scores.   Conclusions The prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing detected in the sample was high and in agreement with previous literature for populations with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. The MAI criteria detected greater inappropriateness than did the explicit criteria, but their application was more complex and difficult to automate.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Prokaryotic and viral community of the sulfate‐rich crust from Peñahueca ephemeral lake, an astrobiology analogue

Peñahueca is an athalassohaline hypersaline inland ephemeral lake originated under semiarid conditions in the central Iberian Peninsula (Spain). Its chemical composition makes it extreme for microbial life as well as a terrestrial analogue of other planetary environments. To investigate the persistence of microbial life associated with sulfate‐rich crusts, we applied cultivation‐independent methods (optical and electron microscopy, 16S rRNA gene profiling and metagenomics) to describe the prokaryotic community and its associated viruses. The diversity for Bacteria was very low and was vastly dominated by endospore formers related to Pontibacillus marinus of the Firmicutes phylum. The archaeal assemblage was more diverse and included taxa related to those normally found in hypersaline environments. Several ‘metagenome assembled genomes’ were recovered, corresponding to new species of Pontibacillus, several species from the Halobacteria and one new member of the Nanohaloarchaeota. The viral assemblage, although composed of the morphotypes typical of high salt systems, showed little similarity to previously isolated/reconstructed halophages. Several putative prophages of Pontibacillus and haloarchaeal hosts were identified. Remarkably, the Peñahueca sulfate‐rich metagenome contained CRISPR‐associated proteins and repetitions which were over 10‐fold higher than in most hypersaline systems analysed so far.This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy projects CLG2015_66686-C3-1 (to RRM) CLG2015_66686-C3-3 (to JA), CGL2015-66455-R (to MAGC, MESM, JPRA), AYA2011-24803 and ESP2015-69540-R (to VP) which were also supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the MDM-2017-0737 Unidad de Excelencia “María de Maeztu”- Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC)

Intorno al viaggio musicale di Andrea Zanzotto

Starting from Viaggio musicale, a small book curated by Paolo Cattelan in dialogue with Andrea Zanzotto on the theme of music and poetry, the article follows the path of formation of the poet to music: the nursery rhymes of childhood, Toti Dal Monte and the Opera arias sung by the villagers, the theatre of puppets and music by Margot Galante Garrone, Federico Fellini and Nino Rota, the musicians who met his poetry and set it to music