Analysis of Energy Consumption Performance towards Optimal Radioplanning of Wireless Sensor Networks in Heterogeneous Indoor Environments

In this paper the impact of complex indoor environment in the deployment and energy consumption of a wireless sensor network infrastructure is analyzed. The variable nature of the radio channel is analyzed by means of deterministic in-house 3D ray launching simulation of an indoor scenario, in which wireless sensors, based on an in-house CyFi implementation, typically used for environmental monitoring, are located. Received signal power and current consumption measurement results of the in-house designed wireless motes have been obtained, stating that adequate consideration of the network topology and morphology lead to optimal performance and power consumption reduction. The use of radioplanning techniques therefore aid in the deployment of more energy efficient elements, optimizing the overall performance of the variety of deployed wireless systems within the indoor scenario

Políticas de saúde e organização do processo de trabalho em Saúde da Família

Este módulo tem foco no contexto no qual acontece o trabalho cotidiano e a organização das Equipes de Saúde da Família. É composto por três lições que abordam os seguintes temas: diagnóstico inicial das competências dos participantes e o instrumento de acompanhamento; direito à saúde e características específicas do SUS, a Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF) e os desafios da relação da ESF com o conjunto da rede de serviço do SUS; mecanismo de gestão participativa no SUS; processo de trabalho da ESF na prática multiprofissional com abordagem interdisciplinar e intersetorial. Procura-se convidar os participantes a refletir sobre suas atividades do dia a dia, procurando a expressão de dinâmicas sociais mais amplas e possibilidade de melhora da sua organização.Fundo Nacional de Saúde - FN

Ice nucleation activity of agricultural soil dust aerosols from Mongolia, Argentina, and Germany

Soil dust particles emitted from agricultural areas contain considerable mass fractions of organic material. Also, soil dust particles may act as carriers for potentially ice-active biological particles. In this work, we present ice nucleation experiments conducted in the Aerosol Interaction and Dynamics in the Atmosphere (AIDA) cloud chamber. We investigated the ice nucleation efficiency of four types of soil dust from different regions of the world. The results are expressed as ice nucleation active surface site (INAS) densities and presented for the immersion freezing and the deposition nucleation mode. For immersion freezing occurring at 254 K, samples from Argentina, China, and Germany show ice nucleation efficiencies which are by a factor of 10 higher than desert dusts. On average, the difference in ice nucleation efficiencies between agricultural and desert dusts becomes significantly smaller at temperatures below 247 K. In the deposition mode the soil dusts showed higher ice nucleation activity than Arizona Test Dust over a temperature range between 232 and 248 K and humidities RHice up to 125%. INAS densities varied between 109 and 1011m-2 for these thermodynamic conditions. For one soil dust sample (Argentinian Soil), the effect of treatments with heat was investigated. Heat treatments (383 K) did not affect the ice nucleation efficiency observed at 249 K. This finding presumably excludes proteinaceous ice-nucleating entities as the only source of the increased ice nucleation efficiency.Fil: Steinke, I.. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; AlemaniaFil: Funk, R.. Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research; AlemaniaFil: Busse, J.. Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research; AlemaniaFil: Iturri, Laura Antonela. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: Kirchen, S.. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; AlemaniaFil: Leue, M.. Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research; AlemaniaFil: Möhler, O.. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; AlemaniaFil: Schwartz, T.. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: Schnaiter, M.. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; AlemaniaFil: Sierau, B.. Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science; SuizaFil: Toprak, E.. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; AlemaniaFil: Ullrich, R.. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; AlemaniaFil: Ulrich, A.. Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research; AlemaniaFil: Hoose, C.. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; AlemaniaFil: Leisner, T.. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; Alemania. Heidelberg University; Alemani

Cuidados al final de la vida y despedidas durante la pandemia: relatos sobre experiencias de familiares en duelo

How people are cared for at the end of life reflects the type of society in which we live. As part of the international CO-LIVE study, we explored experiences of end-of-life care during the pandemic. As a Case Study, we analyzed comments from bereaved relatives of deceased patients in a university hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Out of 270 questionnaires via telephone/online, 201 (74.4 %) submitted free text comments analyzed in six categories: 1) Perception of professional treatment; 2) Empathetic and compassionate communication; 3) Care/neglect; 4) Spiritual and religious needs; 5) Farewell narratives; 6) Effects of bereavement research. They were classified according to experiences of positive affect 48%, negative 37%, and 15% mixed. Communication, farewells in the last days and post-mortem, and bereavement support are necessary to guarantee quality end-of-life care included in public policies.Este artículo problematiza sobre la tensión generada entre las necesidades de salud pública durante la pandemia por COVID-19 y su potencial afectación en las experiencias de cuidados de fin de vida percibidas por los familiares en duelo. En un hospital universitario de Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina se analizaron 270 cuestionarios vía telefónica/on-line; 74,4 % presentaron comentarios de texto libre. Con una metodología cualitativa-descriptiva propusimos una categorización inductiva emergente a partir de los aspectos recurrentes, identificando seis categorías centrales: la percepción del trato profesional, la comunicación empática, los cuidados, las necesidades espirituales, las narrativas de despedida y los efectos de la investigación en el duelo. Todas las categorías fueron divididas en: experiencias positivas y experiencias negativas basadas en el Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Exploramos durante el periodo de pandemia las necesidades de salud pública y las experiencias de la muerte percibidas por los familiares en duelo. En ese momento, las urgencias epidemiológicas y el estado de excepción desplazaron prácticas habituales del cuidado familiar en el ambiente hospitalario

Tree recruitment in an empty forest

To assess how the decimation of large vertebrates by hunting alters recruitment processes in a tropical forest, we compared the sapling cohorts of two structurally and compositionally similar forests in the Rio Manu floodplain in southeastern Peru. Large vertebrates were severely depleted at one site, Boca Manu (BM), whereas the other, Cocha Cashu Biological Station (CC), supported an intact fauna. At both sites we sampled small (1 m tall, ,1 cm dbh) and large (1 cm and ,10 cm dbh) saplings in the central portion of 4-ha plots within which all trees 10 cm dbh were mapped and identified. This design ensured that all conspecific adults within at least 50 m (BM) or 55 m (CC) of any sapling would have known locations. We used the Janzen-Connell model to make five predictions about the sapling cohorts at BM with respect to CC: (1) reduced overall sapling recruitment, (2) increased recruitment of species dispersed by abiotic means, (3) altered relative abundances of species, (4) prominence of large-seeded species among those showing depressed recruitment, and (5) little or no tendency for saplings to cluster closer to adults at BM. Our results affirmed each of these predictions. Interpreted at face value, the evidence suggests that few species are demographically stable at BM and that up to 28% are increasing and 72% decreasing. Loss of dispersal function allows species dispersed abiotically and by small birds and mammals to substitute for those dispersed by large birds and mammals. Although we regard these conclusions as preliminary, over the long run, the observed type of directional change in tree composition is likely to result in biodiversity loss and negative feedbacks on both the animal and plant communities. Our results suggest that the best, and perhaps only, way to prevent compositional change and probable loss of diversity in tropical tree communities is to prohibit hunting

Antibacterial Strategies from the Sea: Polymer-Bound Cl-Catechols for Prevention of Biofilm Formation

Inspired by the amino acid 2-chloro-4,5-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Cl-DOPA), present in the composition of the proteinaceous glue of the sandcastle worm Phragmatopoma californica, a simple strategy is presented to confer antifouling properties to polymer surfaces using (but not releasing) a bioinspired biocide. Cl-Dopamine is used to functionalize polymer materials and hydrogel films easily, to prevent biofilm formation on themThe authors thank Uwe Rietzler from the Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung for the SFM-based thickness measurements

Assessment of the clinical utility of four NGS panels in myeloid malignancies. Suggestions for NGS panel choice or design

The diagnosis of myeloid neoplasms (MN) has significantly evolved through the last few decades. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) is gradually becoming an essential tool to help clinicians with disease management. To this end, most specialized genetic laboratories have implemented NGS panels targeting a number of different genes relevant to MN. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the performance of four different targeted NGS gene panels based on their technical features and clinical utility. A total of 32 patient bone marrow samples were accrued and sequenced with 3 commercially available panels and 1 custom panel. Variants were classified by two geneticists based on their clinical relevance in MN. There was a difference in panel¿s depth of coverage. We found 11 discordant clinically relevant variants between panels, with a trend to miss long insertions. Our data show that there is a high risk of finding different mutations depending on the panel of choice, due both to the panel design and the data analysis method. Of note, CEBPA, CALR and FLT3 genes, remains challenging the use of NGS for diagnosis of MN in compliance with current guidelines. Therefore, conventional molecular testing might need to be kept in place for the correct diagnosis of MN for now

Updates on radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations: Proceedings of 6th annual ImmunoRad conference.

Focal radiation therapy (RT) has attracted considerable attention as a combinatorial partner for immunotherapy (IT), largely reflecting a well-defined, predictable safety profile and at least some potential for immunostimulation. However, only a few RT-IT combinations have been tested successfully in patients with cancer, highlighting the urgent need for an improved understanding of the interaction between RT and IT in both preclinical and clinical scenarios. Every year since 2016, ImmunoRad gathers experts working at the interface between RT and IT to provide a forum for education and discussion, with the ultimate goal of fostering progress in the field at both preclinical and clinical levels. Here, we summarize the key concepts and findings presented at the Sixth Annual ImmunoRad conference

Distribution and outcomes of a phenotype-based approach to guide COPD management: Results from the CHAIN cohort

Rationale: The Spanish guideline for COPD (GesEPOC) recommends COPD treatment according to four clinical phenotypes: non-exacerbator phenotype with either chronic bronchitis or emphysema (NE), asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS), frequent exacerbator phenotype with emphysema (FEE) or frequent exacerbator phenotype with chronic bronchitis (FECB). However, little is known on the distribution and outcomes of the four suggested phenotypes. Objective: We aimed to determine the distribution of these COPD phenotypes, and their relation with one-year clinical outcomes. Methods: We followed a cohort of well-characterized patients with COPD up to one-year. Baseline characteristics, health status (CAT), BODE index, rate of exacerbations and mortality up to one year of follow-up were compared between the four phenotypes. Results: Overall, 831 stable COPD patients were evaluated. They were distributed as NE, 550 (66.2%); ACOS, 125 (15.0%); FEE, 38 (4.6%); and FECB, 99 (11.9%); additionally 19 (2.3%) COPD patients with frequent exacerbations did not fulfill the criteria for neither FEE nor FECB. At baseline, there were significant differences in symptoms, FEV1 and BODE index (all p<0.05). The FECB phenotype had the highest CAT score (17.1±8.2, p<0.05 compared to the other phenotypes). Frequent exacerbator groups (FEE and FECB) were receiving more pharmacological treatment at baseline, and also experienced more exacerbations the year after (all p<0.05) with no differences in one-year mortality. Most of NE (93%) and half of exacerbators were stable after one year. Conclusions: There is an uneven distribution of COPD phenotypes in stable COPD patients, with significant differences in demographics, patient-centered outcomes and health care resources use

Utilidad de cinco tejidos para discriminar variantes somáticas y germinales en neoplasias mieloides

CO-091 Introducción: Los síndromes hereditarios están adquiriendo una gran importancia en el panorama de las hemopatías malignas. De hecho, la revisión de 2016 de la OMS ha incluido una sección sobre predisposición germinal a neoplasias mieloides (NM). Distinguir entre una neoplasia mieloide de predisposición hereditaria (NMPH) de una NM esporádica es crucial por su impacto en el seguimiento de estos pacientes, así como en el de sus familiares sanos. La generalización de técnicas como la NGS en el estudio inicial de pacientes con NM ha puesto de manifiesto que un porcentaje no desdeñable de pacientes podrían tener variantes de origen germinal. Sin embargo, para su diagnóstico, se precisa de la confirmación de la naturaleza de la variante en un tejido no hematopoyético, sin que exista un consenso sobre el tejido a utilizar. Métodos: Nos propusimos evaluar cinco tejidos (fibroblastos de médula ósea, fibroblastos de piel, folículos pilosos, frotis bucal y células CD3+) en cuanto a su capacidad de discriminar si las variantes sospechosas eran de origen somático o germinal. El estudio se realizó en una cohorte de 299 pacientes a los que en algún momento del curso de la enfermedad se les hizo un panel de NGS Pan-Mieloide (PMP, 48 genes), que incluye 22 genes descritos en la literatura como relacionados con NMPH, incluyendo los recomendados por la OMS (ANKRD26, CEBPA, DDX41, ETV6, GATA2, RUNX1). De los 299 pacientes, 100 portaban variantes en algunos de esos 22 genes, que presentaban una frecuencia alélica (VAF) ~ 50%. Recolectamos un total de 21 muestras de tejidos ..