A Review of UAVs Topologies and Control Techniques

Presentación realizada en el marco Proyecto PINV18-765: Vehículos aéreos no tripulados en aplicaciones para la agricultura de precisión para el monitoreo de cultivos agrícolas. Cuyo objetivo general fue: el Estudio, investigación, análisis y validación experimental de, por un lado, avanzadas estrategias de control de vuelo de vehículos no tripulados (UAV) y, por otro, de algoritmos de procesamiento de imágenes obtenidas por el UAV, orientada al análisis de cultivos agrícolas enfocado al desarrollo del sector agropecuario.CONACYT - Consejo Nacional de Ciencias y TecnologíaPROCIENCI

Energy, emissions and economic impact of the new nZEB regulatory framework on residential buildings renovation: Case study in southern Spain

Spanish residential buildings built in the decade of the housing bubble (2000–2009) had to comply with the Basic Buildings Standard on thermal conditions in buildings. At the end of this period, the Basic Energy Savings Document of the Technical Building Code published in the Royal Decree 314/2006, transposing European Directive 2002/91/EC, entered into force. Recently, this regulatory framework has been updated by the Royal Decree 732/2019, which transposes European Directives 2010/31/EU, 2012/27/EU and 2018/844/EU. A case study is used to analyse the energy, emissions and economic impact of these regulatory changes on an attached house located in all municipalities of Andalusia (South of Spain). The thermal behaviour of this house is compared with the one adapted to the new regulations. The TRNSYS transient system simulation tool is used for the energy study. The house adaptation is carried out by partially modifying the envelope, including a solar-thermal contribution to domestic hot water supply, and photovoltaic energy production to reduce electricity consumption. The results showed that the European objectives are greatly exceeded. Energy savings range from 69% to 127%, carbon dioxide emissions decrease by 65%–118%, and energy bills are reduced from 71% to 125%. © 2021 The Author

Unusual Vermamoeba Vermiformis Strain Isolated from Snow in Mount Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Background: Free-living amoebae (FLA) are protozoa that are widely distributed in the environment mainly in water and soil related habitats. Thermophilic amoebae are among the most common FLA in water bodies, being Vermamoeba vermiformis one of the most common species reported worldwide from these sources. Interestingly, V. vermiformis has often been reported to survive at high temperatures and osmotic pressure worldwide.Materials and Methods: In this study, snow samples were collected from Mount Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands during the winter season of 2014. The samples were culture on non nutrient agar plates and checked daily for the presence of FLA. After a week, V. vermiformis amoebae were observed in the plates incubated at room temperature and 37ºC.Results: Molecular characterization was carried out by amplifying the 18S rDNA gene and DNA sequencing, confirmed that the isolated strain belonged to Vermamoeba vermiformis species.Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Vermamoeba vermiformis isolation from such an inusual habitat (low temperatures and high altitude) and the first report of these species in the Canary islands

First Report of Vermamoeba vermiformis in the Island of El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain

Background: Free-living amoebae (FLA) are group of protozoa distributed worldwide in many habitats mainly water and soil related sources. Some members of FLA are able to act as opportunistic pathogens and are environmental carriers of other pathogenic agents such as bacteria and viruses. Vermamoeba vermiformis is a highly abundant FLA species in water bodies and has recently gained environmental importance as it acts as a vehicle of many pathogenic bacteria such as Legionella pneumophila.Cases Report: In this study, water samples were collected from the island of El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain during 2015. El Hierro island was designated by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve and it is currently the less populated of the Canary Islands. The water samples were culture on 2 % Non-Nutrient Agar (NNA) plates covered with a thin layer of heat killed E. coli and checked daily for the presence of FLA. After a week, V. vermiformis amoebae were observed in the plates incubated at room temperature and 37 ºC. Molecular characterization was carried out by amplifying the 18S rDNA gene and DNA sequencing, confirming that the isolated strain belonged to Vermamoeba vermiformis species.Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Vermamoeba vermiformis isolation in the island of El Hierro and the second report of this species in the Canary Islands

A delphi study to detect deficiencies and propose actions in real life treatment of neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose. Spanish retina specialists were surveyed in order to propose actions to decrease deficiencies in real-life neovascular age macular degeneration treatment (nv-AMD). Methods. One hundred experts, members of the Spanish Vitreoretinal Society (SERV), were invited to complete an online survey of 52 statements about nv-AMD management with a modified Delphi methodology. Four rounds were performed using a 5-point Linkert scale. Recommendations were developed after analyzing the differences between the results and the SERV guidelines recommendations. Results. Eighty-seven specialists completed all the Delphi rounds. Once major potential deficiencies in real-life nv-AMD treatment were identified, 15 recommendations were developed with a high level of agreement. Consensus statements to reduce the burden of the disease included the use of treat and extend regimen and to reduce the amount of diagnostic tests during the loading phase and training technical staff to perform these tests and reduce the time between relapse detection and reinjection, as well as establishing patient referral protocols to outside general ophthalmology clinics. Conclusion. The level of agreement with the final recommendations for nv-AMD treatment among Spanish retinal specialist was high indicating that some actions could be applied in order to reduce the deficiencies in real-life nv-AMD treatment

Fecal occult blood and calprotectin testing to prioritize primary care patients for colonoscopy referral: The advantage study

AbstractColonoscopy is the gold standard for colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis and screening, but endoscopy services are usually overburdened. This study aims to investigate the usefulness of fecal hemoglobin (fHb) and calprotectin (FC) for the identification of patients with high probability of CRC who need urgent referral.MethodsIn a multicenter prospective study, we enrolled symptomatic patients referred from primary care for colonoscopy. Prior to bowel preparation, fHb and FC quantitative tests were performed. The diagnostic performance was estimated for each biomarker/combination. We built a multivariable predictive model based on logistic regression, translated to a nomogram and a risk calculator to assist clinicians in the decision‐making process.ResultsThe study included 1224 patients, of whom 69 (5.6%) had CRC. At the fHb cut‐offs of >0 and 10 μg/g, the negative predictive values for CRC were 98.8% (95% confidence interval 97.8%–99.3%) and 98.6% (95%CI 97.7%–99.1%), and the sensitivities were 85.5% (95%CI 75.0%–92.8%) and 79.7% (95%CI 68.3%–88.4%), respectively. When we added the cut‐off of 150 μg/g of FC to both fHb thresholds, the sensitivity of fecal tests improved. In the multivariate logistic regression model, the concentration of fHb was an independent predictor for CRC; age and gender were also independently associated with CRC.ConclusionsfHb and FC are useful as part of a triage tool to identify those symptomatic patients with high probability of CRC. This can be easily applied by physicians to prioritize high‐risk patients for urgent colonoscopy

Puesta en marcha y coordinación del Máster en Optometría Avanzada y Salud Visual

Durante el curso 2015-2016 se va a implantar, en la Universidad de Alicante, el máster en Optometría Avanzada y Salud Visual, que fue aprobado por la ANECA en diciembre del 2014. Con el fin de coordinar las actividades docentes de cada una de las asignaturas del máster y dentro del Proyecto de Redes de Investigación en Docencia Universitaria 2014-2015, se ha creado una red formada por todos los profesores coordinadores de las asignaturas que constituyen el plan de estudios y que han participado en la realización de la memoria de dicho máster. En esta red se pretende la coordinación entre todas las asignaturas para organizar y desarrollar sus actividades con el fin de conseguir una buena distribución de la carga docente y un mejor aprovechamiento por parte del alumno de la docencia recibida. Por otra parte, dado que en este máster participan varias empresas del sector óptico y clínicas oftalmológicas es necesario determinar qué actividades propuestas por las empresas y clínicas se van a incluir en cada asignatura y planificarlas adecuadamente

First Report of a Case of Prostatitis Due to Acanthamoeba in a Dog

The first case of prostatitis in a ten year old mixed breed dog due to Acanthamoeba genotype T4 is reported. The dog was suffering from kidney dysfunction and was admitted for exploration of its organs by echography. All organs were in normal conditions with the exception of the prostate which showed signs of inflammation. An ultrasound-guided puncture was thus performed for further cytological and microbiological study. When the obtained fluid was observed under the microscope, Acanthamoeba trophozoites were detected in a high number. No other pathogens were isolated. Both culture and PCR were positive for Acanthamoeba genus and the isolate was later identified as genotype T4. Unfortunately at this stage, the dog’s owner decided to reject any kind of treatment or therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of prostatitis in a dog due to Acanthamoeba genus

Trabajo de coordinación para la implantación del Máster en Optometría Avanzada y Salud Visual

Durante el curso 2013-2014 la Universidad de Alicante ha propuesto la implantación del Master en Optometría Avanzada y Salud Visual, dicha solicitud está siendo actualmente evaluada por la ANECA. Con el fin de coordinar la docencia de este Máster y dentro del Proyecto de Redes de Investigación en Docencia Universitaria 2013-2014, se ha creado una red formada por todos los profesores que han participado en la elaboración del plan de estudios. En esta red esta red se pretende la coordinación entre las distintas asignaturas para elaborar las guías docentes a partir de los datos de las fichas enviadas a la ANECA. Por otra parte también se ha modificado la memoria atendiendo a las alegaciones realizadas por la ANECA. Y se han desarrollado los contenidos, la metodología de las distintas actividades propuestas con el fin de asegurar la consecución de las competencias previstas

ALPHA-fitness test battery: health-related field-based fitness tests assessment in children and adolescents

Batería ALPHA-Fitness: test de campo para la evaluación de la condición física relacionada con la salud en niños y adolescentes (DOI:10.3305/nh.2011.26.6.5611)En el presente estudio describe el trabajo desarrollado para la creación de la batería ALPHA-Fitness de test de campo para la evaluación de la condición física relacionada con la salud en niños y adolescentes. La batería ALPHA-Fitness basada en la evidencia incluye los siguientes test: 1) test de ida y vuelta de 20 metros para evaluar la capacidad aeróbica, 2) test de fuerza de prensión manual y 3) test de salto de longitud a pies juntos para evaluar la capacidad músculo-esquelética, y 4) el IMC, 5) el perímetro de la cintura, y 6) los pliegues cutáneos (tríceps y subscapular) para evaluar la composición corporal. Además, se incluyen 2 variantes: i) batería ALPHA-Fitness de alta prioridad. Esta variante incluye todos los tests excepto la medida de pliegues cutáneos, y ii) la batería ALPHA-Fitness extendida, que incluye todos los test y además del test de velocidad y agilidad de 4 x 10 m.Hereby we summarize the work developed by the ALPHA (Assessing Levels of Physical Activity) Study and describe the tests included in the ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for children and adolescents. The evidence-based ALPHA-Fitness test battery include the following tests: 1) the 20 m shuttle run test to assess cardiorespiratory fitness; 2) the handgrip strength and 3) standing broad jump to assess musculoskeletal fitness, and 4) body mass index, 5) waist circumference; and 6) skinfold thickness (triceps and subscapular) to assess body composition. Furthermore, we include two versions: 1) the high priority ALPHA health-related fitness test battery, which comprises all the evidence-based fitness tests except the measurement of the skinfold thickness; and 2) the extended ALPHA health-related fitness tests battery for children and adolescents, which includes all the evidence-based fitness tests plus the 4 x 10 m shuttle run test to assess motor fitness.El estudio ALPHA ha sido financiado con fondos de la Unión Europea (Ref: 2006120), El Ministerio de Educación (EX-2008-0641, EX-2009-0899, AP2008-03806), los fondos FEDER (Acciones Complementarias DEP2007-29933-E), y el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (RYC-2010-05957, CEB09-0005 GREIB, JCI-2010-07055), y la Swedish Lung-Heart Foundation (20090635)