Calibrating the elements of a multispectral imaging system

We describe a method to calibrate the elements of a multispectral system aimed at skylight imaging, which consists of a monochrome charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and a liquid-crystal tunable filter (LCTF). We demonstrate how to calibrate these two devices in order to build a multispectral camera that can obtain spectroradiometric measurements of skylight. Spectral characterizations of the tunable filter and the camera are presented together with a complete study into correcting temporal and spatial noise, which is of key importance in CCDs. We describe all the necessary steps to undertake this work and all the additional instrumentation that must be used to calibrate the radiometric devices correctly. We show how this complete study of our multispectral system allows us to use it as an accurate, high resolution spectroradiometer.This work was financed by the Spanish Red Temática “CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA DEL COLOR” (FIS2005-25312-E), the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, and the European Fund for Regional Development (FEDER) through grant FIS2007-60736. We thank our English colleague A. L. Tate for revising our English text.Peer reviewe

Applicability of Clinical Decision Support in Management among Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery in Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Review

[Abstract] The advances achieved in recent decades regarding cardiac surgery have led to a new risk that goes beyond surgeons’ dexterity; postoperative hours are crucial for cardiac surgery patients and are usually spent in intensive care units (ICUs), where the patients need to be continuously monitored to adjust their treatment. Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have been developed to take this real-time information and provide clinical suggestions to physicians in order to reduce medical errors and to improve patient recovery. In this review, an initial total of 499 papers were considered after identification using PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL. Twenty-two studies were included after filtering, which included the deletion of duplications and the exclusion of titles or abstracts that were not of real interest. A review of these papers concluded the applicability and advances that CDSSs offer for both doctors and patients. Better prognosis and recovery rates are achieved by using this technology, which has also received high acceptance among most physicians. However, despite the evidence that well-designed CDSSs are effective, they still need to be refined to offer the best assistance possible, which may still take time, despite the promising models that have already been applied in real ICUs.Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2018/4

Removal of Phenolic Compounds from Water Using Copper Ferrite Nanosphere Composites as Fenton Catalysts

The authors affiliated to the University of Jaén (Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry) acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and from FEDER (Project CTQ2016-80978-C2-1-R). L. Mateus thanks the Asociación Universitaria Iberoamericana de Postgrado (AUIP) and University of Jaén for their grant and financial support.Copper ferrites containing Cu+ ions can be highly active heterogeneous Fenton catalysts due to synergic effects between Fe and Cu ions. Therefore, a method of copper ferrite nanosphere (CFNS) synthesis was selected that also permits the formation of cuprite, obtaining a CFNS composite that was subsequently calcined up to 400 °C. Composites were tested as Fenton catalysts in the mineralization of phenol (PHE), p-nitrophenol (PNP) and p-aminophenol (PAP). Catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and magnetic measurements. Degradation of all phenols was practically complete at 95% total organic carbon (TOC) removal. Catalytic activity increased in the order PHE < PNP < PAP and decreased when the calcination temperature was raised; this order depended on the electronic effects of the substituents of phenols. The as-prepared CFNS showed the highest catalytic activity due to the presence of cubic copper ferrite and cuprite. The Cu+ surface concentration decreased after calcination at 200 °C, diminishing the catalytic activity. Cuprite alone showed a lower activity than the CFNS composite and the homogeneous Fenton reaction had almost no influence on its overall activity. CFNS activity decreased with its reutilization due to the disappearance of the cuprite phase. Degradation pathways are proposed for the phenols.This research was funded by Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and FEDER (grant number CTQ2016-80978-C2-1-R), Asociación Universitaria Iberoamericana de Postgrado (AUIP) and University of Jaén

Fracturas de las espinas tibiales en el niño y en el adulto

Presentamos una serie de 29 fracturas de las espinas tibiales en 27 pacientes, 11 niños y 16 adultos. Para su estudio hemos seguido la clasificación de Meyers y McKeever, siendo las fracturas tipo II las más frecuentes. Se registraron las lesiones asociadas de la rodilla, y la más frecuente fue la del ligamento lateral interno; encontramos 2 fracturas de Segond en niños. El tratamiento fue conservador en 7 casos y quirúrgico en los 22 restantes. Para evaluar el resultado final estudiamos el desplazamiento de la fractura, movilidad y laxitudes residuales de la rodilla y fuerza muscular. Usamos las escalas de Lysholm y de Tegner para la valoración funcional. Un estudio radiológico con 3 proyecciones se llevó a cabo en todos los pacientes. El tiempo medio de seguimiento fue de 9,7 años para el grupo de niños y de 8,2 para los adultos. Los resultados globales, de acuerdo con la escala de Lysholm, fueron excelentes, pero se registraron 11 laxitudes anteroposteriores y 4 laterales, aunque 11 de estos 15 pacientes permanecen asintomáticos. Muchas de estas laxitudes aparecen en fracturas anatómicamente reducidas. Sugerimos que debe realizarse estudio artroscópico en estos pacientes para detectar lesiones asociadas que empeoran el resultado.A series of 29 fractures of the tibial spine in 27 patients, 11 children and 16 adults. We followed Meyers and McKeever to classify the fractures, tipe II being the most frecuent. Associated injuries of the knee were registered, being medial collateal ligament the most frecuent. We found 2 Segond fractures in young patients. The treatment was conservative in 7 cases and surgical in the remaining 22. To evaluate the final result we studied the displacement of the fracture, mobility of the knee, anteroposterior and lateral inestabilities, muscle strength. We used the Lysholm and the Tegner rating systems to evaluate the functional result. A complete radiological evaluation (three views) was made in all the patients. The average follow-up times was 9.7 years for the children group, and 8.2 years for the adult group. The overall results according to the Lysholm rating scale were excellent, but 11 anteroposterior and 4 lateral laxities were registered, though 11 of the 15 cases remains asymptomatic. Many of theese laxities appeared in anatomically reduced fractures. We suggest that an arthroscopic study of the patients must be done to detect associated injuries that produces a worse final result

Reconstrucción ósea acetabular con cotilos no cementados y aporte de aloinjerto en la artroplastia total de cadera : estudio de 35 casos

Se han revisado 35 arlroplastias realizadas en 29 pacientes portadores de algún tipo de defecto óseo en el cotilo por fallo de prótesis total de cadera. En el presente estudio incluimos sólo las reconstrucciones acetabulares efectuadas con implantes no cementados. La edad media fue de 60 años (29/79), siendo 19 mujeres y 10 varones. Clasificamos los defectos óseos siguiendo a D'Antonio en segmentarios, cavitarios y mixtos, y para la reparación de dichos defectos utilizamos aloinjerto criopreservado en todos los casos excepto uno, tratado con injerto liofilizado. Valoramos los resultados desde un punto de vista clínico, subjetivo y objetivo (escala de Harris). Desde un punto de vista radiológico se analizaron las migraciones del implante acetabular, la existencia de zonas de radiolucencia, las osificaciones periarticulares y la incorporación o no del injerto óseo utilizado. Desde el punto de vista clínico obtuvimos un 60% de resultados excelentes y buenos, frente a un 40% de regulares y malos. Desde cualquier punto de vista el índice de aflojamiento del componente acetabular fue mucho mayor que el que puede obtenerse con cotilos no defectuososThirty five revision hip arthroplasties performed in 29 patients with acetabular bone defects were reviewed. In this series we only include the acetabular reconstruction performed using non cemented acetabular implants. The mean age of the patients was 60 years (29-79), 19 were female and 10 male. We classified the acetabular bone defects according to D'Antonio, in segmentary, cavitary and combined. To repair these defects, we used criopreserved allograft, except one case in which a liofilized allograft was used. The results were evaluated clinically (modified Harris hip score) and radiographically, looking for acetabular migrations, radiolucent lines, periarticular ossifications and bone graft incorporation. We obtained 60% of excellent and good results. There was 40% of poor and fair results. The acetabular loosening rate was higher than in revision hip arthroplasty without acetabular bone defects

Resultados a largo plazo de la patelectomía total

Desde el año 1981 hemos realizado 19 patelectomías totales, 9 por artrosis femoropatelar, 8 por dolor anterior de rodilla y 2 por fracturas conminutas. La edad media en el momento de la intervención era de 48 años (25-80); todos los pacientes con dolor anterior habían sido operados previamente. Con una evolución media de 7,8 años (3-14), hemos realizado una revisión clínica y radiológica. Según la escala de la Sociedad Internacional de Rodilla obtuvimos un 58% de resultados excelentes y buenos, resaltando que continúan con dolor todos los pacientes operados por artrosis y el 50% de los intervenidos por dolor anterior. La patelectomía total es una técnica cada vez menos utilizada, limitándose sus indicaciones a fracturas muy conminutas, artrosis femoropatelar en pacientes en los que estaría contraindicada la artroplastia total y en cuadros de dolor anterior de rodilla rebeldes a otros tratamientosNineteen total patelectomies were performed since 1981. The indication was femoropatellar osteoarthritis in nine cases, anterior knee pain syndrome in eight, and conminute fractures in two. The mean age of the group at the time of operation was 48 years (25-80). A1l the patients with anterior knee pain syndrome had been operated previously. With an average followup time of 7.8 years (3-14), vve reviewed our patients clinically and radiographically. We used the International Knee Society rating scale and found 58% of excellent and good results; 100% of the patients operated because of osteoarthritis and 50% of those operated because an anterior knee pain syndrome have pain at review. Total patellectomy is not a frequent technique. Today, the sole indications are very conminute fractures of the patella, femoropatellar osteoarthritis in those patients in which total knee arthroplasty is not indicated and in the anterior knee pain syndrome not improved with other treatments

Semen Modulates the Expression of NGF, ABHD2, VCAN, and CTEN in the Reproductive Tract of Female Rabbits

Semen changes the gene expression in endometrial and oviductal tissues modulating important processes for reproduction. We tested the hypothesis that mating and/or sperm-free seminal plasma deposition in the reproductive tract affect the expression of genes associated with sperm-lining epithelium interactions, ovulation, and pre-implantation effects (nerve growth factor, NGF; α/β hydrolase domain-containing protein 2, ABHD2; C-terminal tensin-like protein, CTEN or TNS4; and versican, VCAN) in the period 10-72 h post-mating. In Experiment 1, does (n = 9) were treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (control), GnRH-stimulated, and vaginally infused with sperm-free seminal plasma (SP-AI), or GnRH-stimulated and naturally mated (NM). In Experiment 2, does (n = 15) were GnRH-stimulated and naturally mated. Samples were retrieved from the internal reproductive tracts (cervix-to-infundibulum) 20 h post-treatment (Experiment 1) or sequentially collected at 10, 24, 36, 68, or 72 h post-mating (Experiment 2, 3 does/period). All samples were processed for gene expression analysis by quantitative PCR. Data showed an upregulation of endometrial CTEN and NGF by NM, but not by SP-AI. The findings suggest that the NGF gene affects the reproductive tract of the doe during ovulation and beyond, influencing the maternal environment during early embryonic development

Semen Modulates the Expression of NGF, ABHD2, VCAN, and CTEN in the Reproductive Tract of Female Rabbits

Semen changes the gene expression in endometrial and oviductal tissues modulating important processes for reproduction. We tested the hypothesis that mating and/or sperm-free seminal plasma deposition in the reproductive tract affect the expression of genes associated with sperm-lining epithelium interactions, ovulation, and pre-implantation effects (nerve growth factor, NGF; α/β hydrolase domain-containing protein 2, ABHD2; C-terminal tensin-like protein, CTEN or TNS4; and versican, VCAN) in the period 10-72 h post-mating. In Experiment 1, does (n = 9) were treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (control), GnRH-stimulated, and vaginally infused with sperm-free seminal plasma (SP-AI), or GnRH-stimulated and naturally mated (NM). In Experiment 2, does (n = 15) were GnRH-stimulated and naturally mated. Samples were retrieved from the internal reproductive tracts (cervix-to-infundibulum) 20 h post-treatment (Experiment 1) or sequentially collected at 10, 24, 36, 68, or 72 h post-mating (Experiment 2, 3 does/period). All samples were processed for gene expression analysis by quantitative PCR. Data showed an upregulation of endometrial CTEN and NGF by NM, but not by SP-AI. The findings suggest that the NGF gene affects the reproductive tract of the doe during ovulation and beyond, influencing the maternal environment during early embryonic development

Semen Modulates the Expression of NGF, ABHD2, VCAN, and CTEN in the Reproductive Tract of Female Rabbits

Semen changes the gene expression in endometrial and oviductal tissues modulating important processes for reproduction. We tested the hypothesis that mating and/or sperm-free seminal plasma deposition in the reproductive tract affect the expression of genes associated with sperm-lining epithelium interactions, ovulation, and pre-implantation effects (nerve growth factor, NGF; α/β hydrolase domain-containing protein 2, ABHD2; C-terminal tensin-like protein, CTEN or TNS4; and versican, VCAN) in the period 10-72 h post-mating. In Experiment 1, does (n = 9) were treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (control), GnRH-stimulated, and vaginally infused with sperm-free seminal plasma (SP-AI), or GnRH-stimulated and naturally mated (NM). In Experiment 2, does (n = 15) were GnRH-stimulated and naturally mated. Samples were retrieved from the internal reproductive tracts (cervix-to-infundibulum) 20 h post-treatment (Experiment 1) or sequentially collected at 10, 24, 36, 68, or 72 h post-mating (Experiment 2, 3 does/period). All samples were processed for gene expression analysis by quantitative PCR. Data showed an upregulation of endometrial CTEN and NGF by NM, but not by SP-AI. The findings suggest that the NGF gene affects the reproductive tract of the doe during ovulation and beyond, influencing the maternal environment during early embryonic development

A reliable turning process by the early use of a deep simulation model at several manufacturing stages

The future of machine tools will be dominated by highly flexible and interconnected systems, in order to achieve the required productivity, accuracy, and reliability. Nowadays, distortion and vibration problems are easily solved in labs for the most common machining operations by using models based on the equations describing the physical laws of the machining processes; however, additional efforts are needed to overcome the gap between scientific research and real manufacturing problems. In fact, there is an increasing interest in developing simulation packages based on "deep-knowledge and models" that aid machine designers, production engineers, or machinists to get the most out of the machine-tools. This article proposes a methodology to reduce problems in machining by means of a simulation utility, which uses the main variables of the system and process as input data, and generates results that help in the proper decision-making and machining plan. Direct benefits can be found in (a) the fixture/ clamping optimal design; (b) the machine tool configuration; (c) the definition of chatter-free optimum cutting conditions and (d) the right programming of cutting toolpaths at the Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) stage. The information and knowledge-based approach showed successful results in several local manufacturing companies and are explained in the paper.The work presented in this paper was supported in some sections within the project entitled MuProD-Innovative Proactive Quality Control System for In-Process Multi-Stage Defect Reduction- of the Seventh Framework Program of the European Union [FoF.NMP.2011-5] and UPV/EHU under program UFI 11/29. Thanks are given to Tecnalia, for collaboration in testing, and especially to Ainhoa Gorrotxategi and Ander Jimenez for the sound work in the project. Thanks to Gamesa Eolica and Guruzpe, for the time, technical advices, and efforts during the analysis in examples