569 research outputs found
Photovoltaic module segmentation and thermal analysis tool from thermal images
The growing interest in the use of clean energy has led to the construction
of increasingly large photovoltaic systems. Consequently, monitoring the proper
functioning of these systems has become a highly relevant issue.In this paper,
automatic detection, and analysis of photovoltaic modules are proposed. To
perform the analysis, a module identification step, based on a digital image
processing algorithm, is first carried out. This algorithm consists of image
enhancement (contrast enhancement, noise reduction, etc.), followed by
segmentation of the photovoltaic module. Subsequently, a statistical analysis
based on the temperature values of the segmented module is performed.Besides, a
graphical user interface has been designed as a potential tool that provides
relevant information of the photovoltaic modules.Comment: 7 pages, 12 Figure
Pseudophakic cystoid macular edema: update 2016
Pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (PCME) is the most common complication of cataract surgery, leading in some cases to a decrease in vision. Although the pathogenesis of PCME is not completely understood, the contribution of postsurgical inflammation is generally accepted. Consequently, anti-inflammatory medicines, including steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, have been postulated as having a role in both the prophylaxis and treatment of PCME. However, the lack of a uniformly accepted PCME definition, conflicting data on some risk factors, and the scarcity of studies comparing the role of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to steroids in PCME prevention make the problem of PCME one of the puzzles of ophthalmology. This paper presents an updated review on the pathogenesis, risk factors, and use of anti-inflammatory drugs in PCME that reflect current research and practice
La función ejecutiva de actualización y el rendimiento en comprensión lectora y resolución de problemas
In this investigation, the capacity of the working memory (WM) updating executive function to predict individual differences in reading comprehension and problem solving was analyzed in 5th-graders of Primary Education. In addition, we examined whether this relation is direct or mediated by domain-general or domain-specific variables. For this purpose, a series of tasks was administered to assess fluid intelligence, WM information updating, arithmetic abilities, arithmetic problem solving, lexical processing, and reading comprehension in 49 students aged between 10 and 11 years. The results support the idea that updating is an important predictor of reading comprehension, beyond the influence of domainspecific skills and fluid intelligence. In the case of problem solving, our findings confirm that updating plays an important role although, perhaps due to task content, the relation seems to be mediated by fluid intelligence at this developmental stageEsta investigación analizó, en niños de 5º curso de Educación Primaria, la capacidad predictora de la función ejecutiva de actualización de la Memoria Operativa (MO) en las diferencias individuales en comprensión lectora y resolución de problemas aritméticos. Además, se estudió si esta relación es directa o está mediada por variables de dominio general o específico. Con este fin se administró un conjunto de pruebas que evalúan la inteligencia fluida, la actualización de la información en la MO, la competencia aritmética, la resolución de problemas aritméticos, el procesamiento léxico y la comprensión lectora a 49 alumnos con edades comprendidas entre los 10 y 11 años. Los resultados apoyan la idea que la actualización de la MO es un
importante predictor de la comprensión lectora, más allá de la influencia de las habilidades de dominio específico y de la inteligencia fluida. En el caso de la resolución de problemas, nuestros hallazgos confirman que la actualización juega un papel importante aunque, en este momento evolutivo, quizá por el propio contenido de la tarea, la relación parece mediada por la inteligencia fluid
Structure of Thermoreversible Poly(vinyl alcohol) Cryo-Hydrogels as studied by Proton Low Field NMR Spectroscopy
The network structure of Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels obtained by freezing-thawing cycles was investigated by solid state 1H low field NMR spectroscopy. By application of multiple-quantum NMR experiments, we obtain information about the segmental order parameter, which is directly related to the restrictions to chain motion (crosslinks) formed upon gelation. These measurements indicate that the network mesh size, as well as the relative amount of non-elastic defects (i.e. non-crosslinked chains, dangling chains, loops) decreases with the number of freezing-thawing cycles, but it is independent of the polymer concentration. The formation of the PVA network is accompanied by an increasing fraction of polymer with fast magnetization decay (∼20μs). The quantitative study of this rigid phase with a specific refocusing pulse sequence shows that it is composed of a primary crystalline polymer phase (around 5%), which constitutes the main support of the network structure and determines the mesh size, and a secondary population of more imperfect crystallites, which increase the number of elastic chain segments in the polymer gel but does not affect the average network mesh size appreciably. Correspondingly, progressive melting of the secondary crystallites with increasing temperature does not affect the network mesh size but only the amount of network defects, and melting of the main PVA crystallites at around 80 ºC leads to destruction of the network gel and formation of an isotropic PVA solution.Peer reviewe
Analysis of the MPEG-2 Encoding Algorithm with ROSA1 1This work has been supported by the CICYT project “Performance Evaluation of Distributed Systems”, TIC2000-0701-C02-02.
AbstractThe authors present both the specification and a performance analysis of the MPEG2 algorithm for video encoding, by using the Stochastic Process Algebra ROSA. This process algebra is a very general framework for describing and analyzing more complex Real Time Systems than the one presented. Some interesting results about the temporal behaviour of the algorithm and an immediate estimation of benefits when having a twin-processors platform have been obtained
System Orchestration Support for a Collaborative Blended Learning Flow
Portable and interactive technologies are changing the nature of collaborative learning practices and open up new possibilities for Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL). Now, activities occurring in and beyond the classroom can be combined and integrated leading to a new type of complex collaborative blended learning scenarios. However, to organize and structure these scenarios is challenging and represent a workload for practitioners, which hinder the adoption of these technology-enhanced practices. As an approach to alleviate this workload, this paper proposes a proof of concept of a technological solution to overcome the limitations detected in an analysis of an actual collaborative blended learning experiment carried out in a previous study. The solution consists on a Unit of Learning suitable to be instantiated with IMS Learning Design and complemented by a GenericService Integration system. This chapter also discusses to which extent the proposed solution covers the limitations detected in the previous study and how useful could be for reducing the orchestration effort in future experiences.This work has been partially funded by the Project Learn3 (TIN2008-
05163/TSI) from the Plan Nacional I+D+I and "Investigación y Desarrollo de Tecnologías
para el e-Learning en la Comunidad de Madrid” funded by the Madrid Regional
Government under grant No. S2009/TIC-1650
La propiedad intelectual, una necesidad impostergable en el sistema de salud de nuestro municipio
La respuesta es sencilla: los derechos de propiedad intelectual se asemejan a cualquier otro derecho de propiedad (permiten al creador o al titular de una patente, marca o derecho de autor, beneficiarse de su obra o inversión). Estos derechos figuran en el Artículo 27 de la Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos, donde se establece el derecho a beneficiarse de la protección de los intereses morales y materiales resultantes de la autoría de toda producción científica, literaria o artística.La importancia de la propiedad intelectual empezó por ser reconocida en el Convenio de París para la Protección de la Propiedad Industrial de 1883 y en el Convenio de Berna para la Protección de las Obras Literarias y Artísticas de 1886. La Organización Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual (OMPI) administra ambos tratados
Endocarditis trombótica no bacteriana (Libman-Sacks)
Mujer de 47 años ingresada en 2002 por ictus. Se diagnosticó masa valvular aórtica. Se intervino realizándose exéresis de trombo no bacteriano (Fig 1a, b). Durante el estudio de trombofilia fue diagnosticada de síndrome antifosfolípido primario (SAP), inciándose anticoagulación. Hasta la fecha, ha padecido múltiples accidentes cerebrovasculares, isquémicos y hemorrágicos. Está en diálisis peritoneal con probable origen en SAP. SAP es un trastorno autoinmune caracterizado por fenómenos trombóticos iterativos y alargamiento de tiempos de coagulación. La cirugía cardiaca conlleva morbimortalidad por tromboembolias, suponiendo un reto en el manejo de la circulación extracorpórea. Las complicaciones tromboembólicas son frecuentes durante el seguimiento.A 47-year-old woman was admitted in 2002 due to stroke. An aortic valve mass was diagnosed and surgical removal of non-bacterial thrombus performed (Fig. 1a, b). During the study for thrombophilia, primary antiphospholipidic syndrome (PSA) was diagnosed and oral anticoagulation started. Up to date, she presented with multiple episodes of cerebrovascular accident, ischemic and hemorrhagic. She is on peritoneal dialysis. PAS is an autoimmune disorder characterized by recurrent thrombotic phenomena and prolonged coagulation time. Cardiac surgery carries morbidity and mortality due to thromboembolic events, representing a challenge in the management of extracorporeal circulation. Thromboembolic complications are frequent during the follow-up
Serum biomarkers and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplantation
Liver transplantation (LT) is the only potentially curative treatment for selected
patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are not
candidates for resection. When the Milan criteria are strictly applied, 75% to
85%of 3- to 4-year actuarial survival rates are achieved, but up to 20% of the
patients experience HCC recurrence after transplantation. The Milan criteria are
based on the preoperative tumor macromorphology, tumor size and number on
computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging that neither correlate well
with posttransplant histological study of the liver explant nor accurately predict
HCC recurrence after LT, since they do not include objective measures of tumor
biology. Preoperative biological markers, including alpha-fetoprotein, desgamma-
carboxiprothrombin or neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-tolymphocyte
ratio, can predict the risk for HCC recurrence after transplantation.
These biomarkers have been proposed as surrogate markers of tumor
differentiation and vascular invasion, with varied risk magnitudes depending on
the defined cutoffs. Different studies have shown that the combination of one or
several biomarkers integrated into prognostic models predict the risk of HCC
recurrence after LT more accurately than Milan criteria alone. In this review, we
focus on the potential utility of these serum biological markers to improve the
performance of Milan criteria to identify patients at high risk of tumora
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