Direct and indirect costs in the conservative management of undisplaced scaphoid fractures

The scaphoid is the most commonly fractured carpal bone, and preferable treatment of undisplaced fractures is controversial. In order to assess the socio-economic impact of treatment modalities, we analysed the cost of conservative management of 54 undisplaced scaphoid fractures. Global costs amounted to 14.077 Swiss francs (9385 euros) per patient. Direct costs represent only 10% of global costs. No significant correlation was found between costs and timing of diagnosis, hand dominance or complications. Thirty-four percent of patients were able to resume their job with the wrist immobilised without complication, but at an obvious impact on indirect and global costs. If early resumption of professional activities during conservative treatment of undisplaced scaphoid fractures does not impair successful fracture healing, patients should be encouraged to return to work as early as possible, as is routinely done after percutaneous fracture fixation. This will contribute to massively reducing the cost of conservative treatmen

Wavelet entropy and fractional Brownian motion time series

We study the functional link between the Hurst parameter and the Normalized Total Wavelet Entropy when analyzing fractional Brownian motion (fBm) time series--these series are synthetically generated. Both quantifiers are mainly used to identify fractional Brownian motion processes (Fractals 12 (2004) 223). The aim of this work is understand the differences in the information obtained from them, if any.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Physica A for considering its publicatio

Extruded Expanded Polystyrene Sheets Coated by TiO2 as New Photocatalitic Materials for Foodstuffs Packaging

Nanostructured, photoactive anatase TiO2 sol prepared under very mild conditions using titanium tetraisopropoxide as the precursor is used to functionalise extruded expanded polystyrene (XPS) sheets by spray-coating resulting in stable and active materials functionalised by TiO2 nanoparticles. Photocatalytic tests of these sheets performed in a batch reactor in gas–solid system under UV irradiation show their successful activity in degrading probe molecules (2-propanol, trimethylamine and ethene). Raman spectra ensure the deposition of TiO2 as crystalline anatase phase on the polymer surface. The presence of TiO2 with respect to polymer surface can be observed in SEM images coupled to EDAX mapping allowing to monitor the surface morphology and the distribution of TiO2 particles. Finally thermoforming of these sheets in industrial standard equipment leads to useful containers for foodstuffs

Application of Vertical Brackets in Orthodontial Treatments: A Laser Speckle Study

This paper reports the application of a laser speckle technique for orthodontial studies. The purpose of these studies is to certify the validity of a proposal related with a new type of apparatus, and the methodology to be used in orthodontial treatments. (P&aacute;rrafo extra&iacute;do a modo de resumen)</em

Characterization of laser propagation through turbulent media by quantifiers based on the wavelet transform: dynamic study

We analyze, within the wavelet theory framework, the wandering over a screen of the centroid of a laser beam after it has propagated through a time-changing laboratory-generated turbulence. Following a previous work (Fractals 12 (2004) 223) two quantifiers are used, the Hurst parameter, $H$, and the Normalized Total Wavelet Entropy, $\text{NTWS}$. The temporal evolution of both quantifiers, obtained from the laser spot data stream is studied and compared. This allows us to extract information of the stochastic process associated to the turbulence dynamics.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, accepted to be published in Physica

Three initiatives in terms of adaptation to climate change

The article focuses on three initiatives that have addressed the issue of climate change and adaptation to its effects, through field experimentation, administrations training and data production. The For Climadapt project (MED programme) has developed methods and tools for actors in the field, through field visits, exchange of information and sharing of experience. The GIZ regional project has contributed to the capacity building of forest and non-forest administrations, in five Mediterranean countries, through two approaches to adaptation to climate change: a sectorial, on the adaptation of forests, and a multisectorial on the role of forests in the adaptation of territories and populations (Forest Ecosystem-based adaptation, FEbA). The component 1 of the project financed by the FFEM has enabled the production of large amounts of data, in particular maps: vulnerability maps, evolution of forest cover and land use maps, future projections of climate conditions, database of the literature on the subject

Trois initiatives en matière d’adaptation au changement climatique

L’article met l’accent sur trois initiatives qui se sont intéressées à la problématique du changement climatique et à l’adaptation à ses effets, au travers de l’expérimentation de terrain, de la formation des administrations et de la production de données. Le projet For Climadapt (programme MED) a développé des méthodes et des outils à destination des acteurs de terrain, au travers de visites de terrain, d’échanges d’informations et de partage d’expérience. Le projet régional GIZ a concouru à la montée en compétence des administrations, forestières et non forestières, de cinq pays méditerranéens, au travers de deux approches d’adaptation au changement climatique : une sectorielle, sur l’adaptation des forêts, et une multisectorielle, sur le rôle des forêts dans l’adaptation des territoires et des populations (adaptation fondée sur les écosystèmes forestiers). La composante 1 du projet financé par le FFEM a permis la production d’une grande quantité de données, notamment cartographiques : cartes de vulnérabilité, cartes d’évolution du couvert, simulation des conditions climatiques, base de données de la littérature sur le sujet

A fractional Brownian motion model for the turbulent refractive index in lightwave propagation

It is discussed the limitations of the widely used markovian approximation applied to model the turbulent refractive index in lightwave propagation. It is well-known the index is a passive scalar field. Thus, the actual knowledge about these quantities is used to propose an alternative stochastic process to the markovian approximation: the fractional Brownian motion. This generalizes the former introducing memory; that is, there is correlation along the propagation path.Comment: 11 pages, no figures. Submitted and revised for Optics Communication

The Planck-LFI flight model composite waveguides

The Low Frequency Instrument on board the PLANCK satellite is designed to give the most accurate map ever of the CMB anisotropy of the whole sky over a broad frequency band spanning 27 to 77 GHz. It is made of an array of 22 pseudo-correlation radiometers, composed of 11 actively cooled (20 K) Front End Modules (FEMs), and 11 Back End Modules (BEMs) at 300K. The connection between the two parts is made with rectangular Wave Guides. Considerations of different nature (thermal, electromagnetic and mechanical), imposed stringent requirements on the WGs characteristics and drove their design. From the thermal point of view, the WG should guarantee good insulation between the FEM and the BEM sections to avoid overloading the cryocooler. On the other hand it is essential that the signals do not undergo excessive attenuation through the WG. Finally, given the different positions of the FEM modules behind the focal surface and the mechanical constraints given by the surrounding structures, different mechanical designs were necessary. A composite configuration of Stainless Steel and Copper was selected to satisfy all the requirements. Given the complex shape and the considerable length (about 1.5-2 m), manufacturing and testing the WGs was a challenge. This work deals with the development of the LFI WGs, including the choice of the final configuration and of the fabrication process. It also describes the testing procedure adopted to fully characterize these components from the electromagnetic point of view and the space qualification process they underwent. Results obtained during the test campaign are reported and compared with the stringent requirements. The performance of the LFI WGs is in line with requirements, and the WGs were successfully space qualified.Comment: this paper is part of the Prelaunch status LFI papers published on JINST: http://www.iop.org/EJ/journal/-page=extra.proc5/jins