Mitigation of the Ground Reflection Effect in Real-Time Locating Systems

Real-Time Locating Systems (RTLS) are one of the most promising ap- plications based on Wireless Sensor Networks and represent a currently growing market. However, accuracy in indoor RTLS is still a problem requiring novel solu- tions. One of the main challenges is to deal with the problems that arise from the effects of the propagation of radio frequency waves, such as attenuation, diffrac- tion, reflection and scattering. These effects can lead to other undesired problems, such as multipath and the ground reflection effect. This paper presents an innova- tive mathematical model for improving the accuracy of RTLS, focusing on the mitigation of the ground reflection effect by using Artificial Neural Networks

Rapid health evaluation in migrant peoples in transit through Darien, Panama: protocol for a multimethod qualitative and quantitative study.

BACKGROUND: The world is currently unprepared to deal with the drastic increase in global migration. There is an urgent need to develop programs to protect the well-being and health of migrant peoples. Increased population movement is already evident throughout the Americas as exemplified by the rising number of migrant peoples who pass through the Darien neotropical moist broadleaf forest along the border region between Panama and Colombia. The transit of migrant peoples through this area has an increase in the last years. In 2021, an average of 9400 people entered the region per month compared with 2000-3500 people monthly in 2019. Along this trail, there is no access to health care, food provision, potable water, or housing. To date, much of what is known about health needs and barriers to health care within this population is based on journalistic reports and anecdotes. There is a need for a comprehensive approach to assess the health care needs of migrant peoples in transit. This study aims to describe demographic characteristics, mental and physical health status and needs, and experiences of host communities, and to identify opportunities to improve health care provision to migrant peoples in transit in Panama. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This multimethod study will include qualitative (n = 70) and quantitative (n = 520) components. The qualitative component includes interviews with migrant peoples in transit, national and international nongovernmental organizations and agencies based in Panama. The quantitative component is a rapid epidemiological study which includes a questionnaire and four clinical screenings: mental health, sexual and reproductive health, general and tropical medicine, and nutrition. CONCLUSION: This study will contribute to a better understanding of the health status and needs of migrant peoples in transit through the region. Findings will be used to allocate resources and provide targeted health care interventions for migrant peoples in transit through Darien, Panama

Overview of recent TJ-II stellarator results

The main results obtained in the TJ-II stellarator in the last two years are reported. The most important topics investigated have been modelling and validation of impurity transport, validation of gyrokinetic simulations, turbulence characterisation, effect of magnetic configuration on transport, fuelling with pellet injection, fast particles and liquid metal plasma facing components. As regards impurity transport research, a number of working lines exploring several recently discovered effects have been developed: the effect of tangential drifts on stellarator neoclassical transport, the impurity flux driven by electric fields tangent to magnetic surfaces and attempts of experimental validation with Doppler reflectometry of the variation of the radial electric field on the flux surface. Concerning gyrokinetic simulations, two validation activities have been performed, the comparison with measurements of zonal flow relaxation in pellet-induced fast transients and the comparison with experimental poloidal variation of fluctuations amplitude. The impact of radial electric fields on turbulence spreading in the edge and scrape-off layer has been also experimentally characterized using a 2D Langmuir probe array. Another remarkable piece of work has been the investigation of the radial propagation of small temperature perturbations using transfer entropy. Research on the physics and modelling of plasma core fuelling with pellet and tracer-encapsulated solid-pellet injection has produced also relevant results. Neutral beam injection driven Alfvénic activity and its possible control by electron cyclotron current drive has been examined as well in TJ-II. Finally, recent results on alternative plasma facing components based on liquid metals are also presented. ISSN:0029-5515 ISSN:1741-432

Zinc Phthalocyanine−Graphene Hybrid Material for Energy Conversion: Synthesis, Characterization, Photophysics and Photoelectrochemical Cell Preparation

Graphene exfoliation upon tip sonication in o-­‐DCB was accomplished. Then, covalent grafting of (2-­‐ aminoethoxy)(tri-­‐tert-­‐butyl) zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc), to exfoliated graphene sheets was achieved. The newly formed ZnPc-­‐graphene hybrid material was found soluble in common organic solvents without any precipitation for several weeks. Application of diverse spectroscopic techniques verified the successful formation of ZnPc-­‐graphene hybrid materi-­‐ al, while thermogravimetric analysis revealed the amount of ZnPc loading onto graphene. Microscopy analysis based on AFM and TEM was applied to probe the morphological characteristics and to investigate the exfoliation of graphene sheets. Efficient fluorescence quenching of ZnPc in the ZnPc-­‐graphene hybrid material suggested that photoinduced events occur from the photoexcited ZnPc to exfoliated graphene. The dynamics of the photoinduced electron transfer was evaluated by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, thus, revealing the formation of transient species such as ZnPc+ yielding the charge-­‐separated state ZnPc•+–graphene•–. Finally, the ZnPc-­‐graphene hybrid material was integrated into a photoactive electrode of an optical transparent electrode (OTE) cast with nanostructured SnO2 films (OTE/SnO2), which exhibited sta le and reproducible photocurrent responses and the incident photon-­‐to-­‐current conversion efficien-­‐ cy was determine

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

4to. Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad. Memoria académica

Este volumen acoge la memoria académica de la Cuarta edición del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad, CITIS 2017, desarrollado entre el 29 de noviembre y el 1 de diciembre de 2017 y organizado por la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS) en su sede de Guayaquil. El Congreso ofreció un espacio para la presentación, difusión e intercambio de importantes investigaciones nacionales e internacionales ante la comunidad universitaria que se dio cita en el encuentro. El uso de herramientas tecnológicas para la gestión de los trabajos de investigación como la plataforma Open Conference Systems y la web de presentación del Congreso http://citis.blog.ups.edu.ec/, hicieron de CITIS 2017 un verdadero referente entre los congresos que se desarrollaron en el país. La preocupación de nuestra Universidad, de presentar espacios que ayuden a generar nuevos y mejores cambios en la dimensión humana y social de nuestro entorno, hace que se persiga en cada edición del evento la presentación de trabajos con calidad creciente en cuanto a su producción científica. Quienes estuvimos al frente de la organización, dejamos plasmado en estas memorias académicas el intenso y prolífico trabajo de los días de realización del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad al alcance de todos y todas

Factors influencing terrestriality in primates of the Americas and Madagascar

Among mammals, the order Primates is exceptional in having a high taxonomic richness in which the taxa are arboreal, semiterrestrial, or terrestrial. Although habitual terrestriality is pervasive among the apes and African and Asian monkeys (catarrhines), it is largely absent among monkeys of the Americas (platyrrhines), as well as galagos, lemurs, and lorises (strepsirrhines), which are mostly arboreal. Numerous ecological drivers and species-specific factors are suggested to set the conditions for an evolutionary shift from arboreality to terrestriality, and current environmental conditions may provide analogous scenarios to those transitional periods. Therefore, we investigated predominantly arboreal, diurnal primate genera from the Americas and Madagascar that lack fully terrestrial taxa, to determine whether ecological drivers (habitat canopy cover, predation risk, maximum temperature, precipitation, primate species richness, human population density, and distance to roads) or species-specific traits (body mass, group size, and degree of frugivory) associate with increased terrestriality. We collated 150,961 observation hours across 2,227 months from 47 species at 20 sites in Madagascar and 48 sites in the Americas. Multiple factors were associated with ground use in these otherwise arboreal species, including increased temperature, a decrease in canopy cover, a dietary shift away from frugivory, and larger group size. These factors mostly explain intraspecific differences in terrestriality. As humanity modifies habitats and causes climate change, our results suggest that species already inhabiting hot, sparsely canopied sites, and exhibiting more generalized diets, are more likely to shift toward greater ground use

Eugenol as an Anesthetic for Handling Hybrid Pseudoplatystoma metaense by Leiarius marmoratus

El objeto de ese trabajo fue establecer una concentración anestésica óptima de eugenol para la manipulación de los juveniles híbridos de Pseudoplatystoma metaense por Leiarius marmoratus (PxL) y determinar la sobrevivencia posterior a la anestesia (24 horas). Cuarenta juveniles del híbrido PxL (9,3 ± 2,75 g y 9.08 ± 0.8 cm) provenientes de los estanques de la estación IALL obtenidos de un mismo desove fueron expuestos al eugenol (85% de pureza en base oleosa) (30, 50, 60 y 70 mg/L) y un grupo control (etanol 0.8 ml/L). Los especímenes de cada grupo experimental (n= 8 peces), fueron seleccionados al azar y sometidos individualmente a cada tratamiento en un acuario con capacidad de 10L y recuperados en agua corriente. Los parámetros de calidad de agua determinados para el experimento fueron Temperatura 28, 3 ± 0.12°C, OD: 2,3 ± 8,0 mg/L y pH: 5,4± 0,32. Ninguno de los tratamientos causo mortalidad (100% de sobrevivencia). Los tiempos de inducción medidos para las concentraciones 50, 60 y 70 mg/L fueron significativamente inferiores a los registrados para la concentración de 30 mg/L en la cual se presentaron tiempos de inducción por encima de los 400 segundos. Aunque ninguna de las concentraciones produjo daños en la recuperación de los animales, en consideración con los tiempos de inducción-recuperación anestésica se concluye que la concentración de 50 mg/L de eugenol es la más recomendable para la manipulación de híbridos PxL.The purpose of this study was to establish the optimal anesthetic concentration of eugenol for handling hybrid juvenile Pseudoplatystoma metaense by Leiarius marmoratus (PxL) and subsequent survival (24 hours). Forty juveniles youth PxL hybrid (9.3 ± 2.75 g and 9.08 ± 0.8 cm) from the ponds of IALL station obtained from the same spawning were exposed to eugenol (85% purity in oil base) (30, 50, 60 and 70 mg / L) and a control group (ethanol 0.8 ml / L). Specimens of each experimental group (n = 8 fish) were randomly selected and individually subjected to each treatment in an aquarium with a capacity of 10L and recovered in fresh water. The quality parameters determined for the experiment were: water temperature 28.3 ± 0.12°C, OD: 2.3 ± 8.0 mg / L and pH 5.4 ± 0.32. None of the treatments caused mortality (100% survival). Induction times measured for levels 50, 60 and 70 mg / L were significantly lower than those recorded for the concentration of 30 mg / L in which induction times were over 400 seconds. Although none of the concentrations produced damage to the recovery of the animals, in consideration of the time of induction of anesthesia-recovery, it is concluded that the concentration of 50 mg / L of eugenol is recommended for handling hybrid PxL

Eugenol como anestésico para el manejo de juveniles del híbrido Pseudoplatystoma metaense por Leiarius marmoratus

The purpose of this study was to establish the optimal anesthetic concentration of eugenol for handling hybrid juvenile Pseudoplatystoma metaense by Leiarius marmoratus (PxL) and subsequent survival (24 hours). Forty juveniles youth PxL hybrid (9.3 ± 2.75 g and 9.08 ± 0.8 cm) from the ponds of IALL station obtained from the same spawning were exposed to eugenol (85% purity in oil base) (30, 50, 60 and 70 mg / L) and a control group (ethanol 0.8 ml / L). Specimens of each experimental group (n = 8 fish) were randomly selected and individually subjected to each treatment in an aquarium with a capacity of 10L and recovered in fresh water. The quality parameters determined for the experiment were: water temperature 28.3 ± 0.12°C, OD: 2.3 ± 8.0 mg / L and pH 5.4 ± 0.32. None of the treatments caused mortality (100% survival). Induction times measured for levels 50, 60 and 70 mg / L were significantly lower than those recorded for the concentration of 30 mg / L in which induction times were over 400 seconds. Although none of the concentrations produced damage to the recovery of the animals, in consideration of the time of induction of anesthesia-recovery, it is concluded that the concentration of 50 mg / L of eugenol is recommended for handling hybrid PxL.O objetivo deste estudo foi estabelecer a concentração anestésica ideal de eugenol para manuseio de juvenis do híbrido Pseudoplatystoma metaeense x Leiarius marmoratus (PxL) ea sobrevivência pós-anestesia (24 horas). Quarenta juvenis do híbrido PxL (9,3 ± 2,75 g e 9,08 ± 0,8 cm) foram obtidos a partir da mesma desova em tanques de cultivo no Iall e expostos a eugenol (85% de pureza em base de óleo) (30, 50, 60 e 70 mg / L) e um grupo control (etanol a 0,8 ml / L). Os exemplares de cada grupo experimental (n = 8 peixes) foram selecionados aleatoriamente e submetidos individualmente a cada tratamento em um aquário com capacidade de 10 L e recuperados em água corrente. Os parâme tros de qualidade determinados para a experiência foram: temperatura 28,3 ± 0.12°C, OD: 2,3 ± 8,0 mg / L e pH de 5,4 ± 0,32. Nenhum dos tratamentos causou mortalidade (100% de sobrevivência). Tempos de indução medidos para os níveis de 50, 60 e 70 mg / L foram significativamente menores que os registrados para a concentração de 30 mg / L, no qual o tempo de indução foi maior que 400 segundos. Embora nenhuma das concentrações tenha produzido dano para a recuperação dos animais, tendo em consideração o tempo de indução da anestesia e recuperação, conclui-se que a concentração de 50 mg / L de eugenol é recomendada para o manuseio de híbridos PxL.El objeto de ese trabajo fue establecer una concentración anestésica óptima de eugenol para la manipulación de los juveniles híbridos de Pseudoplatystoma metaense por Leiarius marmoratus (PxL) y determinar la sobrevivencia posterior a la anestesia (24 horas). Cuarenta juveniles del híbrido PxL (9,3 ± 2,75 g y 9.08 ± 0.8 cm) provenientes de los estanques de la estación IALL obtenidos de un mismo desove fueron expuestos al eugenol (85% de pureza en base oleosa) (30, 50, 60 y 70 mg/L) y un grupo control (etanol 0.8 ml/L). Los especímenes de cada grupo experimental (n= 8 peces), fueron seleccionados al azar y sometidos individualmente a cada tratamiento en un acuario con capacidad de 10L y recuperados en agua corriente. Los parámetros de calidad de agua determinados para el experimento fueron Temperatura 28, 3 ± 0.12°C, OD: 2,3 ± 8,0 mg/L y pH: 5,4± 0,32. Ninguno de los tratamientos causo mortalidad (100% de sobrevivencia). Los tiempos de inducción medidos para las concentraciones 50, 60 y 70 mg/L fueron significativamente inferiores a los registrados para la concentración de 30 mg/L en la cual se presentaron tiempos de inducción por encima de los 400 segundos. Aunque ninguna de las concentraciones produjo daños en la recuperación de los animales, en consideración con los tiempos de inducción-recuperación anestésica se concluye que la concentración de 50 mg/L de eugenol es la más recomendable para la manipulación de híbridos PxL