Development and Analysis of Low-Cost IoT Sensors for Urban Environmental Monitoring

The accelerated pace of urbanization is having a major impact over the world’s environment. Although urban dwellers have higher living standards and can access better public services as compared to their rural counterparts, they are usually exposed to poor environmental conditions such as air pollution and noise. In order for municipalities and citizens to mitigate the negative effects of pollution, the monitoring of certain parameters, such as air quality and ambient sound levels, both in indoor and outdoor locations, has to be performed. The current paper presents a complete solution that allows the monitoring of ambient parameters such as Volatile Organic Compounds, temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and sound intensity levels both in indoor and outdoor spaces. The presented solution comprises of low-cost, easy to deploy, wireless sensors and a cloud application for their management and for storing and visualizing the recorded data

Cloud e-learning for mechatronics: CLEM

his paper describes results of the CLEM project, Cloud E-learning for Mechatronics. CLEM is an example of a domain-specific cloud that is especially tuned to the needs of VET (Vocational, Education and Training) teachers. An interesting development has been the creation of remote laboratories in the cloud. Learners can access such laboratories to support their practical learning of mechatronics without the need to set up laboratories at their own institutions. The cloud infrastructure enables multiple laboratories to come together virtually to create an ecosystem for educators and learners. From such a system, educators can pick and mix materials to create suitable courses for their students and the learners can experience different types of devices and laboratories through the cloud. The paper provides an overview of this new cloud-based e-learning approach and presents the results. The paper explains how the use of cloud computing has enabled the development of a new method, showing how a holistic e-learning experience can be obtained through use of static, dynamic and interactive material together with facilities for collaboration and innovation

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

The Impact of Air Pollution on Pulmonary Diseases: A Case Study from Brasov County, Romania

Air pollution is considered one of the most significant risk factors for human health. To ensure air quality and prevent and reduce the harmful impact on human health, it is necessary to identify and measure the main air pollutants (sulfur and nitrogen oxides, PM10 and PM2.5 particles, lead, benzene, carbon monoxide, etc.), their maximum values, as well as the impact they have on mortality/morbidity rates caused by respiratory diseases. This paper aims to assess the influence of air pollution on respiratory diseases based on an analysis of principal pollutants and mortality/morbidity data sets. In this respect, four types of data are used: pollution sources inventory, air quality data sets, mortality/morbidity data at the local and national level, and clinical data of patients diagnosed with different forms of lung malignancies. The results showed an increased number of deaths caused by respiratory diseases for the studied period, correlated with the decreased air quality due to industrial and commercial activities, households, transportation, and energy production

The Impact of Air Pollution on Pulmonary Diseases: A Case Study from Brasov County, Romania

Air pollution is considered one of the most significant risk factors for human health. To ensure air quality and prevent and reduce the harmful impact on human health, it is necessary to identify and measure the main air pollutants (sulfur and nitrogen oxides, PM10 and PM2.5 particles, lead, benzene, carbon monoxide, etc.), their maximum values, as well as the impact they have on mortality/morbidity rates caused by respiratory diseases. This paper aims to assess the influence of air pollution on respiratory diseases based on an analysis of principal pollutants and mortality/morbidity data sets. In this respect, four types of data are used: pollution sources inventory, air quality data sets, mortality/morbidity data at the local and national level, and clinical data of patients diagnosed with different forms of lung malignancies. The results showed an increased number of deaths caused by respiratory diseases for the studied period, correlated with the decreased air quality due to industrial and commercial activities, households, transportation, and energy production

A simulator for the respiratory tree in healthy subjects derived from continued fractions expansions

Taking into account the self-similar recurrent geometrical structure of the human respiratory tree, the total respiratory impedance can be represented using an electrical equivalent of a ladder network model. In this paper, the parameters of the respiratory tree are employed in simulation, based on clinical insight and morphology. Once the transfer function of the total input impedance model is calculated, it is further interpreted in its continued fraction expansion form. The purpose is to compare the ladder network structure with the continuous fraction expansion form of the impedance. The results are supporting the theory of fractional-order impedance appearance (also known as constant-phase behaviour) and help understanding the mathematical and morphological basis for constructing a physiology-based simulator of the human lungs

Models for the respiratory system using morphology-based electrical analogy

This paper attempts to simulate changes in the mechanical properties of lungs through their equivalent changes in the human respiratory input impedance. The theory of electrical transmission lines and ladder networks is used to develop an equivalent model of the respiratory system. Three typical cases are investigated: healthy, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Simulation results are tested on different types of ladder network cells, such as RC, RLC and various simulating conditions of the whole system. Our conclusion is that an RLC cell gives results which are comparable to real measurements from healthy, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease subjects and changes in the morphology

Morphology-based ladder network modeling of the respiratory mechanics

his paper attempts to simulate changes in mechanical properties of lungs trough their equivalent changes in the human respiratory input impedance. The theory of electrical transmission lines and ladder networks is used to develop an equivalent model of the respiratory system. Three typical cases are investigated: healthy, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Simulation results are tested on different types of ladder network cells, such as RC, RLC and various simulating conditions of the whole system. Our conclusion is that an RLC cell gives results which are comparable to real measurements from healthy, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary, disease subjects and changes in the morphology