Energy, Production and Environmental Characteristics of a Conventional Weaned Piglet Farm in North West Spain

Postweaning is one of the most sensitive and energy-demanding phases of swine production. The objective of this research was to assess the energy, production and environmental characteristics of a conventional farm with temperature-based environmental control. The selected energy, environmental and production variables were measured on farm, in a high livestock density area of NW Spain, for seven production cycles. The quantification of variables was aimed at obtaining the maximum performance with the lowest possible use of resources, focusing on animal welfare and production efficiency. The Brown–Forsythe, Welch and Games-Howell tests revealed significant differences in terms of temperature, relative humidity and CO2 concentrations among production cycles, and among the critical, postcritical and final periods. Improved humidity management resulted in a 17% reduction of climate control energy, which involved energy savings in the range of 33% to 47% per kg produced at the end of the postweaning cycle. Accordingly, adding humidity as a control variable could result in higher ventilation rates, thereby improving animal welfare, reducing heating energy use and increasing weight gain per unit climate control energy. In addition, the strong correlations found between heating energy and relative humidity (R2 = 0.73) and ventilation energy and CO2 (R2 = 0.99) suggest that these variables could be readily estimated without additional sensor costsThis research has received funding from European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (2007–2013) under the project Control and automation strategies for energy and production efficiency in weaned farms, included in the research and innovation programme for Galicia, PEME I+D SumaS

Proyecto de Iniciación Científica financiado por PROCIENCIA-CONACYT 14-INV-202 “Nuevos métodos de ordenación en espacios de color utilizando morfología matemática para segmentación de imágenes”

El objetivo general del proyecto fue Investigar la utilización de Técnicas de Procesamiento Digital de Imágnes y Reconocimiento de Patrones en la solución de: Recuento de parásitos microscópicos, Reconocimiento de similaridad de formas y Detección de formaciones astronómicas estelares.CONACYT – Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPROCIENCI

Perfil clínico de los pacientes tratados con evolocumab en unidades hospitalarias de nefrología en España

Describir las características clínicas de los pacientes tratados con evolocumab, las razones del inicio de la terapia y los efectos del tratamiento en la fase inicial de disponibilidad de evolocumab en las unidades de nefrología de España

A Simplified Proof of Desingularization and Applications

This paper contains a short and simplified proof of desingularization over fields of characteristic zero, together with various applications to other problems in algebraic geometry (among others, the study of the behavior of desingularization of families of embedded schemes, and a formulation of desingularization which is stronger than Hironaka's). Our proof avoids the use of the Hilbert-Samuel function and Hironaka's notion of normal flatness: First we define a procedure for principalization of ideals (i.e. a procedure to make an ideal invertible), and then we show that desingularization of a closed subscheme X is achieved by using the procedure of principalization for the ideal I(X) associated to the embedded scheme X. The paper intends to be an introduction to the subject, focused on the motivation of ideas used in this new approach, and particularly on applications, some of which do not follow from Hironaka's proof

Bio Apps: II encontro galaico-portugués de biometría con aplicación ás Ciencias da Saúde, á Ecoloxía e ás Ciencias do Medio Ambiente : Santiago de Compostela, 30 de xuño - 2 de xullo de 2016: programa e resumos

A Sociedade Galega de Estatística e Investigación de Operacións (SGAPEIO), e a Sociedade Portuguesa de Estatística (SPE) comprácense en presentar o II Encontro Galaico-Portugués de Biometría, con aplicación ás Ciencias da Saúde, á Ecoloxía e ás Ciencias do Medio Ambiente, o BIOAPP2016. Trátase dunha nova iniciativa conxunta das dúas Sociedades, tralos Encontros celebrados en Braga (2013) e Vila Real (2014), todos eles co obxectivo común de difundir os últimos avances no desenvolvemento e aplicación de métodos estatísticos e matemáticos na Bioloxía, Medicina, Ecoloxía, Psicoloxía, Farmacoloxía, Agricultura, Medio Ambiente e outras ciencias da Vida. Nesta ocasión, será Santiago de Compostela a cidade anfitrioa, invitando aos socios e socias da SGAPEIO e da SPE, e a toda a comunidade científica en xeral, a facer unha peregrinaxe biométrica para compartir tres días de intenso programa científico e interesantes actividades sociais e culturais. Contaremos coa presenza de recoñecidos profesionais da Estatística para impartir 4 sesións plenarias, 4 sesións invitadas e unha mesa redonda, ademais dun minicurso sobre análise de supervivencia. Tamén contamos coas numerosas contribucións dos participantes, que van presentar, neste Encontro, 57 comunicacións orais e 40 en formato de póster. Coa convocatoria de varios premios poderemos outorgar un recoñecemento científico e unha aportación económica aos mellores destes traballos. Todo isto non sería posible sen a colaboración de diferentes institucións, organismos públicos e empresas, ás que agradecemos a súa contribución. A organización dun congreso supón sempre un desafío, que o comité organizador desde II Encontro GalaicoPortugués de Biometría afrontou con ilusión e moito traballo. Confiamos que os congresistas desfruten do Encontro e dunha cidade que os acolle cos brazos aberto

Automatic vehicle classification program using image processing for electronic tollway systems

This thesis is aimed at developing an Automatic Vehicle Classification (AVC) System designed to aid and improve on the existing Computerized Toll Collection (CTC) System. Human errors are avoided by automating the vehicle classification process, and thus helps the toll companies minimize, if not eliminate, deficits. AVC Systems depend mainly on image processing. The system takes a digital picture of the vehicle on the lane, processes this information, and determines whether the vehicle is categorized as Class 1 (cars, jeeps, pick-up and vans), Class 2 (buses, small trucks and Class 1 vehicles with 1-axle or 2-axle tracks) or Class 3 (large to long haul trucks). Along with the development of the AVC System is the design of a CTC System that is similar to that developed by Micrologic Inc. The AVC System is integrated into the CTC System to replace the manual input of the vehicle class that is the original task of the toolbooth operator. A further enhancement such as network security in the form of file encryption is also developed. Preliminary testing was conducted using images of actual and small-scale vehicles captured outdoors. Data was gathered using these captured images to determine the criteria for detecting each vehicle class. Actual demonstration, however, is performed using small-scale vehicles as subjects. Since the image-processing program is highly sensitive to ambient light variations and the actual color of the vehicle, errors are likely to occur in the detection process. However, these errors are kept within acceptable limits through the introduction of external factors such as proper lighting and roofing, thus ensuring the reliability of the system at all times of the day

Clinical profile of patients treated with evolocumab in lipid/internal medicine units of Spain. Observational study (RETOSS-IMU)

Objetivo Describir las características clínicas, las razones del inicio de la terapia y los efectos del tratamiento en la fase inicial de disponibilidad de evolocumab en las unidades de lípidos/medicina interna de España. Métodos Estudio retrospectivo, observacional, a partir de las historias clínicas de pacientes consecutivos que iniciaron tratamiento con evolocumab (de febrero de 2016 a julio de 2017) en 20 unidades de medicina interna en España. Se revisaron las características demográficas y clínicas de los pacientes, el tratamiento hipolipemiante y la evolución de los perfiles lipídicos entre 12 semanas antes y 12 ± 4 semanas después del inicio de evolocumab. Resultados Se analizaron 136 pacientes: el 64,0% eran hombres, con edad media (desviación estándar, DE) de 56,6 (11,5) años. El 75,0% tenían hipercolesterolemia familiar (4 homocigotos), de los que el 51,0% habían sufrido al menos un evento cardiovascular. El 61,0% del total de pacientes presentaban enfermedad cardiovascular aterosclerótica (ECVA). Al inicio de evolocumab, el 61,0% de los pacientes tomaban estatinas de alta intensidad y el 60,3% estaban recibiendo ezetimiba. La media (DE) de los niveles de cLDL al inicio de evolocumab fue de 169,1 (56,6) mg/dl. En 46,4% de los pacientes el cLDL fue superior a 160 mg/dl y en el 26,5% ? 190 mg/dl. Durante el período de observación, evolocumab produjo reducciones significativas de cLDL del 55,7% (p < 0,0001), alcanzando unos valores medios de 74,3 mg/dl. En la semana 12 el 53,8% de los pacientes alcanzaron niveles de cLDL < 70 mg/dl y el 26,9% < 50 mg/dl. Conclusiones En las unidades de lípidos/medicina interna evolocumab se prescribió predominantemente en pacientes con hipercolesterolemia familiar con o sin ECVA. El uso inicial de evolocumab se ajustó a las pautas de la Sociedad Española de Arteriosclerosis (SEA) de 2016, estando las concentraciones de cLDL claramente por encima de los umbrales recomendados para inicio de tratamiento. El tratamiento con evolocumab en la práctica clínica redujo los niveles de cLDL en torno al 55%, cifra comparable a los ensayos clínicos, lo que permitió alcanzar los objetivos terapéuticos en la mayoría de los casos.Objective To describe the clinical characteristics, the reasons for initiating therapy, and the effects of treatment in the initial phase of evolocumab availability in lipid/internal medicine units in Spain. Methods Retrospective, observational study, based on the medical records of consecutive patients initiating treatment with evolocumab (from February 2016 to July 2017) in 20 internal medicine units in Spain. A review was made of the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, the lipid lowering treatment, and the evolution of the lipid profiles between 12 weeks pre-initiation and 12 ± 4 weeks post-initiation of evolocumab. Results A total of 136 patients were analysed, of whom 64.0% were men, and the mean age (standard deviation, SD) was 56.6 (11.5) years. The large majority (75%) had familial hypercholesterolaemia (4 homozygous), and 51.0% of them had suffered at least one cardiovascular event. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) was present in 61% of all patients. At initiation of evolocumab, 61.0% of the patients were taking high-intensity statins, and 60.3% were receiving ezetimibe. The mean (and SD) of LDL-C levels at initiation of evolocumab was 169.1 (56.6) mg/dL. The LDL-C was greater than 160 mg/dL in 46.4% of patients, and ? 190 mg/dL in 26.5%. During the observation period, evolocumab produced significant reductions in LDL-C of 55.7% (P < .0001), achieving mean values of 74.3 mg/dL. At week 12, more than half (53.8%) of patients achieved LDL-C levels < 70 mg/dL, and 26.9% < 50 mg/dL. Conclusions In the lipid/internal medicine units, evolocumab was mainly prescribed in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia, with or without ASCVD. The initial use of evolocumab was in accordance with the guidelines of the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis (SEA) of 2016, with LDL-C levels being well above the recommended thresholds for treatment initiation. Evolocumab treatment in clinical practice reduced LDL-C levels by about 55%, a similar reduction to that reported in clinical trials. Most patients achieved LDL-C goals

Global Impact of COVID-19 on Stroke Care and IV Thrombolysis

Objective To measure the global impact of COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of IV thrombolysis (IVT), IVT transfers, and stroke hospitalizations over 4 months at the height of the pandemic (March 1 to June 30, 2020) compared with 2 control 4-month periods. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional, observational, retrospective study across 6 continents, 70 countries, and 457 stroke centers. Diagnoses were identified by their ICD-10 codes or classifications in stroke databases. Results. There were 91,373 stroke admissions in the 4 months immediately before compared to 80,894 admissions during the pandemic months, representing an 11.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] −11.7 to −11.3, p \u3c 0.0001) decline. There were 13,334 IVT therapies in the 4 months preceding compared to 11,570 procedures during the pandemic, representing a 13.2% (95% CI −13.8 to −12.7, p \u3c 0.0001) drop. Interfacility IVT transfers decreased from 1,337 to 1,178, or an 11.9% decrease (95% CI −13.7 to −10.3, p = 0.001). Recovery of stroke hospitalization volume (9.5%, 95% CI 9.2–9.8, p \u3c 0.0001) was noted over the 2 later (May, June) vs the 2 earlier (March, April) pandemic months. There was a 1.48% stroke rate across 119,967 COVID-19 hospitalizations. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was noted in 3.3% (1,722/52,026) of all stroke admissions. Conclusions. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a global decline in the volume of stroke hospitalizations, IVT, and interfacility IVT transfers. Primary stroke centers and centers with higher COVID-19 inpatient volumes experienced steeper declines. Recovery of stroke hospitalization was noted in the later pandemic months