Wireless communication for medical applications: the HEARTS experience, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2005, nr 4

Wireless networks provide all the functionality of wire-line networks without the physical constraints of the wire itself giving an interesting alternative to phone-line and powerline wiring systems. With a wireless network, physicians can actively monitor a patient’s vital signs from anywhere in a hospital. HEARTS (health early alarm recognition and telemonitoring system) is a research project having the major aim to provide support for prevention and monitoring heart disease, based on advanced technology. The HEARTS idea is to gather biometric and environmental data coming from patients during both hospitalization phase and in their normal lifetime activities, using wireless networks. The wireless network and its composing devices are called personal health network (PHN). WPAN and WLAN technologies have been investigated, each with its pros and cons, for use in health monitoring activities inside hospitals and at home, for improving patient mobility, and to provide patients for "last interconnection hop" to the infrastructure network. Technological and operational problems have been addressed concerning bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b (WiFi), GSM/GPRS/UMTS wireless transports, all of them tested and some of them concretely adopted inside the HEARTS framework

An emergency communication system based on software-defined radio

Wireless telecommunications represent an important asset for Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) organizations as they improve the coordination and the distribution of information among first responders in the field. In large international disaster scenarios, many different PPDR organizations may participate to the response phase of disaster management. In this context, PPDR organizations may use different wireless communication technologies; such diversity may create interoperability barriers and degrade the coordination among first time responders. In this paper, we present the design, system integration and testing of a demonstration system based on Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology and Software Communication Architecture (SCA) to support PPDR operations with special focus on the provision of satellite communications. This paper describes the main components of the demonstration system, the integration activities as well as the testing scenarios, which were used to evaluate the technical feasibility. The paper also describes the main technical challenges in the implementation and integration of the demonstration system. Finally future developments for this technology and potential deployment challenges are presented.JRC.G.6-Digital Citizen Securit

Protein target highlights in CASP15: Analysis of models by structure providers

We present an in-depth analysis of selected CASP15 targets, focusing on their biological and functional significance. The authors of the structures identify and discuss key protein features and evaluate how effectively these aspects were captured in the submitted predictions. While the overall ability to predict three-dimensional protein structures continues to impress, reproducing uncommon features not previously observed in experimental structures is still a challenge. Furthermore, instances with conformational flexibility and large multimeric complexes highlight the need for novel scoring strategies to better emphasize biologically relevant structural regions. Looking ahead, closer integration of computational and experimental techniques will play a key role in determining the next challenges to be unraveled in the field of structural molecular biology

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Assessment and management of risk for intimate partner violence by police officers using the spousal assault risk assessment guide.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a crime that is present in all countries, seriously impacts victims, and demands a great deal of time and resources from the criminal justice system. The current study examined the use of the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide, 2nd ed. (SARA; Kropp, Hart, Webster, & Eaves, 1995), a structured professional judgment risk assessment and management tool for IPV, by police officers in Sweden over a follow-up of 18 months. SARA risk assessments had significant predictive validity with respect to risk management recommendations made by police, as well as with recidivism as indexed by subsequent contacts with police. Risk management mediated the association between risk assessment and recidivism: High levels of intervention were associated with decreased recidivism in high risk cases, but with increased recidivism in low risk cases. The findings support the potential utility of police-based risk assessment and management of IPV, and in particular the belief that appropriately structured risk assessment and management decisions can prevent violence

Advanced Techniques For Safety Analysis Applied To The Gas Turbine Control System Of Icaro Co Generative Plant

The paper describes two complementary and integrable approaches, a probabilistic one and a deterministic one, using classic and advanced modeling techniques for safety analysis of complex computer based systems. Such approaches are applied to the gas turbine control system of ICARO co generative plant, in operation at ENEA CR Casaccia. The probabilistic approach addresses the control system by itself, as the set of sensors, processing units and actuators, while the deterministic approach also includes the behaviour of the equipment under control, which interacts with the control system. The final aim of the research, documented in this paper, is to explore an innovative method which put the probabilistic and deterministic approaches in a strong relation, to overcome the drawbacks of their isolated, selective and fragmented use which can lead to inconsistencies in the evaluation results

Employing SDR for International Public Safety

International audienceWe report in this paper some initial results generated from an integration exercise held in October of 2011 in Munich (Germany) at the Rohde & Schwarz premises using Software Defined Radios (SDRs) for actual public safety applications. The SDR technology is being produced to benefit the International Public Safety Community, and partly funded by the European Commision (EC) under the Framework 7 programme. Specifically, this project is called EULER (EUropean SDR for wireless in joint security) operations. Project EULER is bringing together a number of European Industries and Acedemia for maturing the aspect of SDR with security, as would be necessary for rapid and international communication. EULER has given rise to the initial effort to forge together an international collaborative effort, which is yielding a SDR approach with the additional matter of integrated networks. The underlying technology is SDR, with, some of the networks using conventional Standards such as TETRA and WiMAX and there is some Ethernet wired network connectivity. This approach has been necessary to yeild a practical realisation of an SDR network, which can then augment elements of the ensuing network to yeild a more ubiqutious SDR solution, perhaps in a EULER 2 system. Whilst the offering in EULER is a SDR network, a number of platform and waveform innovations can be seen, which are elements of an SDR system that is necessary for briding a wireless network together to enable international public safety. We report in this paper upon these innovations and the progress made to this date. The public safety community is perceived to be TETRA based, which offers a low data rate, order of tens of kilobits/s, and is used mainly for voice communications. The TETRA system offers a level of security, as would be expected for delivering Public Safety. Clearly, Public Safety has now evolved to a need for secure widerband communications (order of Mbps); to enable Video, Data and Assured Multilevel Services to be used. EULER is enabling a High Data Rate (HDR) waveform (WF) to connect together a number of public safety communities through briding the various TETRA networks; the EULER WF (EWF) has been produced for linking together a number of Public Safety Communities for HDR services for a Line of Sight (LOS) network. We briefly discuss the EWF Backbone verification and testing which has been generated on a number of SDR systems including the Thales Internet Protocol BaseBand (IPBB) platform and the Astrium Proteus SDR system. In addition, the network links together a real-time, in threate situational awareness via the use of both the EWF and the WiMAX System, which is being supplied by Cassidian, to brige to the TETRA. There is a Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) element being supplied by Astrium which offers a minimum of two WFs running on an Astrium SDR system, Proteus, to cater for interference - like in a situation similar to an earthquake which may give rise to rouge radio transmission. It is envisaged that, from an operational standpoint, the scenario mentioned here will allow the formation of a Common Operational Picture (COP) using both HDR LOS and BLOS services within an SDR environment, to allow multi-level and secure operation facilitating a rapid formation of an infrastrucure for the Public Safety Community. Whereas the conventional form of BLOS is the provision of reachback for SATCOM, mandating a single disaster zone relative to the BLOS scheme, here it is assumed that a potential exists for a double disaster zone; the second being a consequence of the human displacement following the initial disaster. This scenario implies a need for a HDR capability on both sides of the BLOS link, mandating a need in this case for a WiMAX BS on either end of the BLOS link - implying a minimum of two BSs. The discussion provided in this paper details some of the EULER achievements at this Integration stage particularly as the network is validated giving rise to new realisations of connectivity and thus a new range of applications for the public safety community; the final demonstration will be held in the Netherlands in approximately April 2012

Europe at risk (following EU-funded research on hazard and risks)

This book comprises the main results of the Scenario (Support on Common European Strategy for sustainable natural and induced technological hazards mitigation) project, funded as a Specific Support Action under the VI FP. This book addresses three main needs: first, it constitutes an assessment of the situation of Europe as far as natural na-tech risks are considered; second, it suggests future research themes to be opened of widened so as to tackle new and emerging threats as well as changes in the potential response to risk governance, in order to improve the way scientific and technical expertise informs decision making regarding all fields of mitigation, ranging from structural to non structural measures, such as training, education and land use planning.JRC.H.7-Land management and natural hazard