An Indoor Navigation Methodology for Mobile Devices by Integrating Augmented Reality and Semantic Web.

Indoor navigation systems incorporating augmented reality allow users to locate places within buildings and acquire more knowledge about their environment. However, although diverse works have been introduced with varied technologies, infrastructure, and functionalities, a standardization of the procedures for elaborating these systems has not been reached. Moreover, while systems usually handle contextual information of places in proprietary formats, a platform-independent model is desirable, which would encourage its access, updating, and management. This paper proposes a methodology for developing indoor navigation systems based on the integration of Augmented Reality and Semantic Web technologies to present navigation instructions and contextual information about the environment. It comprises four modules to define a spatial model, data management (supported by an ontology), positioning and navigation, and content visualization. A mobile application system was developed for testing the proposal in academic environments, modeling the structure, routes, and places of two buildings from independent institutions. The experiments cover distinct navigation tasks by participants in both scenarios, recording data such as navigation time, position tracking, system functionality, feedback (answering a survey), and a navigation comparison when the system is not used. The results demonstrate the system's feasibility, where the participants show a positive interest in its functionalities.

A WoT-Based Method for Creating Digital Sentinel Twins of IoT Devices.

The data produced by sensors of IoT devices are becoming keystones for organizations to conduct critical decision-making processes. However, delivering information to these processes in real-time represents two challenges for the organizations: the first one is achieving a constant dataflow from IoT to the cloud and the second one is enabling decision-making processes to retrieve data from dataflows in real-time. This paper presents a cloud-based Web of Things method for creating digital twins of IoT devices (named sentinels).The novelty of the proposed approach is that sentinels create an abstract window for decision-making processes to: (a) find data (e.g., properties, events, and data from sensors of IoT devices) or (b) invoke functions (e.g., actions and tasks) from physical devices (PD), as well as from virtual devices (VD). In this approach, the applications and services of decision-making processes deal with sentinels instead of managing complex details associated with the PDs, VDs, and cloud computing infrastructures. A prototype based on the proposed method was implemented to conduct a case study based on a blockchain system for verifying contract violation in sensors used in product transportation logistics. The evaluation showed the effectiveness of sentinels enabling organizations to attain data from IoT sensors and the dataflows used by decision-making processes to convert these data into useful information.

Language ability and adult homelessness.

BACKGROUND: People experiencing homelessness are at increased risk of neurological disorder due to multiple factors such as substance abuse, infection, and higher rates of serious mental illness and traumatic brain injury. This could affect cognitive and language skills. Indeed, past research has suggested that certain language-related skills tend to be lower in people experiencing homelessness. However, that research has compared homeless samples with age-matched normative samples and not with samples of people from similar socio-economic backgrounds. Therefore, it is unclear whether homelessness is even a relevant factor, or if adults who are homeless tend to have appropriate linguistic skills relative to their social and educational background. AIMS: To compare the language skills of a group of adults with histories of homelessness with an education-matched control group. It was hypothesized that participants with histories of homelessness would have worse language performance than their matched controls. METHODS & PROCEDURES: A quasi-experimental design was employed involving 17 adults with histories of homelessness, mainly rough sleeping, in the city of Quito in Ecuador, and a sample of 16 adults who had never been homeless. All were assessed with measures of head injury, substance dependence, affective disorder and language skills. A paired-sample analysis was performed on homeless and control participants matched for educational background, used as an index of socio-economic background. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: The mean years of formal education was low in both the homeless sample (mean = 5.82 years) and the control sample (mean = 6.75 years). There were no differences between the groups for any demographic or clinical factors, nor for a measure of expected or 'premorbid' ability based on single-word reading, nor for current non-verbal cognitive functioning. In contrast, the homeless group scored significantly worse than the control group on measures of auditory comprehension and oral expression. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: Adults with histories of homelessness may have worse language skills than would be expected based on their educational backgrounds and non-verbal cognitive abilities. It is possible that some of this lower language ability is pathological, in the form of either a developmental language disorder or an acquired impairment. As such, some adults who are homeless may benefit from therapy directed at clinical language disorders.

Characteristics of Emergency Medicine Residency Programs in Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: Emergency medicine (EM) is in different stages of development around the world. Colombia has made significant strides in EM development in the last two decades and recognized it as a medical specialty in 2005. The country now has seven EM residency programs: three in the capital city of Bogotá, two in Medellin, one in Manizales, and one in Cali. The seven residency programs are in different stages of maturity, with the oldest founded 20 years ago and two founded in the last two years. The objective of this study was to characterize these seven residency programs. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with faculty and residents from all the existing programs in 2013-2016. Topics included program characteristics and curricula. RESULTS: Colombian EM residencies are three-year programs, with the exception of one four-year program. Programs accept 3-10 applicants yearly. Only one program has free tuition and the rest charge tuition. The number of EM faculty ranges from 2-15. EM rotation requirements range from 11-33% of total clinical time. One program does not have a pediatric rotation. The other programs require 1-2 months of pediatrics or pediatric EM. Critical care requirements range from 4-7 months. Other common rotations include anesthesia, general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, gynecology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, radiology, toxicology, psychiatry, neurology, cardiology, pulmonology, and trauma. All programs offer 4-6 hours of protected didactic time each week. Some programs require Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Advanced Trauma Life Support, with some programs providing these trainings in-house or subsidizing the cost. Most programs require one research project for graduation. Resident evaluations consist of written tests and oral exams several times per year. Point-of-care ultrasound training is provided in four of the seven programs. CONCLUSION: As emergency medicine continues to develop in Colombia, more residency programs are expected to emerge. Faculty development and sustainability of academic pursuits will be critically important. In the long term, the specialty will need to move toward certifying board exams and professional development through a national EM organization to promote standardization across programs.

Revisional Surgery Following Laparoscopic Gastric Plication.

BACKGROUND: The laparoscopic gastric plication (LGP) is a relative new bariatric procedure that has gained popularity over the last few years, but no real consensus exists and the evidence is unclear, especially in its real efficacy, safety, and durability. METHODS: Retrospective study analyzing the records patients submitted to LGP between 2009 and 2010. The primary objective was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients submitted to revisional surgery. Baseline data and evolution were obtained and analyzed. Surgical analysis included revision cause, perioperative outcome, type of surgery, complications, and weight loss after 18 months. A comparison between gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy was performed. RESULTS: One hundred LGP were performed. After a mean time of 13.5 months, 42 patients presented an overall excess weight loss (EWL) <50 % and 38 had severe symptoms. Thirty patients accepted revisional surgery with BMI before conversion of 38.6 ± 4.2 kg/m2. There were 17 laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and 13 laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGBP) with comparable preoperative characteristics. The LSG group had lower pneumoperitoneum time and less hospital stay. At 18 months, the LGBP group had lower BMI (24.1 ± 1.1 vs. 25.8 ± 1.3 kg/m2 for the LSG; p = 0.006) and higher %EWL (75.7 ± 16.1 vs. 61.4 ± 14.5 % for the LSG; p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: In our series, LGP presented a high failure rate and an increased number of symptomatic patients. Revisional surgery proved to be safe and effective. Revision to LSG was faster and had less hospital stay. Revision to LGBP showed better %EWL at 18 months.

Intermediate structures for higher level arrangements: catching disk-like micelles in decane phosphonic acid aqueous solutions.

It has been proposed that disk-like micelles may be precursors to the formation of lamellar liquid crystals. The possibility of obtaining n-decane phosphonic acid (DPA) disk-like micelles in aqueous solution without the addition of a second ionic surfactant led us to study in detail the low-concentration range of this system by both a battery of experimental techniques and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The experimental results indicate that premicelles with some capacity to solubilize dyes are formed at 0.05 mM. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) was found to be 0.260 ± 0.023 mM, much lower than that previously reported in the literature. Spherical micelles, which immediately grow, leading to disk-like micelles, are probably formed at this concentration. At 0.454 ± 0.066 mM, disk-like micelles become unstable, giving rise to the formation of an emulsion of lamellar mesophase that dominates the system beyond 0.670 ± 0.045 mM. These experimental results were corroborated by MD simulations which, additionally, allow describing the structure of the obtained micelles at atomic level. The analysis of the MD trajectories revealed the presence of strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the surfactant headgroups, producing a compact polar layer with low water content. The formation of such H-bond network could explain the ability of this surfactant to form disk-like micelles at concentrations close to the cmc.

Phytochemical analysis and in vitro free-radical-scavenging activities of the essential oils from leaf and fruit of Melaleuca leucadendra L.

The phytochemical profile of Melaleuca leucadendra L. leaf and fruit oils from Cuba was investigated by GC and GC/MS. Forty-one and sixty-four volatile compounds were identified and quantified, accounting for 99.2 and 99.5% of the leaf-oil and fruit-oil total composition, respectively. The main components were 1,8-cineol (43.0%), viridiflorol (24.2%), α-terpineol (7.0%), α-pinene (5.3%), and limonene (4.8%) in the leaf oil, and viridiflorol (47.6%), globulol (5.8%), guaiol (5.3%), and α-pinene (4.5%) in the fruit oil. The antioxidant capacity of these essential oils was determined by three different in vitro assays (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), and 2,2'-Azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation), and significant activities were evidenced for all of them.

Effect of the concentration and composition on the size and shape of micelles of sodium oleate-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide mixtures.

The dependence of the aggregation number (N(agg)) on composition and concentration of sodium oleate-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide mixed micelles as revealed by cyclic voltammetry experiments shows a complex relationship with the total concentration and the composition of surfactant mixtures. This behavior is related to the evolution with composition of the HLB values and with the composition and the excess free energy of mixed micellization, and is explained by the inclusion of the double bonds of oleate chains in the micellar Stern layers. The increase in size probably leads to a reduction of the micelle surface available for the polar headgroups, causing a reduction in the proportion of double bonds in the hydrocarbon-water interface and a change in the mixed micelle composition. Therefore, the generally held supposition that the composition of mixed micelles does not change with concentration seems rather unrealistic.

Evaluación de fungicidas y productos vegetales en el combate de la sarna polvorienta de la papa / Fungicides and plant products evaluation for control of powdery scab of potato / Avaliação de fungicidas e productos vegetais no combate da sarna pulverulenta da batata

Spongospora subterranaea es el agente causal de la sarna polvorienta de la papa (Solanum tuberosum), enfermedad que afecta directamente el valor comercial y productividad del cultivo. En el estado Mérida, Venezuela, se ha observado recientemente un incremento en la incidencia de la enfermedad, causando pérdidas hasta del 100% del producto comercial. No existe un método de control efectivo, por lo que se requiere un control integral. Para evaluar el efecto de fungicidas comerciales y productos naturales sobre la incidencia y severidad de la enfermedad, se realizó un ensayo de campo bajo un diseño de bloques al azar. Se evaluaron cinco fungicidas (mancozeb, azoxystrobin, propamocarb, difenoconazol y PCNB) y dos especies vegetales (Lippia origanoides Kunth y Calotropis procera (Ait.) Ait. f.) en dos formas, extractos etanólicos y polvos. Las aplicaciones se realizaron 4 y 8 semanas luego de la siembra. La progenie fue clasificada como A, B o C según su tamaño y peso. Se logró la reducción de la severidad de la enfermedad (P= 0,0365) en tubérculos clase B. Los tratamientos mancozeb, extracto etanólico de L. origanoides, azoxystrobin y polvo de C. procera atenuaron la enfermedad en 2,47; 3,20; 3,82 y 4,08%, respectivamente. No se encontraron diferencias para incidencia (P>0,05). La disminución de la severidad permitió un aumento de los parámetros de producción del cultivo de tubérculos clase B. Se señala la potencialidad de los productos utilizados en el control de la enfermedad bajo las condiciones evaluadas.

Powdery scab of potato, caused by Spongospora subterranea, is a direct quality-limiting disease which can also reduce crop productivity. Recently, in Mérida state, Venezuela, an increase of disease incidence and severity has been observed, reaching up to 100% in crop losses. As there is not a unique effective method of control, integrated management practices must be developed. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of commercial fungicides and plant products on the incidence and severity control of the disease, a field trial was performed under a randomized complete block design. Five commercial fungicides were evaluated (mancozeb, azoxystrobin, propamocarb, difenoconazole and PCNB) as well as two plant species (Lippia origanoides Kunth and Calotropis procera (Ait.) Ait. f.) in two forms (ethanolic extracts and powder). Treatments were applied at 4 and 8 weeks after sowing. At harvest, potato tubers were classified according to their size and weight in A, B and C classes. Disease severity reduction (P=0,0365) was found on B class tubers. Mancozeb, L. origanoides (ethanolic extracts), azoxystrobin and C. procera (powder) reduced disease severity by 2.47, 3.20, 3.82 and 4.08%, respectively. There were no significant differences in disease incidence (P>0,05) among treatments. The decrease of the disease severity led to an increase in the yield of B class tubers. The results indicate a potential for the evaluated treatments in control of the potato powdery scab.

O fungo Spongospora subterranaea é o agente causal da sarna pulverulenta da batata (Solanum tuberosum), doença que afeta diretamente o valor comercial e produtividade do cultivo. No estado Mérida, Venezuela, tem se observado recentemente um incremento na incidência da doença causando perdas de até 100% do produto comercial. Não existe um método de controle efetivo, pelo que se requer um controle integral. Para avaliar o efeito de fungicidas comerciais e productos naturais sobre a incidência e severidade da doença, se realizou um ensaio de campo sob um desenho de blocos aleatórios. Avaliaram-se cinco fungicidas (mancozeb, azoxystrobin, propamocarb, difenoconazol e PCNB) e duas espécies vegetais (Lippia origanoides Kunth e Calotropis procera (Ait.) Ait. f.) em duas formas, extratos etanólicos e pós. As aplicações se realizaram 4 e 8 semanas após a plantação. A progenie foi classificada como A, B ou C segundo seu tamanho e peso. Alcanzou-se a redução da severidade da doença (P= 0,0365) em tubérculos classe B. Os tratamentos mancozeb, extrato etanólico de L. origanoides, azoxystrobin e pó de C. procera atenuaram a doença em 2,47; 3,20; 3,82 e 4,08%, respectivamente. Não se encontraram diferenças para incidência (P>0,05). A diminuição da severidade permitiu um aumento dos parâmetros de produção do cultivo de tubérculos clase B. Aponta-se a potencialidade dos productos utilizados no controle da doença sob as condições avaliadas.

HPCE quantification of 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine in genomic DNA: methodological optimization for chestnut and other woody species.

Quantification of deoxynucleosides using micellar high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) is an efficient, fast and inexpensive evaluation method of genomic DNA methylation. This approach has been demonstrated to be more sensitive and specific than other methods for the quantification of DNA methylation content. However, effective detection and quantification of 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine depend of the sample characteristics. Previous works have revealed that in most woody species, the quality and quantity of RNA-free DNA extracted that is suitable for analysis by means of HPCE varies among species of the same gender, among tissues taken from the same tree, and vary in the same tissue depending on the different seasons of the year. The aim of this work is to establish a quantification method of genomic DNA methylation that lends itself to use in different Castanea sativa Mill. materials, and in other angiosperm and gymnosperm woody species. Using a DNA extraction kit based in silica membrane has increased the resolutive capacity of the method. Under these conditions, it can be analyzed different organs or tissues of angiosperms and gymnosperms, regardless of their state of development. We emphasized the importance of samples free of nucleosides, although, in the contrary case, the method ensures the effective separation of deoxynucleosides and identification of 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine.

1E10 anti-idiotype vaccine in non-small cell lung cancer: experience in stage IIIb/IV patients.

Conventional treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has apparently reached a plateau of effectiveness in improving the survival of the patients. For that reason the search for new therapeutic strategies in this type of tumor is justified. 1E10 is an anti-idiotype murine monoclonal antibody (Ab2 MAb) specific to P3 Ab1 MAb, which reacts with NeuGc-containing gangliosides, sulfatides and with antigens expressed in some tumors, including those from the lung. We report the treatment with aluminum hydroxide-precipitated 1E10 MAb of 34 stage IIIb and 37 stage IV NSCLC patients. These patients were treated with the anti-idiotype vaccine, after received standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy, in a compassionate-use basis study. Patients received five bi-weekly injections of 1 mg of 1E10/Alum, other 10 doses at 28-day intervals and later the patients who maintained a good performance status continued to be immunized at this same time interval. No evidence of unexpected or serious adverse effects was reported. The median survival time of the 56 patients who entered the study with partial response or disease stabilization and with a PS 1 after the first line of chemo/radiotherapy, was 11.50 months from starting vaccination. In contrast, the median survival time calculated for patients who started vaccination with progressive disease and/or a PS2 was 6.50 months.

[Empyema and pleural effusion in children]. / Empiema y efusión pleural en niños.

INTRODUCTION: Pleural empyema (PE) is a serious complication of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical profile of hospitalized patients with PE in the pediatric ward of the Catholic University Hospital between 2000-2005. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospectively, all pediatric admission due to CAP and pleural effusion (86 children) were identified. In 59 (70%) children > 1 thoracocentesis were performed. We considered PE as the presence in the pleural effusion of pus, and/or a positive gram strain and/ or positive culture, and/or a pH < 7.10. Children with effusions not meeting any criteria were used as controls. RESULTS: Twenty four PE and 25 controls were identified, with a global mean age of 2.9 years (range: 8 months to 14.3 years); 78% were < 5 years, with a significant difference between PE and controls [1.6 vs 3.3 years (p = 0.01)]. The mean duration of symptoms in PE patients before admission was 7 days (range: 2-21), and the most frequent symptoms were fever (100%) and cough (96%). In 15/24 cases a microorganism was identified being Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 9) the most common. In 48 patients management was conservative and in 4 surgical procedures were required. The mean duration of hospitalization was significantly higher in the PE group vs controls group: 15 (range: 5-38) vs 9 days (range 3-16) (p < 0.01). A chest tube was inserted in 83% of children with EP compared with 36% in the control group (p = 0.002). There were no difference in number of days of oxygen use [6 vs 4.5 (p = 0.36)] or number of chest tubes per child [3 vs 2.5 (p = 0.29)]. No deaths were reported. CONCLUSION: PE in children represented an acute respiratory event associated with more prolonged hospitalization especially at younger ages; the majority of cases did not require surgical intervention.

Are the mixtures of homologous surfactants ideal?

The interaction between homologous surfactants in mixed micelles was studied by the Regular Solution Theory of mixed micelles. The interaction is independent of the nature of the polar head groups and attractive and the interaction parameter betaM depends linearly on the difference in chain length DeltanC. The interaction becomes ideal at DeltanC=0.75+/-0.06. Above DeltanC approximately 5, the dependence remains linear but the slope increased 2.7 times. The phenomenon is explained as the effect of the reduction of the hydrocarbon/water micelle interface and a better packing of the chains in the micelle core, caused by the inclusion of a shorter homologous surfactants. This reduction can be more effective when DeltanC>or=5.

Prevención del riesgo preconcepcional por el medico de la familia y su repercusión sobre los resultados perinatales en el periodo de 1986 a 1992

Fue realizado por el médico de la familia un estudio descriptivo relacionado con la prevención del riesgo preconcepcional y su repercusión. Se estudiaron 854 mujeres con riesgo, en edad fértil, en el Policlínico Docente Güines Sur. Los anticonceptivos más utilizados fueron los dispositivos intrauterinos y la esterilización quirúrgica; los principales factores de riesgo fueron: la edad, la obesidad y el hábito de fumar. En estos 7 años se formaron los círculos de adolescentes, aumentó la captación precoz del embarazo y disminuyó la mortalidad infantil.

Repercusion en el control de la diabetes mellitus de una tecnica educativa dirigida a la familia / Repercussion of an educational technique aimed to the family for the control of diabetes mellitus

Se realizo un estudio descriptivo de un grupo de 166 diabeticos que vivian en familia en el area de salud del Policlinico Gueines Sur dela provincia La Habana en 1993, con la finalidad de determinar la relacion de lainfluencia familiar con algunos aspectos que intervienen en el control de la enfermedad, despues de haber aplicado durante 3 meses un programa de tecnicas de educacion para la salud de dichas familias (dinamica de grupo y demostracion-charla educativa). Se detecto que estos pacientes realizan el tratamiento y tienen mejor control metabolico cuando cuentan con una familia que esta preparada y los apoya. Se recomienda orientar acciones de educacion para la salud, dirigidas a lafamilia del diabetico

El especialista de medicina general integral como jefe del grupo básico de trabajo: nuestra experiencia / Integral General Medicine Specialist Head of the Basic Group of Work: our Own Experience

Se realizó un estudió descriptivo de los resultantes obtenidos por un grupo básico de trabajo del médico de la familia, formado por consultorios ubicados en centros educacionales en el campo y contingentes del programa alimentario, dirigido por un especialista de Medicina General Integral, en el período comprendido desde septiembre de 1991 hasta agosto de 1992 en el Policlínico Docente Güines Sur de La Habana; se expusieron las experiencias adquiridas y se comparó con otros grupos básicos de trabajo, tanto la actualización y control de dispensarización como la utilización de la medicina verde, fueron significativamente más eficaces en el grupo atendido por el especialista en medicina familiar. Se recomienda generalizar este estilo de trabajo

Seguimiento durante 4 años de pacientes incorporados al círculo de abuelos: nuestra experiencia / Four-year folloow up for patients who have joined Grandparents' Circles: our experience

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo en un grupo de 50 gerontes incorporados al círculo de abuelos en un área de salud del policlínico Güines Sur en 1992. Este incluyó el comportamiento clínico, el colesterol y la prueba del suero en frío, tanto en el momento de la incorporación como a los 4 años de funcionamiento del círculo, se observó la mejoría clínica de estos ancianos, los cambios satisfactorios en cuanto a su estilo de vida, la disminución del consumo de medicamentos, así como una reducción de la presencia de hiperlipidemia a los 4 de pertenecer al círculo de abuelos. Se recomienda fomentar la masividad de estos círculos y aumentar la utilización de la prueba de suero en frío

Displant; diseño y dibujo automatizado de los planos de plantas parciales en redes sanitarias

Se presenta una nueva metodologia para confeccionar los planos de plantas del trazado de las redes de acueducto y alcantarillado, a partir de un levantamiento topográfico, utilizando la computación