A Spiking Neural Model of HT3D for Corner Detection.

Obtaining good quality image features is of remarkable importance for most computer vision tasks. It has been demonstrated that the first layers of the human visual cortex are devoted to feature detection. The need for these features has made line, segment, and corner detection one of the most studied topics in computer vision. HT3D is a recent variant of the Hough transform for the combined detection of corners and line segments in images. It uses a 3D parameter space that enables the detection of segments instead of whole lines. This space also encloses canonical configurations of image corners, transforming corner detection into a pattern search problem. Spiking neural networks (SNN) have previously been proposed for multiple image processing tasks, including corner and line detection using the Hough transform. Following these ideas, this paper presents and describes in detail a model to implement HT3D as a Spiking Neural Network for corner detection. The results obtained from a thorough testing of its implementation using real images evince the correctness of the Spiking Neural Network HT3D implementation. Such results are comparable to those obtained with the regular HT3D implementation, which are in turn superior to other corner detection algorithms.

The snail Theba pisana as an indicator of soil contamination by trace elements: potential exposure for animals and humans.

BACKGROUND: The ability of snails to accumulate trace elements is well known. We analysed the snail Theba pisana as an indicator of soil contamination by trace elements after a mine spill accident, to assess the exposure of animal and human consumption. Snails were collected in autumn and spring, when they are most active. RESULTS: In general, trace elements in the soft tissues reached greater concentrations in the contaminated soils than in the non-contaminated soils, although significant differences were only found for As, Cd, Cu Fe and Hg. Cadmium content in tissues, with a maximum value of 10 mg kg⁻¹ (dry matter), was the most worrying result. Trace element concentrations in the snail bodies were still of concern for human consumption; As and Cd concentrations were sometimes higher than the maximum concentration authorised in foodstuffs. Generally, nutritional status of the contaminated snails was not altered; concentrations of the main nutrients (Ca, K, Mg, P and S) were similar to those of the non-contaminated snails. CONCLUSIONS: Results reveal a potential risk for animal and human consumption of T. pisana. It seems thus advisable to avoid collecting this species for human consumption in the affected area. Periodic monitoring is recommended to assess the evolution of potential risk for animal consumption.

Natural remediation of an unremediated soil twelve years after a mine accident: trace element mobility and plant composition.

The long-term influence of a mine spill in soil was studied 12 years after the Aznalcóllar accident. Soils where the pyritic sludge was not removed, a fenced plot established for research purposes (2000 m(2)) and soils where the process of remediation was accomplished successfully were sampled and studied in detail. Soils were characterized at different depths, down to 100 cm depth, determining chemical parameters and total concentrations of major and trace elements. Moreover plants colonizing remediated (RE) and non remediated (NRE) soils were also analysed attending their potential risk for herbivores. Strong acidification was observed in the NRE soil except in surface (0-10 cm). The progressive colonization of natural vegetation, more than 90% of the fenced plot covered by plants, could facilitate this increased pH values in the top soil (pH 6). In the NRE soil, the successive oxidation and hydrolysis of sulphide in the deposited sludge on the surface after the accident resulted in a re-dissolution of the most mobile element (Cd, Cu and Zn) and a penetration to deeper layers. Trace element concentrations in plants growing in the NRE soil showed normal contents for higher plants and tolerable for livestock. Nitrogen and mineral nutrients were of the same order in both soils, and also normal for high plants and adequate for animal nutrition. Despite of the natural remediation of the NRE soil, results demonstrate that the remediation tasks carried out in all the area, the Guadiamar Green Corridor at present, were necessary to avoid the leaching of the most mobile elements and minimize the risk of contamination of groundwater sources, many of them close to the Doñana National Park.

Pacientes quirúrgicos e intervenciones enfermeras estandarizadas. Estudio descriptivo sobre resultados / Descriptive study of the results of nursing interventions applied to surgical patients

Objetivos: conocer la evolución de los resultados de salud de los pacientes quirúrgicos durante su estancia hospitalaria, evaluando criterios de resultado NOC al ingreso y alta. Método: estudio prospectivo observacional realizado en las plantas de hospitalización quirúrgica del Hospital General de Vic, con pacientes que precisaron una intervención quirúrgica de cualquier especialidad, a partir de 18 añ;os, con niveles de riesgo anestésico I, II o III. Las variables principales de resultado fueron indicadores asociados a cada NOC de un plan de cuidados estandarizado, basado en el concepto «paciente tipo». Resultados: participaron 460 pacientes, de ellos 69(15%) fueron intervenidos de operaciones del sistema musculoesquelético y 391(85%) de operaciones del aparato digestivo, urinario y órganos genitales masculinos y femeninos, de operaciones de la piel, tegumentos y/o sistema endocrino. Las puntuaciones NOC al alta de todos los pacientes se mantuvieron o mejoraron, nunca empeoraron y en todos los pacientes el número de caídas y de infecciones recurrentes fue una constante. Prácticamente ningún enfermo se cayó, ni se infectó. Conclusiones: la mayoría de los pacientes quirúrgicos en el momento de recibir el alta hospitalaria mejoran o mantienen sus condiciones de ingreso y los que empeoran nunca lo hacen sustancialmente(AU)

Objectives: Knowing the evolution of health outcomes of surgical patients during their hospital stay, evaluating NOC outcome criteria at admission and discharge. Material and methods: Prospective observational study conducted in the surgical hospital wards of the Hospital General de Vic, with patients who required surgical intervention of any specialty, of 18 or more years old and anesthetic risk levels I, II or III. The main outcome variables were indicators associates with each NOC of a standard of care based on the "patient type" concept. Results: Four hundred and six patients participated. Of these, 69 (15%) were operated of the musculoskeletal system and 391 (85%) were operated on the digestive or urinary systems, male/female genitalia, skin, integuments, and endocrine system. NOC scores high of all patients were maintained or improved, never worse and in all patients the number of falls and recurrent infections was constant, virtually no patient fell or became infected. Conclusions: The majority of surgical patients at the time of hospital discharge improves or maintain their conditions of admission and patients who never worse substantially(AU)

[Descriptive study of the results of nursing interventions applied to surgical patients]. / Pacientes quirúrgicos e intervenciones enfermeras estandarizadas. Estudio descriptivo sobre resultados.

OBJECTIVES: Knowing the evolution of health outcomes of surgical patients during their hospital stay, evaluating NOC outcome criteria at admission and discharge. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective observational study conducted in the surgical hospital wards of the Hospital General de Vic, with patients who required surgical intervention of any specialty, of 18 or more years old and anesthetic risk levels I, II or III. The main outcome variables were indicators associates with each NOC of a standard of care based on the "patient type" concept. RESULTS: Four hundred and six patients participated. Of these, 69 (15%) were operated of the musculoskeletal system and 391 (85%) were operated on the digestive or urinary systems, male/ female genitalia, skin, integuments, and endocrine system. NOC scores high of all patients were maintained or improved, never worse and in all patients the number of falls and recurrent infections was constant, virtually no patient fell or became infected. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of surgical patients at the time of hospital discharge improves or maintain their conditions of admission and patients who never worse substantially.

Phytostabilization of semiarid soils residually contaminated with trace elements using by-products: sustainability and risks.

We investigated the efficiency of various by-products (sugarbeet lime, biosolid compost and leonardite), based on single or repeated applications to field plots, on the establishment of a vegetation cover compatible with a stabilization strategy on a multi-element (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) contaminated soil 4-6 years after initial amendment applications. Results indicate that the need for re-treatment is amendment- and element-dependent; in some cases, a single application may reduce trace element concentrations in above-ground biomass and enhance the establishment of a healthy vegetation cover. Amendment performance as evaluated by % cover, biomass and number of colonizing taxa differs; however, changes in plant community composition are not necessarily amendment-specific. Although the translocation of trace elements to the plant biotic compartment is greater in re-vegetated areas, overall loss of trace elements due to soil erosion and plant uptake is usually smaller compared to that in bare soil.

[The concept of "patient type": utility for the care of surgical patients]. / Concepto <>: utilidad para el cuidado de los pacientes quirúrgicos.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a model of surgical "patient type" by identifying the needs and characteristics of surgical patients. METHOD: We performed a cross-sectional study of surgical patients with one or more diseases and similar needs and/or characteristics admitted to the surgical wards of a general hospital over a 10-month period. The variables analyzed were sociodemographic and clinical data, degree of autonomy, and Virginia Henderson's needs, which were identified through an interview performed in the postoperative period. Univariate analysis, stratified descriptive statistics and multiple correspondence analysis were performed. RESULTS: A total of 270 medium- or low-complexity patients from different surgical specialties took part in the analysis. During the surgical process (pre- and post-operative), almost a half of the patients suffered from hypotension, heart rate showed no significant changes and the risk of developing a pressure ulcer was unmodified according to Norton's scale. The first statistical analysis classified the surgical patients into five groups and showed the relationship between the degree of autonomy (measured through Barthel's index) and the number of personal problems (assessed according to the Henderson model). A subsequent statistical analysis classified the patients into four groups or types, explaining 70% of the total variance. CONCLUSIONS: Through the use of Virginia Henderson's model, a surgical patient type composed of four different groups was identified. The results of this study may be useful in the care of low- and medium-complexity patients in distinct surgical specialties.

Trace element availability and plant growth in a mine-spill-contaminated soil under assisted natural remediation II. Plants.

In this second part, we evaluated the effects of different amendments on plant growth (Agrostis stolonifera L.), and trace element accumulation and removal by plants in a trace element (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) contaminated soil. Description of the various treatments is given in Part I of this work. The plants were grown for consecutive periods (2002, 2003, 2004), 5 months each and harvested twice in each period. Results showed that plant growth was enhanced and trace element concentrations in plant were reduced in SL, MWC, BC and LEO treatments in the first period. No significant differences were observed in subsequent periods. This seemed to be related with changes in soil pH. Removal of trace elements was higher in SL, MWC, BC and LEO treatments due to higher biomass production in the first period. In following years no significant differences between treatments were found. Data from Part I of this study were also used to compare trace element bioavailable concentrations extracted with 0.01 M CaCl2 and 0.05 M EDTA with trace elements in plant. We observed that 0.01 M CaCl2 was more suitable for determination of bioavailable concentrations and that extraction with EDTA overestimated biovailability of trace elements in amended treatments, especially in those where composts were added.

Nitrogen mineralization and nitrate leaching of a sandy soil amended with different organic wastes.

Organic wastes can be recycled as a source of plant nutrients, enhancing crop production by improving soil quality. However, the study of the dynamic of soil nutrient, especially the N dynamic, after soil application of any organic material is vital for assessing a correct and effective use of the material, minimizing the losses of nitrate in leachates and avoiding the negative environmental effects that it may cause in groundwater. To estimate the effect of three organic materials, a municipal solid waste compost (MWC), a non-composted paper mill sludge (PS), and an agroforest compost (AC) on the N dynamic of a sandy soil two experiments were carried out: an incubation experiment and a column experiment. The incubation experiment was conducted to estimate the N mineralization rate of the different soil-amendment mixtures. The soil was mixed with the organic amendments at a rate equivalent to 50,000 kg ha(-1) and incubated during 40 weeks at constant moisture content (70% of its water-holding capacity) and temperature (28 degrees C) under aerobic conditions. Organic amendment-soil samples showed an immobilization of N during the first weeks, which was more noticeable and longer in the case of PS-treated soil compared to the other two amendments due to its high C/N ratio. After this immobilization stage, a positive mineralization was observed for all treatment, especially in MWC treated soil. Contemporaneously a 1-year column (19 cm diameter and 60 cm height) experiment was carried out to estimate the nitrate losses from the soil amended with the same organic materials. Amendments were mixed with the top soil (0-15 cm) at a rate equivalent to 50,000 kg ha(-1). The columns were periodically irrigated simulating rainfall in the area of study, receiving in total 415 mm of water, and the water draining was collected during the experimental period and analysed for NO3-N. At the end of the experimental period NO3-N content in soil columns at three depths (0-20, 20-35 and 35-50 cm) was determined. The nitrate concentration in drainage water confirmed the results obtained in the incubation experiment: nitrate leaching was higher in soil treated with MWC due to its higher N-mineralization rate. Nevertheless, the nitrate losses represented a low amount compared with the total nitrogen added to soil. No clear signs of water-draining contamination were observed during the first year after the application of AC and PS; however, the nitrate leaching in soil treated with MWC slightly exceeded the limit allowed for the Drinking Water Directive 98/83/CE.

Trace element availability and plant growth in a mine-spill contaminated soil under assisted natural remediation I. Soils.

We evaluated the effects of different amendments and/or a plant cover on reclamation of a trace element contaminated soil. Seven treatments were established: four organic (leonardite (LEO), litter (LIT), municipal waste compost (MWC), biosolid compost (BC)), one inorganic (sugar beet lime (SL)) and two controls (control without amendment but with Agrostis (CTRP) and control without amendment and without Agrostis (CTR)). Results showed that total organic C was significantly higher in organic treatments in all samplings. Water-soluble C was lower in CTR compared to other treatments, but no significant differences were observed between organic treatments and SL and CTR. SL, BC and MWC treatments increased soil pH and reduced 0.01 M CaCl2-extractable Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations more efficiently, especially in the first 2 years. At the end of the experiment 0.01 M CaCl2-extractable trace element concentrations were similar in all treatments. 0.01 M CaCl2-extractable As and Pb were below the detection limit. Addition of amendments showed no clear reduction in 0.05 M EDTA-extractable trace element concentrations and some amendments even increased 0.05 M EDTA-extractable As and Cu with time. Pseudo-total trace element concentrations were higher for As in controls. On the other hand, mean values of Cu and Zn were higher in MWC treatment. BC and SL treatments also showed higher Zn mean concentration than controls. No amendment effect was observed for Cd and Pb.

Soil amendments reduce trace element solubility in a contaminated soil and allow regrowth of natural vegetation.

We tested the effects of three amendments (a biosolid compost, a sugar beet lime, and a combination of leonardite plus sugar beet lime) on trace element stabilisation and spontaneous revegetation of a trace element contaminated soil. Soil properties were analysed before and after amendment application. Spontaneous vegetation growing on the experimental plot was studied by three surveys in terms of number of taxa colonising, percentage vegetation cover and plant biomass. Macronutrients and trace element concentrations of the five most frequent species were analysed. The results showed a positive effect of the amendments both on soil chemical properties and vegetation. All amendments increased soil pH and TOC content and reduced CaCl(2)-soluble-trace element concentrations. Colonisation by wild plants was enhanced in all amended treatments. The nutritional status of the five species studied was improved in some cases, while a general reduction in trace element concentrations of the aboveground parts was observed in all treated plots. The results obtained show that natural assisted remediation has potential for success on a field scale reducing trace element entry in the food chain.