Bioimpedance Sensing of Implanted Stent Occlusions: Smart Stent.

Coronary artery disease is one of the most common diseases in developed countries and affects a large part of the population of developing countries. Preventing restenosis in patients with implanted stents is an important current medical problem. The purpose of this work is to analyse the viability of bioimpedance sensing to detect the formation of atheromatous plaque in an implantable stent. Simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics were performed to analyse the performance of the proposed bioimpedance sensing system, based on the Sheffield technique. Both non-pathological and pathological models (with atheromatous plaque), including the flow of blood were considered. Simulations with the non-pathological model showed a homogeneous distribution of the measured current intensity in the different electrodes, for every configuration. On the other hand, simulations with the pathological model showed a significant decrease of the measured current intensity in the electrodes close to the simulated atheromatous plaque. The presence of the atheromatous plaque can, therefore, be detected by the system with a simple algorithm, avoiding the full reconstruction of the image and the subsequent computational processing requirements.

The Use of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for the Rewarming of Cryopreserved Biological Material.

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been used in different medical applications in the last years. In this work, we present for the first time the use of HIFU in the field of cryopreservation, the preservation of biological material at low temperatures. An HIFU system has been designed with the objective of achieving a fast and uniform rewarming in organs, key to overcome the critical problem of devitrification. The finite-element simulations have been carried out using COMSOL Multiphysics software. An array of 26 ultrasonic transducers was simulated, achieving an HIFU focal area in the order of magnitude of a model organ (ovary). A parametric study of the warming rate and temperature gradients, as a function of the frequency and power of ultrasonic waves, was performed. An optimal value for these parameters was found. The results validate the appropriateness of the technique, which is of utmost importance for the future creation of cryopreserved organ banks.

Analysis of consumer awareness of sustainable water consumption by the water footprint concept.

The analysis of social awareness about water consumption represents an essential tool for water efficiency and decision-making procedures in line with the challenges that emerged by water scarcity. The present study focuses on evaluating the perception of sustainable water consumption (SWC), considering the direct and indirect water consumption through the Water Footprint (WF) indicator and the information about the nexus between urban services and water uses. Based on the norm activation model (NAM) proposed by Schwartz (1977), this research evaluates the perception of the water footprint of different aspects of water consumption and the dependence of this perception on individual water consumption, direct or indirect, and municipal services. The methodology applied to analyse the structural model was the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The sample is composed of consumers in the Extremadura region, Spain. The results of the survey show that SWC is influenced by Water Consumption Services (WCS), Indirect domestic Water Consumption (IWC), and Direct domestic Water Consumption (DWC). The model was tested at a confidence level higher than 99.9% with a moderated explanatory capacity (R2 = 55.7%). Besides, the model indicates the benefit of using WF as an activating tool for decision making highlighted in the NAM considered, in other words, the knowledge about WF influences positively in responsible behaviour with water consumption.

Overstory-understory land cover mapping at the watershed scale: accuracy enhancement by multitemporal remote sensing analysis and LiDAR.

In forested watersheds, density, land cover, and its vertical structure are crucial factors for flood management, ecosystem monitoring, and biomass inventory. Nowadays, producing land cover maps with high accuracy has become a reality with the application of remote sensing techniques, but in some situations, it is not so easy to distinguish between the overstory and understory vegetation with only spectral information. The main goal of this study was to analyze the accuracy enhancement in overstory and understory land cover mapping at the watershed scale when using the data fusion of seasonal and annual time series of Sentinel-2 images complemented with low-density LiDAR and soil and vegetation indices. The study area was composed by two neighboring watersheds in Badajoz province (Spain). The accuracy of land cover classifications was trained in two ways: first, for each season and several soil-vegetation indices; and second, for the annual series and soil-vegetation indices. Next, LiDAR data were included in both analyses by means of a Boolean metric concerning the height. The obtained results showed that the overall accuracy was better with the annual evaluation when only spectral information was used for the classification. Additionally, if LiDAR data were included in the classification (data fusion), the overall accuracies were highly improved, especially in summer and autumn seasons. This improvement can be a significant issue in the analysis of vegetation structure and its spatial distribution as it is decisive for watershed ecosystem management.

Regional forecast model for the Olea pollen season in Extremadura (SW Spain).

The olive tree (Olea europaea) is a predominantly Mediterranean anemophilous species. The pollen allergens from this tree are an important cause of allergic problems. Olea pollen may be relevant in relation to climate change, due to the fact that its flowering phenology is related to meteorological parameters. This study aims to investigate airborne Olea pollen data from a city on the SW Iberian Peninsula, to analyse the trends in these data and their relationships with meteorological parameters using time series analysis. Aerobiological sampling was conducted from 1994 to 2013 in Badajoz (SW Spain) using a 7-day Hirst-type volumetric sampler. The main Olea pollen season lasted an average of 34 days, from May 4th to June 7th. The model proposed to forecast airborne pollen concentrations, described by one equation. This expression is composed of two terms: the first term represents the resilience of the pollen concentration trend in the air according to the average concentration of the previous 10 days; the second term was obtained from considering the actual pollen concentration value, which is calculated based on the most representative meteorological variables multiplied by a fitting coefficient. Due to the allergenic characteristics of this pollen type, it should be necessary to forecast its short-term prevalence using a long record of data in a city with a Mediterranean climate. The model obtained provides a suitable level of confidence to forecast Olea airborne pollen concentration.

Temporal modelling and forecasting of the airborne pollen of Cupressaceae on the southwestern Iberian Peninsula.

Cupressaceae includes species cultivated as ornamentals in the urban environment. This study aims to investigate airborne pollen data for Cupressaceae on the southwestern Iberian Peninsula over a 21-year period and to analyse the trends in these data and their relationship with meteorological parameters using time series analysis. Aerobiological sampling was conducted from 1993 to 2013 in Badajoz (SW Spain). The main pollen season for Cupressaceae lasted, on average, 58 days, ranging from 55 to 112 days, from 24 January to 22 March. Furthermore, a short-term forecasting model has been developed for daily pollen concentrations. The model proposed to forecast the airborne pollen concentration is described by one equation. This expression is composed of two terms: the first term represents the pollen concentration trend in the air according to the average concentration of the previous 10 days; the second term is obtained from considering the actual pollen concentration value, which is calculated based on the most representative meteorological parameters multiplied by a fitting coefficient. Temperature was the main meteorological factor by its influence over daily pollen forecast, being the rain the second most important factor. This model represents a good approach to a continuous balance model of Cupressaceae pollen concentration and is supported by a close agreement between the observed and predicted mean concentrations. The novelty of the proposed model is the analysis of meteorological parameters that are not frequently used in Aerobiology.

[Ureteral triplication whitout other associates malformations]. / Triplicidad ureteral sin otras malformaciones asociadas.

We report a case of ureteral type III triplication according to Smith's classification, without associated anomalies of the urinary tract. The revision of the bibliography indicates the rarity of this maldformacion and its frequent association with other urinary and extraurinary malformations. The absence of associate malformations in this case increases his exceptionality.

Triplicidad ureteral sin otras malformaciones asociadas / Ureteral triplication whitout other associates malformations

Se presenta un caso de triplicidad ureteral tipo III según la clasificación de Smith, sin anomalías del tracto urinario asociadas. La revisión de la bibliografía indica la rareza de esta malformación y su frecuente asociación con otras malformaciones urinarias y extraurinarias, por lo que la ausencia de malformaciones asociadas hace más excepcional el caso presentado (AU)

We report a case of ureteral type III triplication according to Smith’s classification, without associated anomalies of the urinary tract. The revision of the bibliography indicates the rarity of this maldformacion and its frequent association with other urinary and extra urinary malformations. The absence of associate malformations in this case increases his exceptional (AU)

[Testicular tumors: association between preoperative clinical, radiological and immuno-serological factors, and histology and stage]. / Relación de los factores clínicos, ecográficos e inmunoserológicos preoperatorios con la histología y el estadío de las neoplasias testiculares.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and quantify the association between clinical, ultrasound and immunoserological data and histologic type and stage of testicular tumors. METHODS: We analyze a cohort of 80 patients who underwent orchiectomy for testicular neoplasia. Mean patient age was 30.4 years. Past medical history, first symptoms, time from first symptom to operation, physical examination and ultrasound data, and preoperative serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein and beta HCG were retrospectively collected. RESULTS: Patients with non seminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT) had a significantly lower mean age (23.7 yr.) than patients with pure seminoma (41.3 yr.), and these latter a significantly lower age than patients with non germinal tumors (50.7 yr.). Initial presentation with general malaise or lumbar pain increased 2.56 times the relative risk of having a tumor in advanced stage (higher than stage I) . Presence of gynecomastia increased 16.5 times the relative risk of having a non germ cell tumor, due to the inclusion of Leydig's tumors in this group. Detection of heterogeneous nodules by ultrasound increased 4.5 times the risk of having a non seminomatous germ cell tumor. Preoperative elevation of alpha-fetoprotein ruled out the existence of seminoma and non germ cell tumor; whereas preoperative elevation of beta HCG increased 3.21 times the risk of having a non seminomatous germ cell tumor. No significant association was shown between preoperative tumor markers and tumor stage. CONCLUSIONS: The existence of gynecomastia, age, detection of heterogeneous nodules on ultrasound, and preoperative alpha-fetoprotein and beta HCG are relevant data in relation to histological type of tumor. Lumbar pain or malaise are clinical data associated with tumor stage.

Relación de los factores clínicos, ecográficos e inmunoserológicos preoperatorios con la histología y el estadío de las neoplasias testiculares / Testicular tumors: association between preoperative clinical, radiological and immuno-serological factors, and histology and stage

OBJETIVO: Determinar y cuantificar larelación que existe entre los datos clínicos ecográficose inmunoserológicos y el tipo histológico y estadío delas neoplasias testiculares.MÉTODOS: Se analizó una cohorte de 80 casos sometidosa orquiectomía por neoplasia testicular. La mediade edad de los pacientes fue de 30,4 años. Se recogióde manera retrospectiva los antecedentes delpacientes, la naturaleza del primer síntoma, el tiempodesde el primer síntoma hasta la intervención, los datosde la exploración clínica y ecografía y los niveles preoperatoriosde alfa-fetoproteína y beta HCG.RESULTADOS: Los pacientes con Tumor de NoSeminmatoso de Células Germinales (TNSCG) teníanuna edad media (23,7 años) significativamente menorque la de los pacientes con seminoma puro (41,3años), y ésta, a su vez, significativamente menor que laedad de los pacientes con Tumores No Germinales(TNG) (50,7 años). La presencia como síntoma inicialde malestar general o dolor lumbar aumentó el riesgorelativo de padecer un tumor en un estadío avanzado(superior al estadío I) 2,56 veces. La existencia de ginecomástiaaumentó 16,5 veces el riesgo relativo depadecer un TNG, debido a la presencia en este grupode los tumores de Leydig. La observación de nódulosheterogéneos en la ecografía incrementó el riesgo depadecer un TGNS 4,5 veces. La elevación preoperatoriade la alfa-fetoproteína descartó la existencia de unseminoma y de un TNG, mientras que la elevación preoperatoriade la beta HCG aumentó el riesgo depadecer un TGNS 3,21 veces. No se observó unarelación significativa entre los niveles preoperatorios deambos marcadores y el estadío tumoral.CONCLUSIONES: La existencia de ginecomastia, laedad, la visualización de nódulos heterogéneos en laecografía y los niveles preoperatorios de alfa-fetoproteinay beta HCG son datos relevantes relacionadoscon el tipo histológico de tumor. La sensación de dolorlumbar o malestar general es un dato clínico relacionadocon el estadío tumoral

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and quantify the ;;association between clinical, ultrasound and immunoserological ;;data and histologic type and stage of ;;testicular tumors. ;;METHODS: We analyze a cohort of 80 patients who ;;underwent orchiectomy for testicular neoplasia. Mean ;;patient age was 30.4 years. Past medical history, first ;;symptoms, time from first symptom to operation, physical ;;examination and ultrasound data, and preoperative ;;serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein and beta HCG were ;;retrospectively collected. ;;RESULTS: Patients with non seminomatous germ cell ;;tumor (NSGCT) had a significantly lower mean age ;;(23.7 yr.) than patients with pure seminoma (41.3 yr.), ;;and these latter a significantly lower age than patients ;;with non germinal tumors (50.7 yr.). Initial presentation ;;with general malaise or lumbar pain increased 2.56 ;;times the relative risk of having a tumor in advanced ;;stage (higher than stage I) . Presence of gynecomastia ;;increased 16.5 times the relative risk of having a non ;;germ cell tumor, due to the inclusion of Leydig`s tumors ;;in this group. Detection of heterogeneous nodules by ;;ultrasound increased 4.5 times the risk of having a non ;;seminomatous germ cell tumor. Preoperative elevation ;;of alpha-fetoprotein ruled out the existence of seminoma ;;and non germ cell tumor; whereas preoperative elevation ;;of beta HCG increased 3.21 times the risk of having ;;a non seminomatous germ cell tumor. No significant ;;association was shown between preoperative tumor ;;markers and tumor stage. ;;CONCLUSIONS: The existence of gynecomastia, age, ;;detection of heterogeneous nodules on ultrasound, and ;;preoperative alpha-fetoprotein and beta HCG are relevant ;;data in relation to histological type of tumor. Lumbar ;;pain or malaise are clinical data associated with tumor ;;stage