Intermittency represents a certain form of heterogeneous behavior that has interest in diverse fields of application, particularly regarding the characterization of system dynamics and for risk ...assessment. Given its intrinsic location-scale-dependent nature, wavelets constitute a useful functional tool for technical analysis of intermittency. Deformation of the support may induce complex structural changes in a signal. In this paper, we study the effect of deformation on intermittency. Specifically, we analyze the interscale transfer of energy and its implications on different wavelet-based intermittency indicators, depending on whether the signal corresponds to a 'level'- or a 'flow'-type physical magnitude. Further, we evaluate the effect of deformation on the interscale distribution of energy in terms of generalized entropy and complexity measures. For illustration, various contrasting scenarios are considered based on simulation, as well as two segments corresponding to different regimes in a real seismic series before and after a significant earthquake.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a globally important pathogen of swine with a high capacity for genetic change, potentially including evolution of strains less susceptible to vaccine induced ...immunity. Starting with DNA sequences, in silico tools can be used to predict the T cell epitope content of the PCV2 capsid protein in vaccines and field strains, allowing calculation of Epitope Content Comparison (EpiCC) scores reflecting the number of T-cell epitopes held in common. Previous work has shown that a bivalent PCV2a and PCV2b vaccine gave greater T cell epitope coverage (higher EpiCC scores) than either PCV2a or PCV2b as a monovalent, with the more complete match potentially helping to preserve or enhance vaccine efficacy. This study extends the above, using refined methodology to compare the putative T-cell epitope content of 4 PCV2 vaccines (3 based on PCV2a, and one a PCV2a and PCV2b bivalent) to a larger and more contemporary global sample of PCV2 field strains. 746 PCV2, ORF2 nucleotide sequences from diagnostic submissions dating from 2017 to 2021 were included. These comprised PCV2a (129), PCV2b (109) and PCV2d (508), and originated from Asia (185), Europe (269), North America (235) and South America (57). Phylogenetic classification confirmed the predominance of PCV2d in all regions, but with continuing presence of PCV2a and PCV2b. An interesting regional divergence was noted for PCV2a, with all strains from Europe grouped within a single phylogenetic cluster (cluster 10) and all but one from North America being in a different phylogenetic cluster (cluster 6). EpiCC scores for the bivalent vaccine were significantly higher than for the monovalents for all genotypes in all regions, showing the global relevance of the bivalent approach. Calculation of the relative contributions of the PCV2a and PCV2b components showed that, while most T-cell epitopes were present in both, each also made substantial unique contributions. Of most practical relevance, given that most commercial vaccines are based on PCV2a, the addition of PCV2b increased T-cell epitope coverage by 33% and 21% for PCV2b and PCV2d respectively.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
OBJECTIVE: To systematically examine the evidence on nontraditional uses of viscoelastic coagulation monitoring in veterinary species. DESIGN: Standardized, systematic evaluation of the literature, ...categorization of relevant articles according to level of evidence and quality, and development of consensus on conclusions for application of the concepts to clinical practice. SETTING: Academic and referral veterinary medical centers. RESULTS: Databases searched included Medline, CAB abstracts, and Google Scholar. CONCLUSIONS: Nontraditional assays identified included thrombelastography (TEG)‐PlateletMapping (PM), functional fibrinogen assessment, and rapid‐TEG (r‐TEG). Direct veterinary evidence was found for only the ADP‐activated PM, which appears to generate valid data in dogs but not cats or horses. Arachidonic acid activated PM shows high variability and requires further assessment and validation in veterinary species. Functional fibrinogen assays may be performed in veterinary species but may require modification due to species differences in response to abciximab. While tissue factor (TF)‐activated TEG has been well described in the veterinary literature, the specific r‐TEG assay has not been assessed, but presumably would be effective for generating TEG tracings and values for maximum amplitude and angle in shorter periods of time than some traditional assays.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Advances in fiber technology have enabled the integration of plastic optical fibers (POFs) with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for the development of simple, cost-effective, and sensitive sensing ...systems. The aim of this letter was to develop a low-cost device for measuring adulteration in liquids. In this letter, we present a low-cost optoelectronic system based on a U-shaped POF intrinsic sensor to measure the changes in RGB composition of light transmitted as an evanescent wave through liquid solutions (tequila-water mixtures). The system comprises a 3 W white LED as the light source, a 20-cm-long U-shaped POF, and an RGB photodiode (PD) array that detects changes in the RGB composition of light propagating through the POF. An uncoated 5-mm-long U-shaped POF is in contact with the analyte solution during the measurements. The system is tested using tequila-water mixtures of different concentrations. The RGB PD response is recorded digitally, which improves the efficiency and accuracy of the measurement while reducing the sensitivity of the sensor to external disturbances. The results indicate a system resolution of 0.3 wt% with respect to the tequila concentration, as well as red, green, and blue color sensitivities of 0.1, 0.6, and 0.4 8-bits/wt%, respectively. These findings can contribute to the development of an automated system that efficiently measures adulteration in liquids such as distilled spirits.
Several tooth extraction techniques are described in equine literature, and oral extraction techniques in standing sedated horses are popular among equine practitioners. The objectives of this study ...were to develop the corkscrew technique for cheek tooth extraction (CSET) in equine cadaver heads and evaluate this technique in clinical cases. We hypothesized that the CSET could be performed safely to extract cheek teeth in standing sedated horses. First, the CSET was attempted and developed in eight equine cadaver heads. Second, the CSET was performed in clinical cases between 2016 and 2020, and the following information was recorded: diagnosis, affected tooth, procedure duration, intraoperative difficulties, tooth size, postoperative complications, medication, hospitalization time, and 1-year follow-up. Sixteen CSET procedures were performed in eight equine skulls with a 75% success rate. In 24 clinical cases, 25 CSET procedures were attempted to extract 22 superior and 3 inferior cheek teeth. CSET was successful in 76% of procedures. Fractures of the tooth and stripping of screw threads were the major complications that led to the failure of CSET. CSET is a viable and safe technique to extract cheek teeth in standing sedated horses. Longitudinal drilling is a must for this technique to be successful.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background:
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is nowadays the first choice for the treatment of upper urinary tract stones smaller than 2 cm, considering its low complications and high ...success rate.
Aim:
To present an update of the current situation of ESWL treatment and to analyse our series of patients and the efficacy of combined lithiasis treatment in different locations and sizes.
Patients and Method:
Retrospective study including patients with urolithiasis treated with ESWL between 2007 and 2019. Collected data included: gender and age at treatment, presentation symptoms, imaging studies, stone location and size, complications and stone clearance. Success was defined as stone-free status or the presence of clinically insignificant residual fragments (<4 mm after 3 months follow-up). Patients with residual stones larger than 4 mm after 3 months were programmed for another ESWL session or received a combined sandwich therapy, followed by URS or percutaneous approach.
Results:
Between 2007 and 2019, 37 patients presented a total of 41 lithiasis episodes that were treated with ESWL sessions. Median age at first procedure was 9 years old (1–17) and median follow-up time was 6 years (3–12). Stones were located in the renal pelvis, followed by the lower, middle and upper calyx, proximal ureter, and 51% of our patients had multiple lithiasis. Median stone size was 12 mm (5–45), the main component being calcium oxalate (34%). During immediate postoperative period, 8 patients (19%) presented complications: renal colic, hematuria and urinary tract infection. After the first ESWL, 41% of the patients (
n
= 17) were stone-free. Out of the 24 residual lithiasis episodes (58%), three patients (7%) underwent a second ESWL session. In the remaining 19 patients, ESWL was combined with URS or percutaneous approach to achieve complete stone clearance. Overall stone free status after combined therapy was 95% (
n
= 39).
Conclusion:
These data support that ESWL is an effective minimally invasive technique, with low cost and morbidity, reproducible and safe for the treatment of stone disease in children. Even though lithiasis size seems to be a significant factor in ESWL success, in combination with other lithotripsy procedures it can reach very high rates of stone clearance.
Definitive surgery of ectopic ureter in infants is challenging. We propose an endoscopic urinary diversion (EUD) as a novel surgical technique in the initial management of symptomatic obstructive ...ectopic ureter.
Sixteen obstructive ectopic ureters (14 patients) were initially treated by EUD between 2006 and 2015. All patients had urinary tract dilatation worsening at preoperative US scans and at least two febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) or urinary sepsis despite antibiotic prophylaxis. Ectopic ureter was confirmed by cystoscopy. When ectopic meatus was not found, EUD consisted in the creation of a transurethral neo-orifice (TUNO) performed by needle puncturing of the ureterovesical wall, under fluoroscopic and ultrasound control. If ectopic meatus was identified in the posterior urethra, "intravesicalization procedure" was done opening the urethral-ureteral wall to create a new ureteral outlet into the bladder.
EUD was done at a median age of 3.5 months (0.5-7) with median follow-up of 48 months (24-136). TUNO was performed in six patients and "intravesicalization" in eight patients. Significant differences were observed in ureteral diameter and anteroposterior pelvis diameter before and after endoscopic treatment (
< 0.005). Initial renal function was preserved in all cases. Postoperative complications were UTI in four patients and TUNO stenosis in one patient, treated by endoscopic balloon dilation. Definitive treatment was further individualized in each patient after 1 year of life.
EUD is a feasible and safe less-invasive technique in the initial management of symptomatic obstructive ectopic ureter. It allows an adequate ureteral drainage preserving renal function until definitive repair if necessary and does not invalidate other surgical options in case of failure or future definitive treatments.
Large-scale behavior of a wide class of spatial and spatiotemporal processes is characterized in terms of informational measures. Specifically, subordinated random fields defined by nonlinear ...transformations on the family of homogeneous and isotropic Lancaster–Sarmanov random fields are studied under long-range dependence (LRD) assumptions. In the spatial case, it is shown that Shannon mutual information between random field components for infinitely increasing distance, which can be properly interpreted as a measure of large scale structural complexity and diversity, has an asymptotic power law decay that depends on the underlying LRD parameter scaled by the subordinating function rank. Sensitivity with respect to distortion induced by the deformation parameter under the generalized form given by divergence-based Rényi mutual information is also analyzed. In the spatiotemporal framework, a spatial infinite-dimensional random field approach is adopted. The study of the large-scale asymptotic behavior is then extended under the proposal of a functional formulation of the Lancaster–Sarmanov random field class, as well as of divergence-based mutual information. Results are illustrated, in the context of geometrical analysis of sample paths, considering some scenarios based on Gaussian and Chi-Square subordinated spatial and spatiotemporal random fields.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
This paper introduces a new family of the convex divergence-based risk measure by specifying ( h , ϕ ) -divergence, corresponding with the dual representation. First, the sensitivity characteristics ...of the modified divergence risk measure with respect to profit and loss (P&L) and the reference probability in the penalty term are discussed, in view of the certainty equivalent and robust statistics. Secondly, a similar sensitivity property of ( h , ϕ ) -divergence risk measure with respect to P&L is shown, and boundedness by the analytic risk measure is proved. Numerical studies designed for Rényi- and Tsallis-divergence risk measure are provided. This new family integrates a wide spectrum of divergence risk measures and relates to divergence preferences.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The use of digital technologies has been recognized as one of the great challenges for businesses of the 21st century. This digitalization is characterized by the intensive use of information ...technologies in the different stages of the value chain of a sector. In this context, smart agriculture is transforming the agricultural sector in terms of economic, social, and environmental sustainability. In some countries, cooperatives, as the most common legal form of the incumbent companies, in this rather traditional low-intensive technology sector, are going to develop a relevant role in the process of adoption of these technologies. In this context, this paper provides, first, a review of the evolution of the main digital technologies, such as Internet of Things, robots, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and Blockchain, among others. Second, a description of the digital innovation process in agri-cooperatives in order to help them in the decision-making process, and third, a digital diagnosis tool for measuring cooperatives’ digital innovation. This tool is initially applied to two cases of agri-cooperatives in Spain. All of this contributes to a better understanding of digitalization of agri-cooperatives in the context of smart agriculture.
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