Personal identification using analysis of the internal and external characteristics of the human finger is currently an intensively developed topic. The work in this field concerns new methods of ...feature extraction and image analysis, mainly using modern artificial intelligence algorithms. However, the quality of the data and the way in which it is obtained determines equally the effectiveness of identification. In this article, we present a novel device for extracting vision data from the internal as well as external structures of the human finger. We use spatially selective backlight consisting of NIR diodes of three wavelengths. The fast image acquisition allows for insight into the pulse waveform. Thanks to the external illuminator, images of the skin folds of the finger are acquired as well. This rich collection of images is expected to significantly enhance identification capabilities using existing and future classic and AI-based computer vision techniques. Sample data from our device, before and after data processing, have been shared in a publicly available database.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Dark current in charge-coupled devices (CCDs) is one of the most important sources of impulsive noise present in scientific images. While the dark current originating in the fabrication defects ...(mainly impurities) is stable and dependent only on temperature, the one present in the proton-irradiated sensors shows a range of metastable states which makes calibration of images almost impossible. In this paper, we show an extended analysis of such metastabilities present in Kodak KAI 11000M CCD sensors employed in the BRITE (BRIghtest Target Explorer) astrophysical mission over 7 years of in-orbit work. Our collection of dark current characteristics has an unprecedented time span, large temperature range and high number of investigated pixels. A special methodology based on the Gaussian mixture model was proposed for identification and characterization of the metastable states in the dark current. We identified several interesting properties of the metastability and found an experimental rule for the dark current in tristable defects. The results shed a new light on the dark current problems, its modeling and the mitigation in an image sensor working in space.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Reperfusion therapy decreases myocardium damage during an acute coronary event and consequently mortality. However, there are unmet needs in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, consequently ...mortality and heart failure continue to occur in about 10% and 20% of cases, respectively. Different strategies could improve reperfusion. These strategies, like generation of warning sign recognition and being initially assisted and transferred by an emergency service, could reduce the time to reperfusion. If the first electrocardiogram is performed en route, it can be transmitted and interpreted in a timely manner by a specialist at the receiving center, bypassing community hospitals without percutaneous coronary intervention capabilities. To administer thrombolytic therapy during transport to the catheterization laboratory could reduce time to reperfusion in cases with expected prolonged transport time to a percutaneous coronary intervention center or to a center without primary percutaneous coronary intervention capabilities with additional expected delay, known as pharmaco-invasive strategy. Myocardial reperfusion is known to produce damage and cell death, which defines the reperfusion injury. Lack of resolution of ST segment is used as a marker of reperfusion failure. In patients without ST segment resolution, mortality triples. It is important to note that, until recently, reperfusion injury and no-reflow were interpreted as a single entity and we should differentiate them as different entities; whereas no-reflow is the failure to obtain tissue flow, reperfusion injury is actually the damage produced by achieving flow. Therefore, treatment of no-reflow is obtained by tissue flow, whereas in reperfusion injury the treatment objective is protection of susceptible myocardium from reperfusion injury. Numerous trials for the treatment of reperfusion injury have been unsuccessful. Newer hypotheses such as "
", in which the interventional cardiologist assumes not only the treatment of the culprit vessel but also the way to reperfuse the myocardium at risk, could reduce reperfusion injury.
Background Exacerbations of heart failure appear frequently associated with precipitating factors not directly related to the evolution of cardiac disease. There still a paucity of data on the ...proportional distribution of precipitating factors specifically in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to examine prospectively the precipitating factors leading to hospitalization in elderly patients with heart failure in our community hospital. Methods We evaluate elderly patients who need admissions for decompensate heart failure. All patients were reviewed daily by the study investigators at the first 24 h and closely followed-up. Decompensation was defined as the worsening in clinical NYHA class associated with the need for an increase in medical treatment (at minimum intravenously diuretics). Results We included 102 patients (mean age 79 ± 12 years). Precipitating factors were identified in 88.5%. The decompensation was sudden in 35% of the cases. Noncompliance with diet was identified in 52% of the patients, lack of adherence to the prescribed medications amounted to 30%. Others precipitating factors were infections (29%), arrhythmias (25%), acute coronary ischemia (22%), and uncontrolled hypertension (15%), miscellaneous causes were detected in 18% of the cases (progression of renal disease 60%, anemia 30% and iatrogenic factors 10%). Concomitant cause was not recognizable in 11.5%. Conclusions Large proportion heart failure hospitalizations are associated with preventable precipitating factors. Knowledge of potential precipitating factors may help to optimize treatment and provide guidance for patients with heart failure. The presence of potential precipitating factors should be routinely evaluated in patients presenting chronic heart failure.
The use of high energy transients such as Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) as probes of the distant universe relies on the close collaboration between space and ground facilities. In this context, the ...Sino-French mission
SVOM
has been designed to combine a space and a ground segment and to make the most of their synergy. On the ground, the 1.3 meter robotic telescope COLIBRI, jointly developed by France and Mexico, will quickly point the sources detected by the space hard X-ray imager ECLAIRs, in order to detect and localise their visible/NIR counterpart and alert large telescopes in minutes. COLIBRI is equipped with two visible cameras, called DDRAGO-blue and DDRAGO-red, and an infrared camera, called CAGIRE, designed for the study of high redshift GRBs candidates. Being a low-noise NIR camera mounted at the focus of an alt-azimutal robotic telescope imposes specific requirements on CAGIRE. We describe here the main characteristics of the camera: its optical, mechanical and electronics architecture, the ALFA detector, and the operation of the camera on the telescope. The instrument description is completed by three sections presenting the calibration strategy, an image simulator incorporating known detector effects, and the automatic reduction software for the ramps acquired by the detector. This paper aims at providing an overview of the instrument before its installation on the telescope.
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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
7.
Estrelleros: Astronomy in hospitals Delgado-Inglada, Gloria; López-Cámara, Diego; Farah, Alejandro ...
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union,
12/2019, Volume:
15, Issue:
S367
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
This project is designed for children under 18 years that have to frequently visit hospitals or that have to endure long-term hospital stays. The aims are to entertain these children and their ...families, to increase their scientific culture, and to promote scientific vocations. So far we have visited one hospital in Mexico City bringing astronomy to the patients and their families. We have developed five hands-on activities and one musical activity that ensures that all the children can participate independently of their conditions. We plan to expand this project to other hospitals and other cities in the country. Our next challenge is to start virtual visits to hospitals.
The use of high energy transients such as Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) as probes of the distant universe relies on the close collaboration between space and ground facilities. In this context, the ...Sino-French mission SVOM has been designed to combine a space and a ground segment and to make the most of their synergy. On the ground, the 1.3 meter robotic telescope COLIBRI, jointly developed by France and Mexico, will quickly point the sources detected by the space hard X-ray imager ECLAIRs, in order to detect and localise their visible/NIR counterpart and alert large telescopes in minutes. COLIBRI is equipped with two visible cameras, called DDRAGO-blue and DDRAGO-red, and an infrared camera, called CAGIRE, designed for the study of high redshift GRBs candidates. Being a low-noise NIR camera mounted at the focus of an alt-azimutal robotic telescope imposes specific requirements on CAGIRE. We describe here the main characteristics of the camera: its optical, mechanical and electronics architecture, the ALFA detector, and the operation of the camera on the telescope. The instrument description is completed by three sections presenting the calibration strategy, an image simulator incorporating known detector effects, and the automatic reduction software for the ramps acquired by the detector. This paper aims at providing an overview of the instrument before its installation on the telescope.
La demencia frontotemporal (DFT) es un fenómeno neurodegenerativo complejo que afecta los lóbulos frontal y temporal y se manifiesta por cambios en la personalidad, el comportamiento y el lenguaje. ...La revisión de la literatura analiza la fisiopatología, etiología y métodos de diagnóstico, enfatizando la acumulación de proteínas anormales y factores genéticos como factores clave en la patogénesis de la enfermedad. El objetivo de la investigación es identificar marcadores biológicos y métodos de tratamiento eficaces. La epidemiología destaca la necesidad de estudios especiales, por ejemplo, en Ecuador, donde la FTD es responsable de una proporción significativa de los casos de demencia. La metodología utilizada, basada en una revisión integral y un análisis temático, proporciona una imagen integral del progreso actual. Las manifestaciones clínicas incluyen cambios en la personalidad, el comportamiento y las habilidades motoras, mientras que el diagnóstico implica una evaluación exhaustiva con pruebas neuropsicológicas y estudios de neuroimagen. En conclusión, el estudio tiene como objetivo abordar las complejidades de la FTD, responder a la pregunta central de qué causa la degeneración cerebral y promover avances terapéuticos que beneficien a quienes la padecen y arrojen luz sobre la neurodegeneración en general.