The Xhaul architecture presented in this article is aimed at developing a 5G integrated backhaul and fronthaul transport network enabling flexible and software-defined reconfiguration of all ...networking elements in a multi-tenant and service-oriented unified management environment. The Xhaul transport network vision consists of high-capacity switches and heterogeneous transmission links (e.g., fiber or wireless optics, high-capacity copper, mmWave) interconnecting remote radio heads, 5G points of attachment (5GPoAs, e.g., macro- and small cells), centralized- processing units (mini data centers), and points of presence of the core networks of one or multiple service provider(s). This transport network shall flexibly interconnect distributed 5G radio access and core network functions, hosted on network centralized nodes, through the implementation of a control infrastructure using a unified, abstract network model for control plane integration (Xhaul Control Infrastructure, XCI); and a unified data plane encompassing innovative high-capacity transmission technologies and novel deterministic-latency switch architectures (Xhaul packet Forwarding Element, XFE). Standardization is expected to play a major role in a future 5G integrated front haul/backhaul architecture for multi-vendor interoperability reasons. To this end, we review the major relevant activities in the current standardization landscape and the potential impact on the Xhaul architecture.
Emergency mapping makes it possible to manage an emergency situation and even to analyze the catastrophic event, a posteriori, in order to improve action protocols for Civil Protection. The emergency ...maps are produced from the analysis of calls to the Emergency Coordination Centre (911 or 112). Thus, the concept of integral risk mapping arises, in which risk mapping and aspects that allow for more realistic analysis and mapping through the analysis of emergency calls in the event of a natural event converge. In this case, the analysis is focused on the floods that occurred from 12 to 15 September 2019 in the Vega Baja del Segura district (Alicante, Spain). The results obtained show that this is the flooding episode with the highest number of emergency calls in Valencian region and Vega Baja del Segura district (2010–2022). Likewise, the spatial-temporal analysis of the geolocation of the calls and their reasons, have allowed us to draw up a much more detailed map of flooding or affected areas in 2019 than the official maps. In conclusion, the analysis of emergency calls makes it possible to identify problems and vulnerable areas where proposals can be made to reduce the impact of floods and increase the resilience of a territory. At the same time, it is presented as a novel field of research for the analysis of natural and anthropic risks.
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, also known as SUDEP, is the main cause of death in patients with ...epilepsy. SUDEP has an incidence of 1.2 per 1000 person-years in adults and 0.2 per 1000 person-years in children. SUDEP accounts for 8-17% of deaths in patients with epilepsy. It is commonly associated with a history of generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and its risk may be increased by other factors such as postictal electroencephalographic suppression, prone sleeping position, altered heart rate variability, conduction abnormalities, gender, or antiepileptic medications. Recently, electrocardiograms, electroencephalograms, and imaging markers have helped clinicians stratify SUDEP risk and identify patients in need of close monitoring. However, the pathophysiology of SUDEP is likely multifactorial and still unknown. Improving the knowledge of SUDEP incidence, risk factors, and biomarkers can help design and implement effective prevention strategies.
Historical cartography is one of the principal tools used in correct flood adaptation and management based on territorial planning. In fact, Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of ...flood risks includes the analysis and inventory of historical floods in a river basin for assessing the flood hazard and risk existing in a geographical space. This study seeks to analyse the largest flood registered in the Segura basin, occurring on 14–15 October 1879, which attracted enormous interest on a national and international level. The methodology applied is based on the consultation of historical sources and historical cartography, and the elaboration of maps using GIS, enabling comparisons to be made with current flood zones. The results show that the Santa Teresa flood was very similar to the Spanish National Cartographic Systems for Flood Areas (SNCZI) map for a 500-year return period. Furthermore, it allows the identification of the sensitive points along the course of the river or those prone to burst banks or overflowing, which practically coincide with the current maps and modelling conducted by the official bodies. Furthermore, the buildings in the floodable area in the historical cartography have been counted and reconstructed on a GIS map and the SNCZI. Massive anthropic occupation through the construction of settlements and infrastructures (hospitals, schools, centers for the elderly, roads and railways) in the Guadalentín valley and the Segura River increases the risk of flooding in the study area, despite the numerous control and regulation works carried out in the Segura River basin.
Sphenoid sinuses are considered the most variable structures of human body: therefore, they may be used for personal identification, through the application of 3D segmentation procedures. This study ...aims at proposing a new protocol for personal identification based on 3D-3D superimposition of sphenoid sinuses segmented from head CT scans. Adult subjects (equally divided among males and females) who underwent two head CT scans were extracted from a hospital database. Sphenoid sinuses were segmented through ITK-SNAP software and the corresponding 3D models were automatically superimposed to obtain 40 matches (when they belonged to the same person) and 260 mismatches (when they were extracted from different individuals). The RMS (root mean square) point-to-point distance was then calculated for all the superimpositions: differences according to sex and group (matches and mismatches) were assessed through the Mann-Whitney test (
p
< 0.05). On average, the RMS value was almost ten times smaller in matches (0.22 ± 0.11 mm) than in mismatches (2.16 ± 0.57 mm) with a statistically significant difference according to group (
p
< 0.05), but not to sex (
p
> 0.05). The study proposed a new method for assessing personal identification from segmented 3D models of sphenoid sinuses, useful in the forensic contexts where other methods might not be implementable or successful.
Reseña de Marcello Musto (ed.) y otros, De regreso a Marx: nuevas lecturas y vigencia en el mundo actual, Buenos Aires: Octubre Editorial, 2015, 432 pgs.
Cloud-based robotics systems leverage a wide range of Information Technologies (IT) to offer tangible benefits like cost reduction, powerful computational capabilities, data offloading, etc. However, ...the centralized nature of cloud computing is not well-suited for a multitude of Operational Technologies (OT) nowadays used in robotics systems that require strict real-time guarantees and security. Edge computing and fog computing are complementary approaches that aim at mitigating some of these challenges by providing computing capabilities closer to the users. The goal of this work is hence threefold: i) to analyze the current edge computing and fog computing landscape in the context of robotics systems, ii) to experimentally evaluate an end-to-end robotics system based on solutions proposed in the literature, and iii) to experimentally identify current benefits and open challenges of edge computing and fog computing. Results show that, in the case of an exemplary delivery application comprising two mobile robots, the robot coordination and range can be improved by consuming real-time radio information available at the edge. However, our evaluation highlights that the existing software, wireless and virtualization technologies still require substantial evolution to fully support edge-based robotics systems.
Semi-arid and arid regions are characterized by their water scarcity, which leads territories to seek ways of increasing the water resources available to meet their demands (urban, agricultural, ...industrial, leisure and tourism, etc.). For this reason, this article proposes the term “wastewater use basin”; the concept of the “wastewater use basin” is presented as a working unit of a smaller scale than traditional river basins, which allows for a better management of the water collected in the sewerage network and rainwater of urban agglomerations. It is a geographically-focused proposal for the integrated management of wastewater and stormwater that ends up in a wastewater treatment plant for treatment and reuse. The study area is located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain; specifically, the Campo of Cartagena-Mar Menor district (Murcia) and Vega Baja district (Alicante). The results show the trend behaviour of rainfall in the Segura river basin in recent episodes of torrential rainfall. There is a clear tendency for these episodes to occur in the coastal and pre-coastal areas, so that the water does not reach the headwaters where the reservoirs are located. For this reason, the proposed concept includes the area of the basin that would be formed by the wastewater and rainwater collectors which, in short, are intended to be treated in a treatment plant for subsequent reuse. The calculations made on the basis of the capacity of the environmental tanks executed and projected amount to four cubic hectometers which could be added to the hydrological planning of the Segura basin. In conclusion, the collection of rainwater allows the incorporation of an additional volume of water that complements and increases the resources offered by the treatment plants in the hydrological planning. It also serves as a measure of adaptation to climatic extremes (droughts and floods) and to the effects of climate change, supporting a circular management of the use of resources.
Coastal retreat processes are usually associated with many anthropogenic actions, such as the regulation of river basins, the construction of hydraulic storm defence works in coastal areas and the ...building of housing on the beach. To all of this, we should also add the increase in sea levels due to the effect of climate change. The chosen area of study corresponds to the coastal area of the municipality of Guardamar del Segura, belonging to the Segura River Basin. The methodology applied in this study comprised the gathering of historical information, the extraction of data using GIS, the compiling of data using official organisations and the analysis of all these data from a geographical perspective. The obtained results show the chronology of the regulation works in the Segura Basin and their relationship with the reduction and negative trend in average ordinary flows (1940–2023) and the extraordinary, swelled flows recorded in the period 1994–2023. Furthermore, the coastlines from 1923 to 2023 were mapped, enabling us to determine the evolution of the coastline retreat processes experienced in the dune ridge of Guardamar del Segura and the increase in the frequency of impacts due to storms on Babilonia Beach. Finally, data on wind, waves and marine currents recorded at a gauging station were incorporated, enabling us to understand their impact on this coastal sector. The results obtained are discussed, and they indicate the need to incorporate data on sediment into the study in order to complete it. The conclusions reveal the existence of a relationship between all these anthropogenic elements in the beach erosion processes experienced in the village of Guardamar del Segura.
PDF
