•A case study of architecting an IoT platform in a private cloud setting.•Aimed for the research in precision agriculture and ecological monitoring.•Enables prototyping of IoT applications in ...research environment.•The paper an example implementation of the proposed architecture.•Evaluation using sensor nodes deployed at the research and end-user facilities.
This paper discusses a case study of designing a private Internet of Things (IoT) enabled platform for the research in precision agriculture and ecological monitoring domains. The system architecture is gradually derived using an approach of multiple, concurrent views. Each view represents an architectural perspective describing the solution from the viewpoint of different stakeholders, such as end-users, researchers, developers, and project managers. The end-user requirements have been identified using a set of high-level scenarios, which capture the context and illustrate the motivation for building the platform. The requirements and architecture of the proposed platform have been derived so that the users of the platform, researchers, and developers on the project, can utilize it for prototyping solutions for these high level use cases. The paper further describes the implementation of the platform and its evaluation using various sensor nodes deployed at the research and end-user facilities. The solution is open to further development with respect to supporting additional IoT protocols, data types, and interfacing to various analytics tools. The proposed architecture can also be implemented using different server platforms and cloud technologies.
A new iterative method for frequency estimation in the unbalanced three-phase power system is proposed. The proposed solution is based on the transformation of unbalanced three-phase voltage signal ...into a complex exponential by using the orthogonal constant modulus algorithm. In addition, based on the transformed signal, a simple adaptive algorithm for frequency estimation is proposed. Beside the proposed approach, any frequency estimator designed for a single-tone complex exponential can be used here, which is also the advantage of the proposed method. Simulation results confirm that the proposed algorithm exhibits better performance compared to the considered algorithms.
•A low-complexity algorithm for accurate synchrophasor and frequency estimation under offnominal conditions is proposed.•Estimation accuracy can be improved simply by centering the WLS frequency ...response around the estimated value of the frequency.•The proposed algorithm meets all the requirements of the IEEE standard C37.118.1-2011.
Synchrophasor estimation accuracy can be improved by expanding the dynamic phasor in a Taylor series near the real value of the fundamental frequency. However, this approach requires solving a weighted least square (WLS) problem in each reporting frame. In this paper, a method with reduced complexity is proposed to improve the phasor and frequency estimation under off-nominal conditions such as frequency deviation and power oscillation. It has been shown that, for adequately chosen window function, the estimation accuracy can be noticeably improved simply by shifting the nominal WLS frequency response towards the estimated frequency. In this way, the computational complexity is significantly reduced. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the considered algorithms in a variety of scenarios.
Astma je najčešća plućna bolest, iako s manjim utjecajem na zbroj izgubljenih godina života zbog preuranjene smrtnosti i godina proživljenih s invaliditetom nego neke druge plućne bolesti, kao što je ...kronična opstruktivna plućna bolest. Budući da se radi o bolesti s velikim javnozdravstvenim utjecajem na radnu sposobnost i kvalitetu života oboljelih, kao i s potrošnjom značajnih zdravstvenih i financijskih resursa, potrebno je primijeniti
kvalitetno i standardizirano liječenje. Osnova liječenja astme – primjena temeljnoga protuupalnog lijeka s najmanjom dozom koja može održati dobru kontrolu – nije se značajno promijenila u odnosu na posljednje hrvatske smjernice za dijagnostiku i liječenje astme u odraslih, objavljene prije petnaestak godina. Međutim, u međuvremenu su se u globalnoj strategiji za upravljanje i prevenciju astme dogodile značajne promjene u stavu
prema kratkodjelujućem bronhodilatatoru salbutamolu, gdje se on više ne primjenjuje samostalno u akutnom bronhospazmu ili pri pojavi tegoba, bez inhalacijskog glukokortikoida. Također, značajan je napredak postignut u biološkoj terapiji teške astme, prepoznat je značaj izrade osobnog plana liječenja astme, kao i pojava novih mogućnosti liječenja (fiksna trojna terapija), što je uključeno u nove hrvatske smjernice za liječenje astme.
An extensive aeromycological survey was performed in the premises of a cultural heritage conservation facility to estimate fungal propagule concentrations in both indoor and outdoor air and seasonal ...dynamics with regard to temperature and air humidity. The highest average propagule concentration in indoor air was documented in spring, and for outdoor air, in summer. Increased propagule loads were documented in most rooms during winter, fall and spring, and in all examined rooms in summer. Very high propagule concentrations (>25,000 CFU m−3) were reported in ground-floor rooms. The total mycobiota was comprised of 74 fungal species, with a prevalence of Aspergilli and Penicillia. Cladosporium and Penicillium isolates were found to be the most abundant in all seasons in both indoor and outdoor air samples. Among the identified fungi, potential human pathogens, allergens and mycotoxin producers were present. Numerous documented species play an important role in the deterioration of cultural heritage artifacts and are known producers of extracellular enzymes, acids and pigments. Application of a selective medium (M40Y) allowed isolation of various xerophiles and xerotolerant species. Aeromycological analyses are mandatory for determining the appropriate conditions for the protection of the health of conservators, as well as the objects of cultural heritage.
•Aeromycological survey was performed in cultural heritage conservation facility.•Highest average spore concentrations were documented in spring and summer.•Very high spore loads (>25,000 CFU m−3) were reported in ground floor rooms.•Total mycobiota was comprised of 74 fungal species.•Cladosporium and Penicillium isolates were found most numerous during all seasons.
Citrus blast caused by bacterium
is a very important disease of citrus occuring in many areas of the world, but with few data about genetic structure of the pathogen involved. Considering the above ...fact, this study reports genetic characterization of 43
isolates obtained from plant tissue displaying citrus blast symptoms on mandarin (
) in Montenegro, using multilocus sequence analysis of
,
, and
gene sequences. Gene sequences from a collection of 54 reference pathotype strains of
from the Plant Associated and Environmental Microbes Database (PAMDB) was used to establish a genetic relationship with our isolates obtained from mandarin. Phylogenetic analyses of
,
, and
gene sequences showed that
pv.
causes citrus blast in mandarin in Montenegro, and belongs to genomospecies 1. Genetic homogeneity of isolates suggested that the Montenegrian population might be clonal which indicates a possible common source of infection. These findings may assist in further epidemiological studies of this pathogen and for determining mandarin breeding strategies for
control.
Acute exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) lead to poor outcomes and increased burden for patients and healthcare systems. The Global Initiative for COPD (GOLD) includes ...specific recommendations for AECOPD interventions, discharge criteria, and follow-up. Aligning the AECOPD discharge letters (DL) with GOLD guidelines could facilitate dissemination of recommendations among general practitioners (GPs).
This study was conducted to assess the compliance of DL with the GOLD recommendations in Croatia.
Pre-pandemic DL of patients presenting for AECOPD to emergency room (ER) were analyzed and stratified by clinical decision to hospitalize (HDL) or discharge patients for outpatient treatment (ERDL). Experienced pulmonologists checked the information from DL against guidelines by using online study-specific questionnaires.
In total, 225 HDL and 368 ERDL were analyzed. In most cases, the GOLD ABCD categories (85% HDL, 92% ERDL) or the spirometry-based degree of severity (90% HDL, 91% ERDL) were not included. The number of AEs in the previous year was recorded, but the specific frequent exacerbator phenotype not explicitly stated. The AE phenotype was included in two thirds of HDL and one third of ERDL. The blood eosinophil count was frequently available, but not considered decision-relevant information. Adjustments of previous maintenance therapy, mostly escalation, were recommended in 58.4% HDL and 27.9% ERDL, respectively. Education on proper use of inhalers was recommended only in 15.6% of HDL. Smoking cessation measures were advised in 23.1% HDL and 7.9% ERDL; pulmonary rehabilitation in 35.6% HDL and 0.8% ERDL. Early follow-up was frequently advised (>50%), but rarely appointed.
Significant deficiencies in compliance with the GOLD guidelines were identified, translating into a missed opportunity for GPs to become acquainted with GOLD recommendations. These findings emphasize the necessity to increase compliance with guidelines first at specialist level and consequent standardization of DL.
Sažetak. Kronična opstruktivna plućna bolest (KOPB) velik je javnozdravstveni problem s prevalencijom od 10 do 15% u Hrvatskoj. Osim oštećenja plućne funkcije, kod bolesnika nalazimo i znatne ...sustavne poremećaje koji mogu dovesti do povišenja morbiditeta i mortaliteta, kao i smanjenja kvalitete života. Proteinsko-energetska pothranjenost nalazi se kod 25 – 40% bolesnika oboljelih od KOPB-a, s višom prevalencijom u težim stupnjevima bolesti. Time se KOPB definira kao multikomponentna bolest te se i kvalitetno liječenje treba zasnivati na korekciji svih sustavnih poremećaja. Gubitak mišićne mase i snage respiratorne i skeletne muskulature svojstven je bolesnicima s KOPB-om te je neovisan prediktor mortaliteta koji povećava učestalost i težinu egzacerbacija. Hrvatsko torakalno društvo ovim preporukama želi naglasiti važnost pravodobnog utvrđivanja nutritivnog statusa bolesnika s KOPB-om uporabom validiranog alata te definiranjem specifičnog fenotipa bolesnika. Pothranjenim bolesnicima i onima u riziku od razvoja pothranjenosti potrebno je pružiti odgovarajuću nutritivnu skrb.
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