A novel approach to rainfall measuring: methodology, field test and business opportunity

Being able to measure rainfall is crucial in everyday life. The more rainfall measures are accurate, spatially distributed and detailed in time, the more forecast models - be they meteorological or hydrological - can be accurate. Safety on travel networks could be increased by informing users about the nearby roads’ conditions in real time. In the agricultural sector, being able to gain a detailed knowledge of rainfalls would allow for an optimal management of irrigation, nutrients and phytosanitary treatments. In the sport sector, a better measurement of rainfalls for outdoor events (e.g., motor, motorcycle or bike races) would increase athletes’ safety. Rain gauges are the most common and widely used tools for rainfall measurement. However, the existent monitoring networks still fail in providing accurate spatial representations of localized precipitation events due to the sparseness. This effect is magnified by the intrinsic nature of intense precipitation events, as they are naturally characterized by a great spatial and temporal variability. Potentially, coupling at-ground measures (i.e., coming from pluviometric and disdrometric networks) with remote measurement (e.g., radars or meteorological satellites) could allow to describe the rainfall phenomena in a more continuous and spatially detailed way. However, this kind of approach requires that at-ground measurements are used to calibrate the remote sensors relationships, which leads us back to the dearth of ground networks diffusion. Hence the need to increase the presence of ground measures, in order to gain a better description of the events, and to make a more productive use of the remote sensing technologies. The ambitious aim of the methodology developed in this thesis is to repurpose other sensors already available at ground (e.g., surveillance cameras, webcams, smartphones, cars, etc.) into new source of rain rate measures widely distributed over space and time. The technology, developed to function in daylight conditions, requires that the pictures collected during rainfall events are analyzed to identify and characterize each raindrop. The process leads to an instant measurement of the rain rate associated with the captured image. To improve the robustness of the measurement, we propose to elaborate a higher number of images within a predefined time span (i.e., 12 or more pictures per minute) and to provide an averaged measure over the observed time interval. A schematic summary of how the method works for each acquired image is represented hereinafter : 1. background removal; 2. identification of the rain drops; 3. positioning of each drop in the control volume, by using the blur effect; 4. estimation of drops’ diameters, under the hypothesis that each drop falls at its terminal velocity; 5. rain rate estimation, as the sum of the contributions of each drop. Different techniques for background recognition, drops detection and selection and noise reduction were investigated. Each solution has been applied to the same images sample, in order to identify the combination producing accuracy in the rainfall estimate. The best performing procedure was then validated, by applying it to a wider sample of images. Such a sample was acquired by an experimental station installed on the roof of the Laboratory of Hydraulics of the Politecnico di Torino. The sample includes rainfall events which took place between May 15th, 2016 and February 15th, 2017. Seasonal variability allowed to record events characterized by different intensity in varied light conditions. Moreover, the technology developed during this program of research was patented (2015) and represents the heart of WaterView, spinoff of the Politecnico di Torino founded in February 2015, which is currently in charge of the further development of this technology, its dissemination, and its commercial exploitation

Increased expression of interleukin-22 in patients with giant cell arteritis

GCA is characterized by arterial remodelling driven by inflammation. IL-22 is an attractive cytokine which acts at the crosstalk between immune and stromal cells. We hypothesized that IL-22 might be induced in GCA and might be involved in disease pathogenesis

Use of allograft in ligamentar reconstruction of knee

INTRODUÇÃO: A utilização de enxerto alógeno é um tema que há décadas desperta interesse dos ortopedistas devido às supostas vantagens que apresenta, como diminuição do tempo cirúrgico, maior tamanho de enxerto, ausência de morbidade do sítio doador. OBJETIVO: O artigo a seguir faz análise retrospectiva da casuística do grupo de joelho do IOT-HC-FMUSP no uso de enxerto de banco de tecido próprio para reconstruções ligamentares. Serão apresentados as indicações de uso de enxerto alógeno e qual tipo de enxerto foi utilizado para cada tipo de reconstrução ligamentar. MÉTODOS: Foram revisados prontuários de 46 pacientes. RESULTADOS: Usados como enxerto 30 unidades de tendão patelar, 09 unidades de tendão tibial anterior, 08 unidades de tendão calcâneo, 06 unidades de tendão quadriceptal e 01 unidade de tendão fibular e foram usados principalmente para reconstruções multi-ligamentares e revisões de reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior. CONCLUSÃO: O uso de enxerto alógeno mostrou-se uma interessante opção para as recosntruções ligamentares.INTRODUCTION: The use of allograft is a matter of huge interest for orthopaedic surgeons, due to the supposed advantages with its use, like decreased surgical time, larger grafts and no donator site morbidity. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article was to review our experience with the use of allografts on ligament reconstruction. We present the technique applied for graft harvest, preparation and storage, as well as the indications for allograft use and the type of procedure in which it was applied. METHODS: We revised the records of 46 patients. RESULTS: We used 09 patellar tendons, 09 anterior tibial tendons, 08 calcaneal tendons, 06 quadriceptal tendons and 01 fibular tendon, mainly for multiple ligamentar reconstructions and ACL reviews. CONCLUSION: The use of allograft seems to be an interesting option for ligamentar reconstruction

Blood Loss in the Minimally Invasive Posterior Approach to Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Comparative Study

AIMS: Our primary aimwas to evaluate whether there is really less bleeding in patients for whom the minimally invasive posterior approach is used in comparison with the direct lateral approachfor primary total hip arthroplasty. Our secondary aim was to evaluate the clinical functional results after six months as well as the postoperative radiographic result. METHODS: In a comparative non-random prospective study, 76 adult patients underwent elective total hip arthroplasty using one of two approaches. The minimally invasive posterior approach (34 cases; mini-incision group) was compared with the standard direct lateral approach (42 cases; control group). RESULTS: Lower total estimated bleeding (means of 1083.5 ml versus 1682.3 ml; p < 0.001) and lower intraoperative bleeding (means of 745.6 ml versus 1282.8 ml; p < 0.001) were found in the mini-incision group. There was, however, no difference in the volume of blood drained after the operation (means of 340 ml and 399 ml; p = 0.77). There was also a difference between the two groups regarding the need for allogenic transfusion (8.8% in the mini-incision group versus 28.6%, p = 0.02). We observed a better clinical result in the mini-incision group (p = 0.002) despite the lack of difference between the two groups in relation to the radiographic result. DISCUSSION: Our results draw attention to the possibility that other authors may have underestimated blood losses when using minimally invasive approaches. CONCLUSION: The minimally invasive approach gave rise to a positive final impression with regard to lower blood loss

Lymphomatoid papulosis associated with myeloid neoplasm with eosinophilia and FIP1L1::PDGFRA rearrangement: Successful imatinib treatment in two cases

Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is a benign condition, listed among primary cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders. Its typical picture consists of relapsing-remitting papular lesions and it can be encountered in the course of a hematologic disease, at times representing its first manifestation. Hypereosinophilic syndromes are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by persistent peripheral blood hypereosinophilia that may lead to life-threatening organ damage. Among eosinophilic disorders, the subtype identified as myeloid/lymphoid neoplasm with eosinophilia and tyrosine kinase gene fusions has aroused particular interest due to its excellent response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including imatinib. Here, we described the case of two 33-year-old men presenting with LyP and myeloid neoplasm with eosinophilia and FIP1L1::PDGFRA rearrangement who achieved complete clinical and molecular remission of both conditions a few months after starting imatinib

The use of a modular titanium endoprosthesis in skeletal reconstructions after bone tumor resections: method presentation and analysis of 37 cases

Os autores analisaram 37 pacientes operados de 1992 a 1998 no Grupo de Oncologia Ortopédica, em que foi utilizada a endoprótese modular de titânio na reconstrução esquelética, após a ressecção segmentar de tumores ósseos. Doze pacientes foram do sexo masculino e 25 do sexo feminino, sendo que a idade variou de 9 a 81 anos, com média de 30 anos. O tempo de seguimento variou de dois a 48 meses, com média de 14 meses. Com relação ao diagnóstico pré-operatório, este foi confirmado pela biópsia em todos os casos e teve a seguinte distribuição: osteossarcoma osteoblástico (14 casos), carcinoma metastático (10), sarcoma de Ewing (4), tumor de células gigantes (4), fibrohistiocitoma maligno (3), condrossarcoma (1) e cisto ósseo aneurismático (1). Nestes foram realizadas onze endopróteses de joelho articulado (total), oito de fêmur proximal com quadril parcial bipolar, oito de úmero proximal parcial, três de fêmur total, duas parciais proximais da tíbia, duas diafisárias de fêmur, duas diafisárias de úmero, e uma proximal do fêmur com quadril total e componente acetabular sem cimento. As complicações relacionadas ao uso da endoprótese foram: infecção (5 casos), luxação (3), soltura de módulo (1) e parestesia do nervo ulnar (1). Utilizamos como critérios clínicos a presença de dor, a mobilidade articular, a estabilidade da reconstrução, as complicações cirúrgicas e oncológicas e a aceitação do paciente. Obtivemos 56,8% de bons resultados, 32,4% de regulares e 10,8% de maus.We analyzed 37 patients who underwent segmental wide resection of bone tumors and reconstruction with a modular titanium endoprosthesis at the Orthopaedic Oncology Group, between 1992 and 1998. Twelve patients were male and 25 were female, with a mean age of 30 years (9 - 81). The mean follow-up was 14 months (2 - 48). The diagnoses were: osteosarcoma (14 cases), metastatic carcinoma (10), Ewing's sarcoma (4), giant cell tumor (4), malignant fibrous histiocytoma (3), chondrosarcoma (1), and aneurysmal bone cyst (1). Eleven articulated total knee, 8 partial proximal femur with bipolar acetabulum, 8 partial proximal humerus, 3 total femur, 2 partial proximal tibia, 2 diaphyseal femur, 2 diaphyseal humerus, and 1 total proximal femur with cementless acetabulum endoprosthesis implant procedures were done. The complications related to the procedure included: infection (5 cases), dislocation (3), module loosening (1), and ulnar nerve paresthesia (1). We used the following criteria for the clinical evaluation: presence of pain, range of motion, reconstruction stability, surgical and oncologic complications, and patient acceptance. The results were good in 56.8% of the cases, regular in 32.4% and poor in 10.8%

A comparative radiographic investigation of femoroacetabular impingement in young patients with and without hip pain

OBJECTIVE: To compare the existence of radiographic abnormalities in two groups of patients, those with and without hip pain. METHODS: A total 222 patients were evaluated between March 2007 and April 2009; 122 complained of groin pain, and 100 had no symptoms. The individuals in both groups underwent radiographic examinations of the hip using the following views: anteroposterior, Lequesne false profile, Dunn, Dunn 45º, and Ducroquet. RESULTS: A total of 1110 radiographs were evaluated. Female patients were prevalent in both groups (52% symptomatic, 58% asymptomatic). There were statistically significant differences between the groups in age (p<0.0001), weight (p = 0.002) and BMI (p = 0.006). The positive findings in the group with groin pain consisted of the presence of a bump on the femoral head in the anteroposterior view (p<0.0001) or in the Dunn 45º view (p = 0.008). The difference in the a angle in the anteroposterior, Dunn, Dunn 45º, and Ducroquet views for all of the cases studied was p,0.0001. The joint space measurement differed significantly between groups in the Lequesne view (p = 0.007). The Lequesne anteversion angle (&#961;) and the femoral offset measurement also differed significantly (p = 0.005 and p = 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the best views for diagnosing a femoroacetabular impingement are the anteroposterior pelvic orthostatic, the Dunn 45º, and the Ducroquet views. The following findings correlated with hip pain: a decrease in the femoral offset, an increase in the &#945; angle, an increase in the Lequesne &#961; angle, a decrease in the CE angle of Wiberg, a thinner articular space and the presence of a bump on the femoral head-neck transition

New insights into the pathogenesis of giant cell arteritis

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an inflammatory chronic disease occurring exclusively in elderly individuals. Until recently, the disease has been considered a unique disease resulting from the interaction in the walls of susceptible arteries, between an unknown infectious agents with local dendritic cells (DCs), activated CD4 T cells and effector macrophages. Recent evidence has shown that this view was too simplistic and has clarified many of the pathogenetic aspects of the disease. Many genetic studies recently published have identified different new genes, including cytokines, adhesion molecules and regulators of innate immunity, as crucial players in the development and progression of GCA. Recent evidence suggests that there is heterogeneity of histological lesions in GCA, that are correlated with different immunological Th9 and Th17 signature. The recent demonstration that Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antigen is present in the 64% of GCA-negative TAs and in the 73% of GCA-positive TAs could represent an important point of arrival in the search for a causative agent in the pathogenesis of a metameric disease such as GCA. In this context, cytokines such as IL-32 and IL-33 that act as a danger signal following tissue damage and infection are over-expressed in GCA arteries. Artery tertiary lymphoid organs, present in up to 50% of GCA-positive arteries, could represent the sites were primary immune responses and T- and B-cell autoimmune responses against viral antigens are organized. The recently demonstrated disturbed distribution of B cells in GCA could be also relevant in the pathogenesis of the disease, possibly contributing to the enhanced IL-6 response. Altogether, these evidences may clarify many pathogenetic aspect of the disease, also suggesting complexity greater than first imagined

Obesity Is a Marker of Reduction in QoL and Disability

The purpose of this paper is to verify the association between outcome measures of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and disability, BMI, gender, and age. Adult obese patients were clustered using HRQoL (IWQoL-Lite) and disability (WHO-DAS II) scores into three groups: mild, moderate, and high. One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test was used to evaluate differences in age and BMI between subjects from different clusters, contingency coefficient to test the relationship between cluster groups and gender. In total, 117 patients were enrolled: subjects with higher disability and HRQoL decrement were older and had higher BMI. Women were more likely to present moderate disability and reduction in HRQoL, while men more likely presented mild disability and HRQoL reduction. Our data further confirm the connection between disability and HRQoL, high BMI and older age. These data obtained with outcomes measures might better address rehabilitation programs