Study and development of UAV remote operations with flight-controller via air-link

This project focused on the study and development of remote unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations. The objective was to build a UAV and control its operations via an air-link system, while developing an online remote station for commanding the UAV from anywhere with an internet connection. Open-source components like the Pixhawk flight controller were utilized in building the UAV, while the air-link communication system was developed using Raspberry Pi and the MavLink protocol. Simultaneously, the project undertook the design and development of an online remote station using Django. This station provided a user-friendly interface, facilitating seamless interaction between the operator and the UAV. The remote station’s performance was validated through a series of rigorous tests involving both real and simulated vehicles. The results showed the station’s successful control of the UAV, thereby meeting almost all predefined project requirements. Challenges were encountered in relation to the UAV’s air-link range and maintaining consistent Internet connectivity, pointing the way for future enhancements. However, the project underlined the practicality and potential profitability of remote UAV operations. It has illuminated potential applications in various sectors like agriculture, and critical area surveillance. The work and findings from this endeavor have not only demonstrated the feasibility of remote UAV operations but also suggested areas of potential improvement, thereby setting the stage for future advancements in UAV technology

Multimorbidity, dementia and health care in older people:a population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how multimorbidity, dementia and increasing age combine to influence health outcomes or utilization. Our objective was to examine the joint associations between age, dementia and burden of morbidity with mortality and other clinical outcomes.METHODS: We did a retrospective population-based cohort study of all adults aged 65 years and older residing in Alberta, Canada, between 2002 and 2013. We used validated algorithms applied to administrative and laboratory data from the provincial health ministry to assess the presence/absence of dementia and 29 other morbidities, and their associations with mortality (our primary outcome), other clinical outcomes (emergency department visits, all-cause hospital admissions) and a proxy for loss of independent living (discharge to long-term care). Cox and Poisson models were adjusted for year-varying covariates. A 3-way interaction was modelled for dementia, the number of comorbidities, and age.RESULTS: There were 610 457 adults aged 65 years and older living in Alberta over the study period. Over median follow-up of 6.8 years, 153 125 (25.1%) participants died and 5569 (0.9%) were discharged to long-term care. The prevalence of people with at least 3 morbidities was 33.7% in 2003 and 50.2% in 2012. The prevalence of dementia rose from 6.2% in fiscal year 2003 to 8.3% in fiscal year 2012, representing a net increase of approximately 13 700 people. The likelihood of all 4 outcomes increased with age and with greater burden of morbidity; the presence of dementia further increased these risks. For example, the risk of mortality increased by 1.54 to 6.38 in the presence of dementia, depending on age and morbidity burden. The risk associated with dementia was attenuated by increasing comorbidity.INTERPRETATION: Older age, multimorbidity and dementia are all strongly correlated with adverse health outcomes as well as a proxy for loss of independent living. The increasing prevalences of dementia and multimorbidity over time suggest the need for coordinated national strategies aimed at mitigating the health challenges associated with the aging of the population.</p

Comorbidity as a driver of adverse outcomes in people with chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with poor outcomes, perhaps due to a high burden of comorbidity. Most studies of CKD populations focus on concordant comorbidities, which cause CKD (such as hypertension and diabetes) or often accompany CKD (such as heart failure or coronary disease). Less is known about the burden of mental health conditions and discordant conditions (those not concordant but still clinically relevant, like dementia or cancer). Here we did a retrospective population-based cohort study of 530,771 adults with CKD residing in Alberta, Canada between 2003 and 2011. Validated algorithms were applied to data from the provincial health ministry to assess the presence/absence of 29 chronic comorbidities. Linkage between comorbidity burden and adverse clinical outcomes (mortality, hospitalization or myocardial infarction) was examined over median follow-up of 48 months. Comorbidities were classified into three categories: concordant, mental health/chronic pain, and discordant. The median number of comorbidities was 1 (range 0-15) but a substantial proportion of participants had 3 and more, or 5 and more comorbidities (25 and 7%, respectively). Concordant comorbidities were associated with excess risk of hospitalization, but so were discordant comorbidities and mental health conditions. Thus, discordant comorbidities and mental health conditions as well as concordant comorbidities are important independent drivers of the adverse outcomes associated with CKD.</p

Electronic case report forms and electronic data capture within clinical trials and pharmacoepidemiology

Aims: Researchers in clinical and pharmacoepidemiology fields have adopted information technology (IT) and electronic data capture, but these remain underutilised despite the benefits. This review discusses electronic case report forms and electronic data capture, specifically within pharmacoepidemiology and clinical research.Methods: The review used PubMed and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers library (IEEE). Search terms used were agreed by the authors and documented. PubMed is medical and health based, whereas IEEE is technology based. The review focuses on electronic case report forms and electronic data capture, but considers briefly other relevant topics; consent, ethics, and security.Results: One thousand, one hundred and twenty six papers were found using the search terms. Manual filtering and reviewing of abstracts further condensed this number to 136 relevant manuscripts. The papers were further categorised; 17 containing study data, 40 containing observational data, 27 anecdotal data, 47 covering methodology or design of systems, 1 case study, 1 literature review, 2 feasibility studies, and 1 cost analysis.Conclusion: Electronic case report forms, electronic data capture, and IT in general, are viewed with enthusiasm and are seen as a cost effective means of improving research efficiency, educating participants, and improving trial recruitment, provided concerns about how data will be protected from misuse can be addressed. Clear operational guidelines and best practices are key for healthcare providers, and researchers adopting IT, and further work is needed on improving integration of new technologies with current systems. A robust method of evaluation for technical innovation is required

Clinical and medication profiles stratified by household income in patients referred for diabetes care

BACKGROUND: Low income individuals with diabetes are at particularly high risk for poor health outcomes. While specialized diabetes care may help reduce this risk, it is not currently known whether there are significant clinical differences across income groups at the time of referral. The objective of this study is to determine if the clinical profiles and medication use of patients referred for diabetes care differ across income quintiles. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a Canadian, urban, Diabetes Education Centre (DEC) database. Clinical information on the 4687 patients referred to the DEC from May 2000 – January 2002 was examined. These data were merged with 2001 Canadian census data on income. Potential differences in continuous clinical parameters across income quintiles were examined using regression models. Differences in medication use were examined using Chi square analyses. RESULTS: Multivariate regression analysis indicated that income was negatively associated with BMI (p < 0.0005) and age (p = 0.023) at time of referral. The highest income quintiles were found to have lower serum triglycerides (p = 0.011) and higher HDL-c (p = 0.008) at time of referral. No significant differences were found in HBA1C, LDL-c or duration of diabetes. The Chi square analysis of medication use revealed that despite no significant differences in HBA1C, the lowest income quintiles used more metformin (p = 0.001) and sulfonylureas (p < 0.0005) than the wealthy. Use of other therapies were similar across income groups, including lipid lowering medications. High income patients were more likely to be treated with diet alone (p < 0.0005). CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that low income patients present to diabetes clinic older, heavier and with a more atherogenic lipid profile than do high income patients. Overall medication use was higher among the lower income group suggesting that differences in clinical profiles are not the result of under-treatment, thus invoking lifestyle factors as potential contributors to these findings

Correction to:Methods for identifying 30 chronic conditions: application to administrative data

Following publication of the original manuscript [1], the authors noted several errors in Table 1. Details of the requested corrections are shown below

Generación de mapas para el control de emisores de productos de la combustión en núcleos urbanos mediante drones

This work was born with the intention of giving an alternative solution to those professionals exposed to polluting gases, especially those who have to do daily inspections in homes to check the proper combustion of boilers risking their own health. From this problem arises the idea of doing this review using drone technology, increasingly used and known, in order to generate a map for the control of emissions (carbon monoxide) without direct contact. The work includes the methodology used to date. The most suitable type of drone for this application is studied and mounted together with all the necessary hardware. Once assembled, we create the software and see how it works thanks to different tests and flight simulations. Finally, we study the current regulations, the results obtained and the possible improvements that we can add in order to increase the efficiency and safety of the measuring equipment

Behaviour of recycled asphalt pavements at low temperatures

This paper summarizes the results of a study conducted to evaluate the behaviour of recycled asphalt pavements with respect to low-temperature cracking. For this purpose, a recycled mix consisting of 45.2% reclaimed materials and 54.8% virgin materials as well as a virgin control mix were used in the research program. In the design of both mixes, their initial properties were kept as close as possible to each other to allow for a proper comparison between recycled and virgin asphalt pavements. Using mix properties that were determined experimentally in the laboratory, thermal stresses resulted from drop in temperature and the expected cracking temperatures were determined for both mixes. An experimental analysis based on laboratory tests that consider the pavement properties only as well as a more complete theoretical analysis based on a finite element computer program known as FETAB were included in this study. The program incorporates subgrade parameters, as well as pavement properties and thickness. Using these variables as inputs to the program, the expected performance of recycled and virgin asphalt pavements of various thicknesses and resting on different types of subgrade, with respect to low-temperature cracking, was studied. The results of the study indicated that recycled asphalt pavements would perform better than virgin asphalt pavements of similar initial properties. Key words: asphalt, finite element, low-temperature cracking, reclaimed, recycled, thermal stresses. </jats:p