Family history and cancer risk study (FOREST): A clinical trial assessing electronic patient-directed family history input for identifying patients at risk of hereditary cancer.

Background: Hereditary cancer syndromes cause a high lifetime risk of early, aggressive cancers. Early recognition of individuals at risk can allow risk-reducing interventions that improve morbidity and mortality. Family health history applications that gather data directly from patients could alleviate barriers to risk assessment in the clinical appointment, such as lack of provider knowledge of genetics guidelines and limited time in the clinical appointment.

Vertical graphene nanowalls supported hybrid WC/WO composite material as an efficient non-noble metal electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution.

Research for the development of noble metal-free electrodes for hydrogen evolution has blossomed in recent years. Transition metal carbides compounds, such as WC, have been considered as a promising alternative to replace Pt-family metals as electrocatalysts towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Moreover, hybridization of TMCs with graphene nanostructures has emerged as a reliable strategy for the preparation of compounds with high surface to volume ratio and abundant active sites.

Predicting the canopy conductance to water vapor of grapevines using a biophysical model in a hot and arid climate.

Canopy conductance is a crucial factor in modelling plant transpiration and is highly responsive to water stress. The objective of this study is to develop a straightforward method for estimating canopy conductance (g) in grapevines. To predict g, this study combines stomatal conductance to water vapor (g) measurements from grapevine leaves, scaled to represent the canopy size by the leaf area index (LAI), with atmospheric variables, such as net solar radiation (R) and air vapor pressure deficit (VPD).

Advancements in Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition for Producing Vertical Graphene Nanowalls.

In recent years, vertical graphene nanowalls (VGNWs) have gained significant attention due to their exceptional properties, including their high specific surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, scalability, and compatibility with transition metal compounds. These attributes position VGNWs as a compelling choice for various applications, such as energy storage, catalysis, and sensing, driving interest in their integration into next-generation commercial graphene-based devices. Among the diverse graphene synthesis methods, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) stands out for its ability to create large-scale graphene films and VGNWs on diverse substrates.

Conducting inclusive research in genetics for transgender, gender-diverse, and sex-diverse individuals: Case analyses and recommendations from a clinical genomics study.

A person's phenotypic sex (i.e., endogenous expression of primary, secondary, and endocrinological sex characteristics) can impact crucial aspects of genetic assessment and resulting clinical care recommendations.

Long-term effects on the agroecosystem of using reclaimed water on commercial crops.

The use of reclaimed water for crop irrigation has been proposed as a suitable alternative for farmers in the coastal areas of Mediterranean countries, which suffer from greater water scarcity. In this work we study the impact on the water-soil-plant continuum of using reclaimed water for commercial crops irrigated over a long period, as well as the human risks associated with consuming the vegetables produced. Forty-four CECs were identified in the reclaimed water used for crop irrigation.

Fate, modeling, and human health risk of organic contaminants present in tomato plants irrigated with reclaimed water under real-world field conditions.

Using reclaimed water to irrigate crops can be an important route for organic contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) to be introduced into agricultural production and thus find their way into the food chain. This work aims to establish accumulation models for the different parts of a crop (fruit/leaves/roots) and the soil of some of the most commonly detected CECs in reclaimed water, through field trials in greenhouses. For this, tomato plants were permanently irrigated under realistic agricultural conditions with a mixture of the selected compounds at approx.

Exploring Key Physiological System Profiles at Rest and the Association with Depressive Symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Depression is often associated with dysfunction in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and autonomic nervous system (ANS). Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may experience physiological dysregulation and psychological comorbidities; however, the extent to which the interactions between these systems predict internalizing symptoms in ASD has not been investigated. The study examined interactions with the HPA axis and ANS in 10-13-year-old children with ASD (n = 41) and typical development (TD; n = 46).

Homogeneous FeO coatings on carbon nanotube structures for supercapacitors.

The combination of carbon nanotubes with transition metal oxides can exhibit complementary charge storage properties for use as electrode materials for next generation energy storage devices. One of the biggest challenges so far is to synthesize homogeneous oxide coatings on carbon nanotube structures preserving their integrity. Here we present the formation of conformal coatings of FeO on vertically aligned carbon nanotubes obtained by atomic layer deposition.

Super-Capacitive Performance of Manganese Dioxide/Graphene Nano-Walls Electrodes Deposited on Stainless Steel Current Collectors.

Graphene nano-walls (GNWs) are promising materials that can be used as an electrode in electrochemical devices. We have grown GNWs by inductively-coupled plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition on stainless steel (AISI304) substrate. In order to enhance the super-capacitive properties of the electrodes, we have deposited a thin layer of MnO₂ by electrodeposition method.

Olive-Fruit Mass and Size Estimation Using Image Analysis and Feature Modeling.

This paper presents a new methodology for the estimation of olive-fruit mass and size, characterized by its major and minor axis length, by using image analysis techniques. First, different sets of olives from the varieties Picual and Arbequina were photographed in the laboratory. An original algorithm based on mathematical morphology and statistical thresholding was developed for segmenting the acquired images.

Laser-driven coating of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes with manganese oxide from metal organic precursors for energy storage.

Carbon nanotubes-transition metal oxide systems are intensively studied due to their excellent properties for electrochemical applications. In this work, an innovative procedure is developed for the synthesis of vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) coated with transition metal oxide nanostructures. VACNTs are grown by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and coated with a manganese-based metal organic precursor (MOP) film based on manganese acetate solution.

Hardware/Software Data Acquisition System for Real Time Cell Temperature Monitoring in Air-Cooled Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells.

This work presents a hardware/software data acquisition system developed for monitoring the temperature in real time of the cells in Air-Cooled Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (AC-PEFC). These fuel cells are of great interest because they can carry out, in a single operation, the processes of oxidation and refrigeration. This allows reduction of weight, volume, cost and complexity of the control system in the AC-PEFC.

Integration of Sensors, Controllers and Instruments Using a Novel OPC Architecture.

The interconnection between sensors, controllers and instruments through a communication network plays a vital role in the performance and effectiveness of a control system. Since its inception in the 90s, the Object Linking and Embedding for Process Control (OPC) protocol has provided open connectivity for monitoring and automation systems. It has been widely used in several environments such as industrial facilities, building and energy automation, engineering education and many others.

Bowel Sounds Are Not Associated With Flatus, Bowel Movement, or Tolerance of Oral Intake in Patients After Major Abdominal Surgery.

Background: Auscultation for bowel sounds has been advocated by some clinicians as a method to determine the resolution of postoperative ileus.

Objective: Our primary aim was to prospectively evaluate the relationships between bowel sounds and the ability to tolerate oral intake in patients after major abdominal surgery. Secondarily we aimed to evaluate relationships among bowel sounds, flatus and bowel movement, and oral intake.

Easy Handling of Sensors and Actuators over TCP/IP Networks by Open Source Hardware/Software.

There are several specific solutions for accessing sensors and actuators present in any process or system through a TCP/IP network, either local or a wide area type like the Internet. The usage of sensors and actuators of different nature and diverse interfaces (SPI, I2C, analogue, etc.) makes access to them from a network in a homogeneous and secure way more complex.

Novel Networked Remote Laboratory Architecture for Open Connectivity Based on PLC-OPC-LabVIEW-EJS Integration. Application in Remote Fuzzy Control and Sensors Data Acquisition.

In this paper the design and implementation of a network for integrating Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), the Object-Linking and Embedding for Process Control protocol (OPC) and the open-source Easy Java Simulations (EJS) package is presented. A LabVIEW interface and the Java-Internet-LabVIEW (JIL) server complete the scheme for data exchange. This configuration allows the user to remotely interact with the PLC.

A New, Scalable and Low Cost Multi-Channel Monitoring System for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells.

In this work a new, scalable and low cost multi-channel monitoring system for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (PEFCs) has been designed, constructed and experimentally validated. This developed monitoring system performs non-intrusive voltage measurement of each individual cell of a PEFC stack and it is scalable, in the sense that it is capable to carry out measurements in stacks from 1 to 120 cells (from watts to kilowatts). The developed system comprises two main subsystems: hardware devoted to data acquisition (DAQ) and software devoted to real-time monitoring.

On the conditions of magma mixing and its bearing on andesite production in the crust.

Mixing between magmas is thought to affect a variety of processes, from the growth of continental crust to the triggering of volcanic eruptions, but its thermophysical viability remains unclear. Here, by using high-pressure mixing experiments and thermal calculations, we show that hybridization during single-intrusive events requires injection of high proportions of the replenishing magma during short periods, producing magmas with 55-58 wt% SiO2 when the mafic end-member is basaltic. High strain rates and gas-rich conditions may produce more felsic hybrids.

Temperature measurement in PV facilities on a per-panel scale.

This paper presents the design, construction and testing of an instrumentation system for temperature measurement in PV facilities on a per-panel scale (i.e., one or more temperature measurements per panel).

Chapter 6--motor planning of locomotor adaptations on the basis of vision: the role of the posterior parietal cortex.

In this chapter, we consider the contribution of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) to obstacle avoidance behavior and we define a model that identifies the major planning processes that are required for this task. A key aspect of this planning process is the need to integrate information concerning the obstacle, obtained from vision, together with an estimation of body and limb state. We suggest that the PPC makes a major contribution to this process during visually guided locomotion.

Neurons in area 5 of the posterior parietal cortex in the cat contribute to interlimb coordination during visually guided locomotion: a role in working memory.

We tested the hypothesis that area 5 of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) contributes to interlimb coordination in locomotor tasks requiring visual guidance by recording neuronal activity in this area in three cats in two locomotor paradigms. In the first paradigm, cats were required to step over obstacles attached to a moving treadmill belt. We recorded 47 neurons that discharged in relationship to the hindlimbs.

A contribution of area 5 of the posterior parietal cortex to the planning of visually guided locomotion: limb-specific and limb-independent effects.

We tested the hypothesis that area 5 of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) contributes to the planning of visually guided gait modifications. We recorded 121 neurons from the PPC of two cats during a task in which cats needed to process visual input to step over obstacles attached to a moving treadmill belt. During unobstructed locomotion, 64/121 (53%) of cells showed rhythmic activity.

Presence of As in the fluvial network due to AMD processes in the Riotinto mining area (SW Spain): a fuzzy logic qualitative model.

The Tinto River crosses the mining area of Riotinto (Iberian Pyrite Belt, SW Spain), where it receives the highest contribution of contaminants (AMD). In this paper we apply a fuzzy computer tool, PreFuRGe, which allows qualitative interpretation of the data recorded in a database relating to the chemistry of water. Specifically, we aim to find information not likely to be detected by means of classical statistical techniques, and which can help in characterizing and interpreting the behavior of arsenic in a complex system.