Abstract: Methods are provided of optimizing a tree-structured distributed-index with tree-nodes including data-elements and parent-child relations between tree-nodes. The distributed-index is stored in distributed system including computer-nodes each storing tree-nodes and a tree-map structurally describing the distributed-index. The methods include: inspecting the tree-map in first computer-node to determine whether the distributed-index is imbalanced due to a first tree-node in first computer-node and, in said case: notifying to other computer-nodes that first tree-node is replicable, to provoke that any request from other computer-nodes of inserting a data-element in first-tree-node includes inserting the data-element in corresponding child-node of first-tree-node; and verifying whether the other computer-nodes have been notified and, in said case, replicating data-elements stored in first tree-node into children-nodes thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electro-chemical sensor and coating method, production method and corresponding uses. The coating method of an electro-chemical sensor comprises the following steps: coating a carbon-rich substrate, with a carbon content greater than or equal to 0 wt. % in relation to the total weight of the substrate, and with an organic polymer; and applying a cold plasma treatment to said coating. This method permits the production of electro-chemical sensors with a carbon-rich substrate, with a carbon content greater or equal to 50 wt. % in relation to the total weight of the substrate, and a modified organic polymer coating. These new sensors are suitable for the detection of, inter alia, dopamine, glucose, uric acid and ascorbic acid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to in vitro methods for determining the fitness of a subject based on the determination of the expression levels of different genes. The invention also provides an in vitro method for selecting a subject as having a fitness level suitable to participate in an endurance sport, for monitoring the response to training of a subject during an endurance exercise training and for selecting a personalized training program aimed at improving fitness of a subject, based on the determination of the expression levels of said genes, as well as a kit comprising reagents for determining said expression levels and the use thereof, a computer program and a computer-implemented method.

Abstract: The method comprises storing a set of images captured of the anterior chamber of various eyes, and using a processor for: a) processing some of said stored images by implementing an homogenization process that adjusts an horizontal and a vertical spatial resolution of each image of the set to be the same, and a centering and aligning process that computes statistical properties of the images, and uses said computed statistical properties to compute a centroid and a covariance matrix of each image; b) performing pair-wise distance measures between images of said processed images providing a pair-wise distance matrix; c) analyzing said pair-wise distance matrix by executing a nonlinear dimensionality reduction algorithm that assigns a point in an n-dimensional space associated to each analyzed image; and d) outputting the results of said analysis in a visual way enabling being usable to detect if said eyes suffer from glaucoma.

Abstract: A layered structure for pumping fluid by electroosmotic transport includes a first layer, wherein the first layer is made from an ion perm selective material having openings therein that permit the fluid to flow therethrough, and wherein the openings in the first layer that permit the fluid to flow therethrough create a porosity of less than 10%; and a second layer, wherein the second layer is an electroosmotic layer. The layered structure has a net fluid flow direction that extends through the first layer and the second layer, wherein the layered structure has a region that permits fluid to flow in a direction that is non-parallel to a net fluid flow direction, and wherein the region is located between the first layer and the surface of the second layer that is furthest from the first layer. An electroosmodialysis apparatus may also be provided that includes two layered structures.

Abstract: Computer systems are provided for distributed storage of data structured as forests of balanced trees of nodes, each node including data-elements and the forests having levels. The nodes have first end nodes at first side of the forest, second end nodes at second side of the forest, and intermediate nodes between first and second end nodes. The computer systems have memories to store at least the first and second end nodes; connectors for implementing connections with storage systems storing intermediate nodes, so that exchange of nodes with the storage systems is performed through said connections; and processors to update the nodes stored in the memories according to updating criteria, and to exchange nodes with the storage systems through the connections according to exchange criteria. Storage systems are also provided, along with methods and computer programs that are performable by the computer systems.

Abstract: Hardware acceleration of task dependency management in parallel computing, wherein solutions are proposed for hardware-based dependency management to support nested tasks, resolve system deadlocks as a result of memory full conditions in the dedicated hardware memory and synergetic operation of software runtime and hardware acceleration to solve otherwise unsolvable deadlocks when nested tasks are processed. Buffered asynchronous communication of larger data exchange are introduced, requiring less support from multi-core processor elements as opposed to standard access through the multi-core processor elements. A hardware acceleration processor may be implemented in the same silicon die as the multi-core processor for achieving gains in performance, fabrication cost reduction and energy consumption saving during operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method with biofeedback for training muscles of the pelvic floor, applicable to the treatment of urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence and prolapse of pelvic organs, using a portable electronic device for capturing, by means of sensors, EMG signals relating to abdominal activity and the area to be treated during muscle exercises, said device providing results visually and/or acoustically, the method comprising: placing a vaginal or rectal sensor (10) and two sensors (11) in the lower abdominal area, performing exercises working the muscles of the pelvic floor, providing evaluation of the exercises performed and storing results. The user places the sensors herself, the device evaluating the correct placement of the sensors indicating to the user that the suitable position has been reached through said acoustic and/or visual means, and performing a step prior to the exercises for acquiring muscle tone.

Abstract: The invention relates to the design of an air cooled absorption machine. Said machine has a hollow design via which air can circulate inside same by forced convention having a parallelepiped form. The air enters by suction via the sides and leaves via the upper face of the machine, where the ventilator is located. The machine comprises falling-film heat exchangers with improved designs for heat and mass transfer.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods are disclosed for accessing data stored in a database system comprising a controller configured in such a way that data is stored with relationships between data-elements of the data, and with enforcement of data integrity. The method comprises receiving, by the controller, a call by first user to a first access-procedure for accessing a first data-element, the first access-procedure including a call to second access-procedure for accessing a second data-element based on a relationship between the first and second data-elements; performing, by the controller, the call to the first access-procedure; verifying, by the controller, whether the first user is authorized to access the second data-element according to access authorization data; performing, by the controller, the call to the second access-procedure; and returning, by the controller, a result of the access to the second data-element including an indicator of authorized access to the second data-element.

Abstract: The floating structure (20) for supporting a marine wind turbine comprises a tower (21), a float (23), and a transition element (22) between the tower (21) and the float (23). The tower (21) has a tower tubular wall (31) having a tower axisymmetric outer surface about a central axis (5) defined by a tower generatrix, the float (23) has a float tubular wall (33) and a float lower end closing wall (34), the float tubular wall (33) has a float axisymmetric outer surface about the central axis (5) defined by a float generatrix, and the transition tubular wall (32) has a transition axisymmetric outer surface about the central axis (5) defined by a curved concave transition generatrix which is tangent to the tower generatrix. The transition axisymmetric outer surface of the transition element (22) has a transition upper diameter equal than a tower lower diameter (D1) and a transition lower diameter equal than a float upper diameter (D2).

Abstract: A layered structure for pumping fluid by electroosmotic transport includes a first layer, wherein the first layer is made from an ion perm selective material having openings therein that permit the fluid to flow therethrough, and wherein the openings in the first layer that permit the fluid to flow therethrough create a porosity of less than 10%; and a second layer, wherein the second layer is an electroosmotic layer. The layered structure has a net fluid flow direction that extends through the first layer and the second layer, wherein the layered structure has a region that permits fluid to flow in a direction that is non-parallel to a net fluid flow direction, and wherein the region is located between the first layer and the surface of the second layer that is furthest from the first layer. An electroosmodialysis apparatus may also be provided that includes two layered structures.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices used to recognize the extent and deepness of infarcted tissue, such as chronic myocardial infarcted tissue. This applies to the heart tissue, but can also be used to assess cicatricial processes in other organs. Examples include injecting pulses of alternating current at a broadband of frequencies while measuring the voltage signal continuously (at a very high sampling rate) to obtain the electrical impedance (Z(f,t)) during the entire cardiac cycle. The impedance measurements may be taken using an intracavitary electrocatheter.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device cell comprising a first light transmissive electrical contact, an active region, a second light transmissive electrical contact, and a layered structure enclosing the active region, the layered structure being formed of two parts, a first part underlying the first light transmissive electrical contact and a second part overlying the second electrical contact and wherein the constants of the layers in these layered structures are interdependent such that light is localized within the active region.

Abstract: A device for simulating an endoscopic operation via natural orifice, including a physical model of a biological organ including main and inlet modules detachable from each other. The main module may define a main body of the organ with a cavity and the inlet module may define an inlet opening to the cavity of the main module corresponding to the inlet of the biological organ. The cavity of the main module is accessible through the inlet module by an endoscopic tool to actuate in the cavity of the main module. The main module may be configured in such a way that, in use, one or more simulation modules are attachable with the main module to simulate one or more events representative of the actuation of the endoscopic tool in the cavity of the main module.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for estimating the arterial pulse transit time (PTT) in different arterial sections from measurements carried out using sensors disposed only in distal zones of the two upper extremities or the two lower extremities. Firstly, the arrival of the pulse wave at a zone of the extremities next to the torso is detected in the impedance plethysmograph (IPG) measured between the two upper extremities or between the two lower extremities, which reflects changes in zones closest to the zone where the measuring electrodes are disposed. Secondly, another time reference is obtained from a pulse signal measured in a distal zone using traditional methods. When the first pulse signal is the IPG between the two upper extremities, the second pulse signal can be the IPG between the two lower extremities. The PTT is estimated from the time interval measured between the respective arrival instants of the pulse wave in the first and in the second signal.

Abstract: A control method for gas chemosensors having a sensitive layer, which comprises the steps of: a) measuring the resistivity of the sensitive layer at a particular moment, the sensitive layer being at a particular temperature; b) establishing a temperature profile to be applied to the sensitive layer, based on the resistivity value measured; c) obtaining the average temperature value across the temperature profiles applied to the sensitive layer during a time interval and comparing the average temperature with stored values to determine changes in the gas concentration. The invention also relates to a gas detection system comprising a gas chemosensor connected to control means connected to heating means associated with the sensitive layer, defining a control loop with sigma-delta topology.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is proposed to estimate the aortic pulse transit time (PTT) from only time intervals measured between fiducial points of the longitudinal balistocardiogram (BCG) without the need to apply any sensor to the area where the arrival of the arterial pulse waveform is to be detected. From the longitudinal BCG of a subject, which can be obtained by means of sensors integrated in a single element with which the subject's body comes into contact, two fiducial points of the BCG waveform are detected in which one of the points is associated with the arrival of the arterial pulse wave to a zone proximal to the heart and the other is associated with the arrival of said arterial pulse wave to a distal zone, respectively. From the time interval between the two points, an estimate of the aortic (carotid-femoral) PTT is provided either directly or through a process of previous calibration.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining information on a cardiovascular system based exclusively on measurements between two limbs and effected with a pair of distal electrodes on each limb. The measurement is made by causing an alternating current to flow between one electrode of each limb and measuring the potential difference between the other two electrodes, one also on each limb. This potential difference has a low frequency component which is an electrocardiogram (ECG) and another component having a frequency of the injected alternating current and from which an impedance plethysmogram (IPG) is extracted. The cardiovascular information is determined by measuring the time interval between any predefined characteristic element of the ECG and IPG.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for separating liquid from the same liquid containing deformable particles without external sources of energy. The device includes: at least one transport channel (1) using various fluid-hydrodynamic principles in order to increase the amount of separated/obtained fluid; and at least one separating area (2) which diverts part of the fluid circulating through the transport channel towards at least one collection channel (3) or reaction chamber. The separating area (2) can include at least one array of pillars, the configuration of which maximizes the amount of fluid extracted at once. The depth and width of the collection channel (3) are adaptable according to the requirements of the test to be implemented. A filter is provided for separating plasma from a drop of blood in a highly efficient manner, which can be used in point-of-care testing systems.