Changes in needle maneuver space and optimal insertion site for midline neuraxial puncture with progressive age: An analysis in computed tomography scans

Introduction: We systematically describe the morphology and accessibility of interspinous spaces across age groups of patients. Our primary goal was to objectively estimate if the maneuver space for a virtual spinal needle changes with age. Our secondary goal was to estimate if the optimal site and angle for midline neuraxial puncture change...

An investigation into the carbon and material footprint of the Dutch consumption of pharmaceuticals

This thesis explores the relatively large contribution of the product category ‘chemicals n.e.c.’ (chemicals not elsewhere classified) to the Dutch healthcare sector’s carbon and material footprint observed in previous studies. For this, an input-output study using SNAC-EXIOBASE data was performed. SNAC-EXIOBASE uses national statistics for the...

Freedom in creating families: A design speculation about the influences of technology on our reproductive futures and families in 2050

Technologies related to reproduction and fertility follow each other in a rapid tempo as we stand at the start of the biotechnological revolution. How could these technologies which are able to radically alter our evolution alter our families and lives? Big questions with no direct answer. <br/><br/>Within this project speculation and...

Single-Pixel Thermopile Infrared Sensing for People Counting

People-counting data can be used in building-control systems to improve comfort and in space management applications to optimize building space. In this work, we consider a combi-sensor with a single-pixel thermopile and passive infrared sensor for people counting. We first develop a thermopile signal model for object temperature measurements...

Evolved Neuromorphic Control for High Speed Divergence-Based Landings of MAVs

Flying insects are capable of vision-based navigation in cluttered environments, reliably avoiding obstacles through fast and agile maneuvers, while being very efficient in the processing of visual stimuli. Meanwhile, autonomous micro air vehicles still lag far behind their biological counterparts, displaying inferior performance at a much...

Single-Pixel Thermopile Sensors for people counting applications

People counting data in offices is used in many applications like HVAC system control and space management to increase comfort, decrease energy consumption and optimise space utilisation. In contrast to past approaches using imaging modalities that tend to be either expensive or intrusive, we consider single-pixel thermopile sensors for people...

Evolved Neuromorphic Control for High Speed Divergence-based Landings of MAVs

Flying insects are capable of autonomous vision-based navigation in cluttered environments, reliably avoiding objects through fast and agile manoeuvres. Meanwhile, insect-scale micro air vehicles still lag far behind their biological counterparts, displaying inferior performance at a fraction of the energy efficiency. In light of this, it is in...

Sensor commissioning detection in single-pixel thermopile sensing systems

We consider the problem of detecting sensor commissioning in the form of determining the sensor layout. We address this problem for single-pixel thermopile sensors, located at the ceiling, that provide remote temperature measurements for people counting applications and HVAC controls. We employ a random forest classifier to determine the...

An empirical study into how cyber security professionals deal with uncertainty in information security risk assessments: Understanding perceptual aspects and judgment operations

The information security (IS) risk assessment process is an essential part to organisation's their protection of digital assets. However, the fast changing IS environment causes for limited knowledge of eventualities, dependencies and values of systems and phenomena. Consequently, the IS risk assessment process is depending on the judgment of...

Mapping the Sandy Beach Evolution Around Seaports at the Scale of the African Continent

In Africa, several new seaport developments are being considered. In sedimentary environments, such port developments can have adverse impacts on the evolution of adjacent coastlines. To learn from past port engineering practice, we created a unique database containing the coastline evolution and characteristics of 130 existing African seaports....

Erratum to: The State of the World’s Beaches (Scientific Reports, (2018), 8, 1, (6641), 10.1038/s41598-018-24630-6)

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.

The State of the World’s Beaches

Coastal zones constitute one of the most heavily populated and developed land zones in the world. Despite the utility and economic benefits that coasts provide, there is no reliable global-scale assessment of historical shoreline change trends. Here, via the use of freely available optical satellite images captured since 1984, in conjunction...

On the accuracy of automated shoreline detection derived from satellite imagery: A case study of the Sand Motor mega-scale nourishment

Measured trends and variability in shoreline position are used by coastal managers, scientists and engineers to understand and monitor coastal systems. This paper presents a new and generic method for automated shoreline detection from the largely unexplored collection of publicly available satellite imagery. The position of the obtained...

Smart sensors and communication using IoT in supermarkets: Shelf monitor system

This thesis tries to find a solution for the problem of managing and monitoring the banana shelf in a supermarket using IoT.<br/>The research focuses on using a wireless sensor that detects some features of the banana shelf while being non-intrusive.<br/>The three main features that are examined of the shelf are the quality and quantity of the...

Accuracy assessment of coastline dynamics based on satellite images: Application to the Holland coast

Long term coastline monitoring derived from satellite imagery

Optimal point of insertion and needle angle in neuraxial blockade using a midline approach: A study in Computed Tomography scans of adult patients

Background and Objectives Neuraxial blockade using a midline approach can be challenging. Part of this challenge lies in finding the optimal approach of the needle to its target. The present study aimed at finding (1) the optimal point of insertion of the needle between the tips of 2 adjacent spinous processes and (2) the optimal angle...

GC mattress construction tests, testing an execution method for freespan remediation

This reports gives insight in the results of the exerpiments done with Ground Condolidators. This report will focus on the tests that evaluate the proposed execution method. In this execution method, the Ground Condolidators will be placed in batches (with help of a clamshell) on the bed to create a mattress. This mattress will slow down the...