Characterization of MEMS accelerometer self-noise by means of PSD and Allan Variance analysis
In this paper, we have studied the sources of error of a low-cost 3-axis MEMS accelerometer by means of Power Spectral Density and Allan Variance techniques. These techniques were applied to the signals acquired from ten identical devices to characterize the variability of the sensor produced by the same manufacturer. Our analysis showed as identically produced accelerometer have somehow variable behavior in particular at low frequency. It is therefore of paramount importance before their use in Inertial Navigation or Earthquakes Monitoring System, a complete characterization of each single sensors.
Everolimus as first line therapy for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: current knowledge and future perspectives
urpose Everolimus has been shown to be effective for advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (pNETs), but its positioning in the therapeutic algorithm for pNETs is matter of debate. Methods With the aim to shed light on this point, we performed an up-to-date critical review taking into account the results of both retrospective and prospective published studies, and the recommendations of international guidelines. In addition, we performed an extensive search on the Clinical Trial Registries databases worldwide, to gather information on the ongoing clinical trials related to this specific topic. Results We identified eight retrospective published studies, two prospective published studies…
MEMS-Based System for Structural Health Monitoring and Earthquake Observation in Sicily
The implementation of systems for Structural Health Monitoring and Earthquake Observation is increasing in the last years owing to the development of new technologies which enable low-cost and small-size devices to be installed in large-scale or high-density applications. This paper introduces the implementation of monitoring systems, either for structural health assessment and earthquake observation. The applications are based in Sicily (Italy), a region characterized by a high seismic hazard and where the buildings are often old and vulnerable. The system relies on a MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) sensor, a 3-axial accelerometer which has been specifically selected in order to en…
Low-cost remotely operated underwater and unmanned aerial vehicles: New technologies for archaeo-geophysics
In this paper we present a device for magnetic survey devoted in particular for archaeological purposes. The device is able to perform accurate measurements of the total magnetic field, it is a flexible device, programmable by the users to be suitable for any specific need. The device relies upon microcontroller, a digital three axes Fluxgate magnetometer, a GPS, and a Real Time Clock (RTC) module. The device is compact and lightweight to be assembled on aerial and marine drones. Recently, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) gained great potential for archaeo-geophysics because of their versatility and low cost, therefore the magnetometer represents a very us…
Mycophenolate mofetil plus low-dose calcineurin inhibitor for renal dysfunction in liver transplant: A 24-month controlled clinical trial
New ultraportable data logger to perform magnetic surveys
This article presents the realization of a device for magnetic surveys It is a flexible, user-reprogramable, lightweight, and compact tool that can be easily integrated with aerial and marine drones. The device can accurately measure the local magnetic anomalies. It is based on the Atmega 2560 microcontroller and a digital 3-axis fluxgate magnetometer.
Independent Impact of RV Involvement on In-Hospital Outcome of Patients With Takotsubo Syndrome
Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute clinical condition characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction and reversible heart failure, the pathogenetic mechanism of which remains unclear. Although left ventricular apical ballooning is the most frequent morphological pattern, other variant forms have been described (1). In addition, right ventricular involvement (RVi), characterized by the presence of right ventricular (RV) apical dysfunction (biventricular ballooning), has been documented using echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. However, the prevalence, clinical profile, and in-hospital course of TTS patients with RVi are still not well defined. To date, although…
Reti sismiche urbane per monitoraggio sismico monitoraggio strutturale ed allerta precoce
In questa tesi, viene effettuato un analisi preliminare in cui si mette in evidenza come l'italia sia un paese a rischio sismico, poichè possiede molti centri storici con strutture non progettate per eventi sismici di media entità. Si è prestato molta attenzione su quante vite umane vengono salvate dopo un terremoto catastrofico. L'analisi fa emergere come, è importante essere tempestivi nell'estrarre le persone rimaste sotto le macerie, poichè la percentuale di persone estratte vive si mantiene alta solo entro le 48 ore dall'evento. Dopo 96 ore questa percentule si attesta a 0. In eventi passati spesso i soccorsi sono arrivati con giorni di ritardo nelle zone più devastate. L'obbiettivo ch…
Brief communication: Vehicle routing problem and UAV application in the post-earthquake scenario
Abstract. In this paper we simulate a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle's (UAV) recognition after a possible case of diffuse damage after a seismic event in the town of Acireale (Sicily, Italy). Given a set of sites (84 relevant buildings) and the range of the UAV, we are able to find the number of vehicles to employ and the shortest survey path. The problem of finding the shortest survey path is an operational research problem called Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) whose solution is known to be computationally time-consuming. We used the Simulated Annealing (SA) heuristic that is able to provide stable solutions in relatively short computing time. We also examined the distribution of the cost of the s…
Low-cost underwater navigation systems by multi-pressure measurements and AHRS data
This paper deals with accurate navigation for underwater remotely operated vehicles. A feasibility study for a multi-pressure device to be mounted on an ROV is presented. The device can provide accurate estimates of a ROV orientation and angular speed. It is based on the well-known total pressure principle, also used in a Pitot tube, and allows reconstruction of static and dynamic pressures, which in turn provide good estimates of the ROV's orientation and rotational speed, respectively. An appealing feature of the proposed device is its ability to provide accurate estimates even for low-speed movements.
Weaning from mechanical ventilation in intensive care units across 50 countries (WEAN SAFE)
Background: Current management practices and outcomes in weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation are poorly understood. We aimed to describe the epidemiology, management, timings, risk for failure, and outcomes of weaning in patients requiring at least 2 days of invasive mechanical ventilation. Methods: WEAN SAFE was an international, multicentre, prospective, observational cohort study done in 481 intensive care units in 50 countries. Eligible participants were older than 16 years, admitted to a participating intensive care unit, and receiving mechanical ventilation for 2 calendar days or longer. We defined weaning initiation as the first attempt to separate a patient from the ventila…
The treatment of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia in adults: an update
Treatment of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia (HH) is challenging due to the rarity of this condition and the difficulty of differential diagnosis. The aim of this article is to give an overview of the recent literature on the management of adult HH. A search for reviews, original articles, original case reports between 1995 and 2016 in PubMed using the following keywords: hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia, insulinoma, nesidioblastosis, gastric bypass, autoimmune hypoglycaemia, hyperinsulinism, treatment was performed. One hundred and forty articles were selected and analysed focusing on the most recent treatments of HH. New approaches to treatment of HH are available including mini-invasive sur…
A Lightweight Prototype of a Magnetometric System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Detection of the Earth’s magnetic field anomalies is the basis of many types of studies in the field of earth sciences and archaeology. These surveys require different ways to carry out the measures but they have in common that they can be very tiring or expensive. There are now several lightweight commercially available magnetic sensors that allow light-UAVs to be equipped to perform airborne measurements for a wide range of scenarios. In this work, the realization and functioning of an airborne magnetometer prototype were presented and discussed. Tests and measures for the validation of the experimental setup for some applications were reported. The flight sessions, appropriately programm…
A Low Cost Customizable Micro-ROV for Environmental Research - Applications, Advances and Challenges
Summary Several shallow submarines areas are characterized by considerable releases of hydrocarbon gases, which, during earthquakes or volcanic activity, may suddenly and violently occur. In some instances, changes in chemical and physical properties of gas emissions, which are generated by geothermal systems connected to the volcanoes’ plumbing system, are important precursors of volcanic activity and useful indices for the study of the geothermal field. Furthermore, some superficial structures such faults, landslide slopes or archaeological relics should be studied with such a high detail that geophysical and bathymetric surveys are unable to provide. In response to the needs increasingly…
Drug Prescription and Delirium in Older Inpatients: Results From the Nationwide Multicenter Italian Delirium Day 2015-2016
Objective This study aimed to evaluate the association between polypharmacy and delirium, the association of specific drug categories with delirium, and the differences in drug-delirium association between medical and surgical units and according to dementia diagnosis. Methods Data were collected during 2 waves of Delirium Day, a multicenter delirium prevalence study including patients (aged 65 years or older) admitted to acute and long-term care wards in Italy (2015-2016); in this study, only patients enrolled in acute hospital wards were selected (n = 4,133). Delirium was assessed according to score on the 4 "A's" Test. Prescriptions were classified by main drug categories; polypharmacy w…
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition)
Seuls les 100 premiers auteurs dont les auteurs INRA ont été entrés dans la notice. La liste complète des auteurs et de leurs affiliations est accessible sur la publication.; International audience; In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues…
Two yr mycophenolate mofetil plus low-dose calcineurin inhibitor for renal dysfunction after liver transplant
We assessed the efficacy and outcome of low through level of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) and introducing mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in liver transplant (LT) patients with CNI-related renal dysfunction. Thirty LT patients were converted to combined therapy and compared with 30 patients used as a contemporary control group receiving CNI only. The two groups were matched for sex, age, months after LT, immunosuppressive treatment, creatinine level, presence of diabetes and calculated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) via Cockroft-Gault method. After two years, in the MMF serum creatinine decreased from 1.65 mg/dL (range 1.33-3.5) to 1.4 mg/dL (range 0.9-4.7) (p = 0.002) and GFR increased from …
Centenarians' offspring as a model of healthy aging: a reappraisal of the data on Italian subjects and a comprehensive overview.
Within the scenario of an increasing life expectancy worldwide it is mandatory to identify determinants of healthy aging. Centenarian offspring (CO) is one of the most informative model to identify trajectories of healthy aging and their determinants (genetic and environmental), being representative of elderly in their 70th whose lifestyle can be still modified to attain a better health. This study is the first comprehensive investigation of the health status of 267 CO (mean age: 70.2 years) and adopts the innovative approach of comparing CO with 107 age‐matched offspring of non‐long‐lived parents (hereafter indicated as NCO controls), recruited according to strict inclusion demographic cri…
Metabolic syndrome in the offspring of centenarians: focus on prevalence, components, and adipokines
With aging, an increased prevalence of a clustering of metabolic abnormalities has been observed. These abnormalities include obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance and are collectively known as metabolic syndrome (MetS), a low-grade, systemic, inflammatory condition associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other adverse health outcomes. A number of studies have demonstrated that centenarians’ offspring have a significant survival advantage and a lower risk of developing the most important age-related diseases. They therefore represent one of the best models with which to study the familiar component of human longevity. The aim of this …
From microbiota toward gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: Are we on the highway to hell?
AbstractGut microbiota is represented by different microorganisms that colonize the intestinal tract, mostly the large intestine, such as bacteria, fungi, archaea and viruses. The gut microbial balance has a key role in several functions. It modulates the host’s metabolism, maintains the gut barrier integrity, participates in the xenobiotics and drug metabolism, and acts as protection against gastro-intestinal pathogens through the host’s immune system modulation. The impaired gut microbiota, called dysbiosis, may be the result of an imbalance in this equilibrium and is linked with different diseases, including cancer. While most of the studies have focused on the association between microb…
Optimization of Low-Cost Monitoring Systems for On-Site Earthquake Early-Warning of Critical Infrastructures
In the last years, monitoring systems based on low-cost and miniaturized sensors (MEMS) revealed as a very successful compromise between the availability of data and their quality. Also applications in the field of seismic and structural monitoring have been constantly increasing in term of number and variety of functions. Among these applications, the implementation of systems for earthquake early warning is a cutting-edge topic, mainly for its relevance for the society as millions of peoples in various regions of the world are exposed to high seismic hazard. This paper introduces the optimization of an already established seismic (and structural) monitoring system, that would make it suit…
Hemostasis and ageing
Abstract On March 19, 2008 a Symposium on Pathophysiology of Ageing and Age-Related Diseases was held in Palermo, Italy. The lecture of D. Mari on Hemostasis and ageing is summarized herein. Physiological ageing is associated with increased plasma levels of many proteins of blood coagulation together with fibrinolysis impairment. This may be of great concern in view of the known association between vascular and thromboembolic diseases and ageing. On the other hand, centenarians are characterized by a state of hypercoagulability and possession of several high-risk alleles and well-known atherothrombotic risk markers but this appears to be compatible with longevity and/or health. Parameters c…
Erratum
Author(s): Klionsky, DJ; Abdelmohsen, K; Abe, A; Abedin, MJ; Abeliovich, H; Arozena, AA; Adachi, H; Adams, CM; Adams, PD; Adeli, K; Adhihetty, PJ; Adler, SG; Agam, G; Agarwal, R; Aghi, MK; Agnello, M; Agostinis, P; Aguilar, PV; Aguirre-Ghiso, J; Airoldi, EM; Ait-Si-Ali, S; Akematsu, T; Akporiaye, ET; Al-Rubeai, M; Albaiceta, GM; Albanese, C; Albani, D; Albert, ML; Aldudo, J; Algul, H; Alirezaei, M; Alloza, I; Almasan, A; Almonte-Beceril, M; Alnemri, ES; Alonso, C; Altan-Bonnet, N; Altieri, DC; Alvarez, S; Alvarez-Erviti, L; Alves, S; Amadoro, G; Amano, A; Amantini, C; Ambrosio, S; Amelio, I; Amer, AO; Amessou, M; Amon, A; An, Z; Anania, FA; Andersen, SU; Andley, UP; Andreadi, CK; Andrieu-Ab…
Development of a low-cost seismic station based on MEMS technology
L’impatto di un forte terremoto su una comunità urbana può essere ridotto con una azione tempestiva e ben pianificata da parte degli organi di Protezione Civile preposti. In tale prospettiva è di fondamentale importanza che gli organi preposti alla sorveglianza sismica del territorio nazionale si dotino di strumenti di osservazione puntuale in grado di fornire nell’immediato terremoto informazioni utilissime per la gestione ottimale delle emergenze. Ciò può essere fatto oggi mediante la realizzazione reti sismiche urbane, con funzionamento in tempo reale (OSU Osservatori Sismici Urbani), in grado di fornire in maniera tempestiva ai centri per la gestione delle emergenze, la distribuzione de…