Microfluidic cartridge with integrated array of amorphous silicon photosensors for chemiluminescence detection of viral DNA

Portable and simple analytical devices based on microfluidics with chemiluminescence detection are particularly attractive for point-of-care applications, offering high detectability and specificity in a simple and miniaturized analytical format. Particularly relevant for infectious disease diagnosis is the ability to sensitively and specifically detect target nucleic acid sequences in biological fluids. To reach the goal of real-life applications for such devices, however, several technological challenges related to full device integration are still to be solved, one key aspect regarding on-chip integration of the chemiluminescence signal detection device. Nowadays, the most promising approach is on-chip integration of thin-film photosensors. We recently proposed a portable cartridge with microwells aligned with an array of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) photosensors, reaching attomole level limits of detection for different chemiluminescence model reactions. Herein, we explore its applicability and performance for multiplex and quantitative detection of viral DNA. In particular, the cartridge was modified to accommodate microfluidic channels and, upon immobilization of three oligonucleotide probes in different positions along each channel, each specific for a genotype of Parvovirus B19, viral nucleic acid sequences were captured and detected. With this system, taking advantage of oligoprobes specificity, chemiluminescence detectability, and photosensor sensitivity, accurate quantification of target analytes down to 70 pmol L-1 was obtained for each B19 DNA genotype, with high specificity and multiplexing ability. Results confirm the good detection capabilities and assay applicability of the proposed system, prompting the development of innovative portable analytical devices with enhanced sensitivity and multiplexed capabilities

A QoS framework for heterogeneous networking

In order for next generation networks to support effective handover procedures, there is a need for defining QoS signaling mechanisms that guarantee the provision of point- to- point as well as network level QoS. This paper proposes a QoS signaling mechanism to be implemented by the Y-Comm architecture as a potential 4G framework. The proposed mechanism requires certain level of cooperation among network elements; therefore, it proposes some functional modules/ interfaces to be run on different network entities. As showed in the paper, the proposed mechanism could be implemented in different scenarios such as initial registration and connection, and also in the case of handover

Exploring efficient imperative handover mechanisms for heterogeneous wireless networks

The Next Generation Internet will provide ubiquitous computing by the seamless operation of heterogeneous wireless networks. It will also provide support for quality-ofservice, QoS, fostering new classes of applications and will havea built-in multi-level security environment. A key requirement of this new infrastructure will be support for efficient vertical handover. Y-Comm is a new architecture that will meet the challenge of this new environment. This paper explores the design of efficient imperative handover mechanisms using the Y-Comm Framework. It first looks at different types of handovers, then examines the Y-Comm Framework and shows how Y-Comm maps unto current mobile infrastructure. It then explores support for different handover mechanisms using Y-Comm. Finally, it highlights the development of a new testbed to further investigate the proposed mechanisms

The heuristic strategies for assessing wireless sensor network: an event-based formal approach

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are increasingly being adopted in critical applications. In these networks undesired events may undermine the reliability level; thus their effects need to be properly assessed from the early stages of the development process onwards to minimize the chances of unexpected problems during use. In this paper we propose two heuristic strategies: what-if analysis and robustness checking. They allow to drive designers towards optimal WSN deployment solutions, from the point of view of the connection and data delivery resiliency, exploiting a formal approach based on the event calculus formal language. The heuristics are backed up by a support tool aimed to simplify their adoption by system designers. The tool allows to specify the target WSN in a user-friendly way and it is able to elaborate the two heuristic strategies by means of the event calculus specifications automatically generated. The WSN reliability is assessed computing a set of specific metrics. The effectiveness of the strategies is shown in the context of three case studies

Italian survey on benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common type of peripheral vertigo. BPPV often relapses after the first episode, with a recurrence rate between 15% and 50%. To date both the aetiopathogenetic processes that lead to otoconia detachment and the factors that make BPPV a relapsing disease are still unclear, but recent epidemiological studies have shown a possible association with cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of the present study (Sesto Senso Survey) was to evaluate in the Italian population through an observational survey, the main demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with BPPV (first episode or recurrent) with particular focus on the potential cardiovascular risk factors. The survey was conducted in 158 vestibology centres across Italy on 2,682 patients (mean age 59.3 ± 15.0 years; 39.1% males and 60.9% females) suffering from BPPV, from January 2013 to December 2014. The results showed a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure (55.8%), hypercholesterolaemia (38.6%) and diabetes (17.7%), as well as a family history of cardiovascular disease (49.4%). A high percentage of patients also had hearing loss (42.9%), tinnitus (41.2%), or both (26.8%). The presence of hypertension, dyslipidaemia and pre-existing cardiovascular comorbidities were significantly related to recurrent BPPV episodes (OR range between 1.84 and 2.31). In addition, the association with diabetes and thyroid/autoimmune disease (OR range between 1.73 and 1.89) was relevant. The survey results confirm the significant association between cardiovascular comorbidities and recurrent BPPV and identify them as a potential important risk factor for recurrence of BPPV in the Italian population, paving the way for the evaluation of new therapeutic strategies in the treatment of this disease

The First Year of the Large Hadron Collider: A Brief Review

The first year of LHC data taking provided an integrated luminosity of about 35/pb in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV. The accelerator and the experiments have demonstrated an excellent performance. The experiments have obtained important physics results in many areas, ranging from tests of the Standard Model to searches for new particles. Among other results the physics highlights have been the measurements of the W-, Z-boson and t t-bar production cross-sections, improved limits on supersymmetric and other hypothetical particles and the observation of jet-quenching, elliptical flow and J/Psi suppression in lead-lead collisions at sqrt(sNN) = 2.76 TeV.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, invited brief review for Mod. Phys. Lett.

Unusual formations of the free electromagnetic field in vacuum

It is shown that there are exact solutions of the free Maxwell equations (FME) in vacuum allowing an existence of stable spherical formations of the free magnetic field and ring-like formations of the free electric field. It is detected that a form of these spheres and rings does not change with time in vacuum. It is shown that these convergent solutions are the result of an interference of some divergent solutions of FME. One can surmise that these electromagnetic formations correspond to Kapitsa's hypothesis about interference origin and a structure of fireball.Comment: Revtex-file, without figures. To get lournal-pdf-copy with figures contact with [email protected]

Adoption of innovation in agriculture:A critical review of economic and psychological models

Two main models have been used to analyse farmers’ decisions toadopt an innovation; the first is based on the concept of utility maximisation(UM) and the second is based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Thisstudy uses a vote-count method to identify the effect of different variables onfarmers’ adoption decisions in 36 studies using either UM or the TPB. Resultsfrom the UM studies show that the explanatory variables mostly have aninsignificant effect on the adoption decision. When the effects are significant,the sign of the effect is inconsistent across studies. Results from the TPBstudies show that correlations between the psychological constructs used in thistype of model are significant in most cases. However, most variables are onlyused in one or two studies and it is therefore no

A survey of potential architectures for communication in heterogeneous networks

An increasingly wireless world will mean that devices with multiple network interfaces will soon become commonplace. Users will expect to be always connected from anywhere and at any time as connections will be switched to available networks using handover techniques. However, different networks have different Qualities-of-Service so a Quality-of-Service Framework is needed to help applications and services deal with this new environment. In addition, since these networks must work together, future mobile systems will have an open, instead of the currently closed, architecture. Therefore new mechanisms will be needed to protect users, servers and network infrastructure. This means that future mobile networks will have to integrate communications, mobility, quality-of service and security. This paper provides an overview of potential architectures for communication in future networks. Our study shows that only a number of these architectures support this integration