Automatic Calibration of Ultra Wide Band Tracking Systems Using A Mobile Robot: A Person Localization Case-study

Ultra Wide Band (UWB) is an emerging technology in the field of indoor localization, mainly due to its high performances in indoor scenarios and relatively easy deployment. However, in complex indoor environments, its positioning accuracy may drastically decrease due to biases introduced when emitters and receivers operate in Non Line-of-Sight (NLOS) conditions. This undesired phenomenon can be attenuated by creating, a priori, a map of the measurement error in the environment, that can be exploited at a later stage by a localization algorithm. In this paper, the error map is the result of a calibration process, which consists of collecting several measurements of the localization system at different locations in the environment. This work proposes the leveraging of mobile robots in order to automatize the calibration process with the ultimate purpose of improving UWB-based people localization in a realistic indoor environment. The whole process exploits existing algorithms in the field of robot localization conveniently adapted in order to address our use case and technology. Experiments in real environments of incrementally increasing complexity show how the average localization accuracy can be improved up to 50% by adopting this method

Stone-walled terraces restoration: conserving biodiversity and promoting economic functions of farmlands in Lebanon

Dry stone-walled terraces are peculiar features of Mediterranean farmland, representing typical examples of social-ecological systems combining ecological functionality and ecosystem services provision. In the Shouf Biosphere Reserve (Lebanon) a program of restoration of abandoned terraces applying Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) principles is ongoing from 2016, combined with biodiversity monitoring activities. This study illustrates preliminary results of the plant monitoring, with the aim to (1) draft a checklist of the plants found in the terraces, (2) compare plant diversity and evaluate consistency of species assemblages observed among 3 different terrace managements (abandoned, restored and intensively-cultivated) and (3) compare ecological and ecosystem service value of the plant communities in the 3 types of terraces. Overall, 332 species were observed, with significantly higher diversity found in abandoned and restored terraces compared to intensively farmed terraces. Similarly, species assemblages of restored terraces were closely related to abandoned and distantly related to intensively-managed terraces. According to the study, restored terraces provide the same ecological value and ecosystem services functions as abandoned terraces, significantly higher than intensively-managed terraces. This study showcases the effectiveness of FLR programmes in restoring economic and social functions of terraced Mediterranean farmland while maintaining ecological functionality

Consensus based recommendations for diagnosis and medical management of Poland syndrome (sequence)

Background Poland syndrome (OMIM: 173800) is a disorder in which affected individuals are born with missing or underdeveloped muscles on one side of the body, resulting in abnormalities that can affect the chest, breast, shoulder, arm, and hand. The extent and severity of the abnormalities vary among affected individuals. Main body The aim of this work is to provide recommendations for the diagnosis and management of people affected by Poland syndrome based on evidence from literature and experience of health professionals from different medical backgrounds who have followed for several years affected subjects. The literature search was performed in the second half of 2019. Original papers, meta-analyses, reviews, books and guidelines were reviewed and final recommendations were reached by consensus. Conclusion Being Poland syndrome a rare syndrome most recommendations here presented are good clinical practice based on the consensus of the participant experts

Assessing Alpine Galliforms (Aves: Galliformes) vulnerability: modelling population trends and threats.

This research focused on the evaluation of Italian population trends and conservation threats of three Alpine Galliforms of conservation interest, Black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix), Alpine Rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica) and Alpine Rock partridge (Alectoris graeca saxatilis). I performed a first-ever assessment of a medium term trend of the three species, exploiting all available data on annual counts and game bags, both as individual proxies and in an integrated fashion. According to the results, the current IUCN conservation statuses of the Italian populations seem appropriate. The integration of counts and bags helped improving estimates precision and reducing bias. Subsequently, I showed that intensive land abandonment has detrimental effects on Black grouse habitat suitability. The comparison of past and present land cover revealed a massive habitat suitability loss in Central Alps from the early 1980s, chiefly in the outer Alps and in wood pastures. Finally, I showed that marginal Rock ptarmigan populations living may display lower ecological plasticity in the use of habitat with respect to core populations and may not be able to adapt its behaviour to compensate for an increase in temperatures in the future. The project highlighted the need for a national survey scheme to plan robust conservation strategies and recommended the implementation of habitat management measures to directly or indirectly contrast the negative effects of global change

Where is the pulse to have the finger on? A retrospective analysis of two decades of Alpine Galliforms (Aves: Galliformes) census and game bag data in Italy

Information on the abundance of the Italian populations of black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix), Alpine rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica) and Alpine rock partridge (Alectoris graeca saxatilis) rely only on extrapolations of local data to the national scale, since there is no national standardized survey. Consequently, their status is virtually unknown. We performed a first-ever assessment of a medium-term (1996\ue2\u80\u932014) population trend of these species using and comparing post-breeding count and bag data at hunting district scale. These data were collected from various authorities in charge of wildlife management and allowed us to test the influence of hunting policies on the estimated trends. Rock partridge showed a stable trend with numbers fluctuating between years, while there was evidence of a severe decline for rock ptarmigan. No general conclusion could be drawn for the black grouse, as we detected lack of consistency of count and bag data. Counts were greatly overdispersed as a result of an uneven count effort among hunting districts. Adding the game management authority as model covariate resulted in more robust trend estimations, suggesting a significant effect of different policies that emerged also as similar hunting pressure across species within authorities. Hunting effort variation over the time was instead negligible. Species-specific game management bias is discussed. Our results highlight the need for a survey scheme or guidelines to be applied uniformly at a national scale

Ultrasound versus Magnetic Resonance Imaging in common fibular neuropathy

We prospectively compared US and MRI in patients with common fibular neuropathy

Ultrasound versus magnetic resonance imaging for Morton neuroma: systematic review and meta-analysis

reserved6TObjectives: To compare ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of Morton’s neuroma. Methods: Studies that assessed the diagnostic accuracy of US and MRI for Morton’s neuroma were retrieved from major medical libraries independently by two reviewers up to 1 April 2014. Predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were adopted. Results: 277 studies were initially found, and the meta-analysis was conducted on 14 studies. US sensitivity was studied in five studies, MRI sensitivity in three studies, and bothin six studies. All studies used surgery as the reference standard. A high sensitivity (SE) of diagnostic testing was observed for both US (SE (95 % CI) = 0.91 (0.83–0.96)) and MRI (SE (95 % CI) = 0.90 (0.82–0.96)) with no significant differences between the two modalities in diagnosis (Q test p = 0.88). For MRI, specificity of test was 1.00 with a pooled estimation of 1.00 (0.73–1.00), while the pooled specificity was 0.854 (95 % CI: 0.41–1.00) for US. No differences were observed between US and MRI in study design (p = 0.76). Conclusion: This meta-analysis shows that the SE of US (0.91) is equal to (p = 0.88) that of MRI (0.90) for identification of Morton’s neuroma. Key points: • For Morton’s neuroma, US sensitivity is equal to MRI. • US is as accurate as MRI in diagnosing Morton’s neuroma. • US may be the most cost-effective imaging method for Morton’s neuromamixedBignotti, B.; Signori, A.; Sormani, M.P.; Molfetta, L.; Martinoli, C.; Tagliafico, A.Bignotti, Bianca; Signori, Alessio; Sormani, MARIA PIA; Molfetta, Luigi; Martinoli, Carlo; Tagliafico, Albert

Habitat selection by alpine rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta helvetica in the Italian alps

We analysed space use strategies in two populations of Alpine Rock Ptar-migan Lagopus muta helvetica considering three topographical variables (elevation, slope and aspect) to investigate whether populations living at range margins can adapt to suboptimal conditions by exploiting the available habitat differently. Selection for topographic features differed between populations, suggesting that Rock Ptarmigan adapt their habitat selection to local availability. Therefore, we suggest considering a wide range of habitat parameters when planning conservation strategies for species living at the margins of their range

US evaluation of Poland syndrome

none6Alessio Mazzola, M.; Boccalini, S.; Fisci, E.; Rolla Bigliani, C.; Tagliafico, A.; Martinoli, C.ALESSIO MAZZOLA, Mattia; Boccalini, Sara; Fisci, Erica; ROLLA BIGLIANI, Claudia; Tagliafico, Alberto; Martinoli, Carl