Analisi e tuning del sistema di elaborazione di una macchina di ispezione per il controllo di qualità del tubo vetro

La tesi si inserisce in un progetto più ampio di sviluppo, portato avanti dal Consorzio Pisa Ricerche, che prevede la progettazione di una macchina di ispezione per il controllo di qualità automatico del tubo vetro in un’azienda che fornisce packaging primario per l’industria farmaceutica: fiale, provette e siringhe. Dopo uno studio preliminare del sistema esistente al momento di inizio del lavoro, si è passati alla valutazione delle sue criticità e alla proposta di soluzioni per le medesime con lo scopo di rendere il sistema più robusto: in alcuni casi si è provveduto all’adeguamento degli algoritmi esistenti (tuning) e in altri si è progettato e realizzato componenti del sistema ex novo. La tesi si articola essenzialmente su tre fronti: miglioramento delle immagini ottenute dal sistema di visione della macchina tramite filtri digitali realizzati ad hoc, in modo da rendere più robusto il riconoscimento di eventuali anomalie nel prodotto tubo vetro; controllo delle condizioni operative della macchina di ispezione tramite la lettura di sensori di temperatura posti sulla stessa, per scongiurare il danneggiamento dei componenti elettronici della macchina, che opera nelle condizioni estreme tipiche di una fonderia di vetro; e infine campionamento e monitoraggio di dati inerenti alla produzione con lo scopo di controllare alcuni parametri critici, come ad esempio un problema di curvatura del tubo

Contracts in distributed systems

We present a parametric calculus for contract-based computing in distributed systems. By abstracting from the actual contract language, our calculus generalises both the contracts-as-processes and contracts-as-formulae paradigms. The calculus features primitives for advertising contracts, for reaching agreements, and for querying the fulfilment of contracts. Coordination among principals happens via multi-party sessions, which are created once agreements are reached. We present two instances of our calculus, by modelling contracts as (i) processes in a variant of CCS, and (ii) as formulae in a logic. With the help of a few examples, we discuss the primitives of our calculus, as well as some possible variants.Comment: In Proceedings ICE 2011, arXiv:1108.014

FLOCK-REPROD non hormonal insemination protocols for goats

Projekt je razvio inovativna rješenja za proizvodnju hormone free kozjeg mlijeka tijekom cijele godine. FLOCK-REPROD (Hormone free non-seasonal or seasonal goat reproduction for a sustainable European goat-milk market), uz potporu 7. okvirnog programa, iznosi nehormonska rješenja koja omogućuju kontrolu sezonosti uz primjenu umjetnog osjemenjivanja (UO). Na taj način FLOCK-REPROD pomaže uzgajivačima proizvesti više mlijeka i osigurava alternativni put koji je u skladu sa zakonskom regulativom EU koja ograničava uporabu hormona. Razvijeni su novi progestagen free UO protokoli (PG1, PG1, HF) koji uključuju postupke temeljene na učinku mužjaka i svjetlosnim režimima u svrhu indukcije i sinkronizacije ovulacije tijekom cijele godine. PG1 i PG2 temelje se na jednoj ili dvije injekcije prostaglandina (nisu podvrgnute rezidualnim ograničenjima). HF protokol je hormone free te može biti primijenjen i na organskim uzgojima. Novi protokoli UO testirani su u terenskim uvjetima. Najbolji su rezultati dobiveni s HF (58 % gravidnosti, slično klasičnom hormonskom protokolu HT), a zatim s PG2 (54 %) te PG1 (45 %). Osnovni problem za implementaciju protokola PG1 i HF jest visoka varijabilnost plodnosti među farmama. Novi protokoli UO manje su učinkoviti glede utrošenih radnih sati i ulaznih troškova u usporedbi s HT. PG1 je protokol koji zahtijeva najveći utrošak vremena, a nakon njega to su HF i PG2. HF se pokazao najskupljim protokolom, dok je PG2 jeftiniji od PG1. Veći radni angažman i viši troškovi koje stvaraju novi UO protokoli nastaju najviše zbog potrebe za dodatnim brojem jarčeva nužnih za provođenje utjecaja mužjaka (veći troškovi hranidbe, utrošak vremena za baratanje mužjacima).The project has developed innovative solutions for the production of hormone-free goat milk throughout the year. FLOCK-REPROD (“Hormone-free non-seasonal or seasonal goat reproduction for a sustainable European goat-milk market”), supported by the 7th Framework Programme, created non-hormonal solutions that enable seasonal control of reproduction, which include the use of artificial insemination (AI). In this way, FLOCK-REPROD helps farmers to produce more milk and provides an alternative in line with the EU legislation which restricts the use of hormones. New “progestagen free” AI protocols (PG1, PG2, HF) have been developed, which include protocols based on the male effect and light treatment in order to provide induction and synchronization of blokiovulation throughout the year. PG1 and PG2 are based on one or two injections of prostaglandins (not subject to residual restrictions so far). The HF protocol is hormone-free and can be applied even in organic farming systems. New AI protocols have been tested in field conditions. The best results were obtained with HF (58% pregnancy, similar to classical hormonal protocol HT results), and then with PG2 (54%) and PG1 (45%). The main problem for the implementation of protocols PG1 and HF is the high variability of fertility between goat farms. New AI protocols are less effective with regard to working hours and input costs compared with HT protocols. PG1 is a protocol that requires the greatest working hour input, followed by the HF and PG2 protocols. HF has proven to be the most expensive protocol, while the PG 2 is cheaper than the PG1 protocol. The greater work engagement and higher input costs created by new AI protocols arise mainly due to the need for additional bucks to perform the male effect (higher feeding costs, more time spent in handling males)

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake