A machine learning approach for stride speed estimation based on a head-mounted IMU

Walking speed in real-life conditions is typically estimated through wearable inertial sensors mounted on waist, lower limbs, or wrists. Very recently, head-mounted inertial sensors are emerging for gait assessment. The present study explores the feasibility of measuring the stride speed with a head-mounted inertial sensor in both laboratory and real-world settings. The developed algorithm exploits a Temporal Convolutional Network for the detection of the gait events and a Gaussian Process Regression for the stride speed estimation. The experimental evaluation was carried out on healthy young participants during both standardised indoor and real-world walking trials. For indoor trials, errors were smaller than previous studies (0.05 m/s). As expected, errors increased at lower speed regimes due to a reduced signals amplitude. During 2.5-hours real-world evaluation, errors were slightly larger but acceptable (0.1 m/s). Reported results are encouraging and show the feasibility of estimating gait speed with a single head-worn inertial sensor

DPU_ASW Configuration Control Issues

This document is a printed version of the configuration control (CC) of the DPU_ASW. For CC the Jira tool was used, with a repository provided by INFN. The tool provides a web interface at the following link: https://issues.infn.it/jira/browse/EUNIDPUASW/?selectedTab=com.atlassian.jira.jira-projects-plugin:summary-panel, to access INFN credential are need. The webpage as well as this document are organized by sections, corresponding to each release of the DPU_ASW versions. Starting in section 4 are listed the differences with respect to the previous release. The first release under CC is DPU-ASW version v0.0 (delta-CDR). For each CC entry, an identification code is automatically generated, and a title is assigned e.g. [EUNIDPUASW-72] ICU counter test. Here the entry title (listed in the table of contents) is a hyperlink to the webpage of the corresponding entry in at Jira on-line documentation. Each entry is classified according to its type: New Feature or Bug, and a priority is assigned: Trivial, Minor or Major. The status is specified in the field Resolution: all Done. In the on-line version of the documentation, entries can be sort according any of these criteria; and ancillary attached files quoted in the entries can be downloaded from the on-line version of the document (here are included only plots and pictures). DPU-ASW versioning is fully documented in RD-8

FIRST experiment: Fragmentation of Ions Relevant for Space and Therapy

Nuclear fragmentation processes are relevant in different fields of basic research and applied physics and are of particular interest for tumor therapy and for space radiation protection applications. The FIRST (Fragmentation of Ions Relevant for Space and Therapy) experiment at SIS accelerator of GSI laboratory in Darmstadt, has been designed for the measurement of different ions fragmentation cross sections at different energies between 100 and 1000 MeV/nucleon. The experiment is performed by an international collaboration made of institutions from Germany, France, Italy and Spain. The experimental apparatus is partly based on an already existing setup made of the ALADIN magnet, the MUSIC IV TPC, the LAND2 neutron detector and the TOFWALL scintillator TOF system, integrated with newly designed detectors in the interaction Region (IR) around the carbon removable target: a scintillator Start Counter, a Beam Monitor drift chamber, a silicon Vertex Detector and a Proton Tagger for detection of light fragments emitted at large angles (KENTROS). The scientific program of the FIRST experiment started on summer 2011 with the study of the 400 MeV/nucleon 12C beam fragmentation on thin (8mm) carbon targe

C6orf10 low-frequency and rare variants in italian multiple sclerosis patients

In light of the complex nature of multiple sclerosis (MS) and the recently estimated contribution of low-frequency variants into disease, decoding its genetic risk components requires novel variant prioritization strategies. We selected, by reviewing MS Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS), 107 candidate loci marked by intragenic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a remarkable association (p-value <= 5 x 10(-6)). A whole exome sequencing (WES)-based pilot study of SNPs with minor allele frequency (MAF) <= 0.04, conducted in three Italian families, revealed 15 exonic low-frequency SNPs with affected parent-child transmission. These variants were detected in 65/120 Italian unrelated MS patients, also in combination (22 patients). Compared with databases (controls gnomAD, dbSNP150, ExAC, Tuscany-1000 Genome), the allelic frequencies of C6orf10 rs 16870005 and IL2RA rs12722600 were significantly higher (i.e., controls gnomAD, p = 9.89 x 10(-7) and p < 1 x 10(-20)). TET2 rs61744960 and TRAF3 rs138943371 frequencies were also significantly higher, except in Tuscany-1000 Genome. Interestingly, the association of C6orf10 rs16870005 (Ala431Thr) with MS did not depend on its linkage disequilibrium with the HLA-DRB1 locus. Sequencing in the MS cohort of the C6orf10 3' region revealed 14 rare mutations (10 not previously reported). Four variants were null, and significantly more frequent than in the databases. Further, the C6orf10 rare variants were observed in combinations, both intra-locus and with other low-frequency SNPs. The C6orf10 Ser389Xfr was found homozygous in a patient with early onset of the MS. Taking into account the potentially functional impact of the identified exonic variants, their expression in combination at the protein level could provide functional insights in the heterogeneous pathogenetic mechanisms contributing to MS.In light of the complex nature of multiple sclerosis (MS) and the recently estimated contribution of low-frequency variants into disease, decoding its genetic risk components requires novel variant prioritization strategies. We selected, by reviewing MS Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS), 107 candidate loci marked by intragenic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a remarkable association (p-value ≤ 5 × 10−6). A whole exome sequencing (WES)-based pilot study of SNPs with minor allele frequency (MAF) ≤ 0.04, conducted in three Italian families, revealed 15 exonic low-frequency SNPs with affected parent-child transmission. These variants were detected in 65/120 Italian unrelated MS patients, also in combination (22 patients). Compared with databases (controls gnomAD, dbSNP150, ExAC, Tuscany-1000 Genome), the allelic frequencies of C6orf10 rs16870005 and IL2RA rs12722600 were significantly higher (i.e., controls gnomAD, p = 9.89 × 10−7 and p < 1 × 10−20). TET2 rs61744960 and TRAF3 rs138943371 frequencies were also significantly higher, except in Tuscany-1000 Genome. Interestingly, the association of C6orf10 rs16870005 (Ala431Thr) with MS did not depend on its linkage disequilibrium with the HLA-DRB1 locus. Sequencing in the MS cohort of the C6orf10 3′ region revealed 14 rare mutations (10 not previously reported). Four variants were null, and significantly more frequent than in the databases. Further, the C6orf10 rare variants were observed in combinations, both intra-locus and with other low-frequency SNPs. The C6orf10 Ser389Xfr was found homozygous in a patient with early onset of the MS. Taking into account the potentially functional impact of the identified exonic variants, their expression in combination at the protein level could provide functional insights in the heterogeneous pathogenetic mechanisms contributing to MS

New mineralogical record of guano-associated phosphates in Colombo Cave (Toirano, Liguria, Italy)

Colombo Cave is part of Toirano karst system and opens at 247 m a.s.l. The wide entrance passage was used during prehistoric times, and a 4.5 m deep archaeological excavation pit is located 10 m from the entrance. The main room is dominated by a large central rock pillar and the floor is completely covered by important ancient bat guano deposits. Samples were taken in separate containers and were representative of old guano deposits and a hard-yellow crust covering the guano heap. All samples were identified by XRD and SEM-EDS analysis. The results indicate that old guano samples were composed mainly of calcite, quartz, spheniscidite and minor amounts of xenotime (Y), monazite, zircon, and rutile. In particular, spheniscidite (NH4,K)(Fe3+,Al)2(PO4)2(OH)·2H2O forms from the reaction of ammonium-rich fresh guano leachates with probably clay sediments containing Fe and muscovite (source of K and Al) (Sauro et al., 2014). The mineral associations present in soft yellow and whitish crusts that cover guano were represented by gypsum CaSO4·2H2O, brushite Ca(HPO4)·2H2O, ardealite Ca2(HPO4)(SO4)·4H2O and newberyite Mg(HPO4)·3H2O. Brushite and ardealite occur as cryptocrystalline aggregates varying in color from white-ivory to yellow-ivory and form by the reaction of sulfuric and phosphoric acid with limestone rock (Hill &amp; Forti, 1997; Puşcaş et al., 2014). Newberyite was less common and likely comes from the interaction of phosphates with Mg provided by the disaggregation of the dolomitic host rock. The identification of these minerals is important because they were never reported from Liguria. Further investigations will be conducted in order to understand the minerogenetic processes involved in these guano-associated minerals, and their evolution through time in the damp cave environment (Audra et al., 2019)

An exon-specific U1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) strategy to correct splicing defects

A significant proportion of disease-causing mutations affect precursor-mRNA splicing, inducing skipping of the exon from the mature transcript. Using F9 exon 5, CFTR exon 12 and SMN2 exon 7 models, we characterized natural mutations associated to exon skipping in Haemophilia B, cystic fibrosis and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), respectively, and the therapeutic splicing rescue by using U1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA). In minigene expression systems, loading of U1 snRNA by complementarity to the normal or mutated donor splice sites (5′ss) corrected the exon skipping caused by mutations at the polypyrimidine tract of the acceptor splice site, at the consensus 5′ss or at exonic regulatory elements. To improve specificity and reduce potential off-target effects, we developed U1 snRNA variants targeting non-conserved intronic sequences downstream of the 5′ss. For each gene system, we identified an exon-specific U1 snRNA (ExSpeU1) able to rescue splicing impaired by the different types of mutations. Through splicing-competent cDNA constructs, we demonstrated that the ExSpeU1-mediated splicing correction of several F9 mutations results in complete restoration of secreted functional factor IX levels. Furthermore, two ExSpeU1s for SMA improved SMN exon 7 splicing in the chromosomal context of normal cells. We propose ExSpeU1s as a novel therapeutic strategy to correct, in several human disorders, different types of splicing mutations associated with defective exon definition

Bacterial Populations Related to Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) Stem Break

Bacterial distribution, both external (epiphytic) and internal (endophytic), on Gerbera jamesonii L. cv. Provence and its relationship to gerbera stem break and ethylene production were investigated. The greatest number of epiphytic bacteria was found at capitulum level and 20 cm below. Three genera of bacteria were identified: Acinetobacter, Bacillus and Pantoea. A silver-nitrate solution greatly reduced ethylene production in cut flowers. The use of acid fuchsin solution revealed an occlusion of the xylem vessels, probably due to bacterial cells. The bacteria Acinetobacter, Pantoea and Bacillus appeared to be involved in stem break once their populations reached 105 cfu g-1 of stem tissue

CLASH: Weak-Lensing Shear-and-Magnification Analysis of 20 Galaxy Clusters

We present a joint shear-and-magnification weak-lensing analysis of a sample of 16 X-ray-regular and 4 high-magnification galaxy clusters at 0.19<z<0.69 selected from the Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble (CLASH). Our analysis uses wide-field multi-color imaging, taken primarily with Suprime-Cam on the Subaru Telescope. From a stacked shear-only analysis of the X-ray-selected subsample, we detect the ensemble-averaged lensing signal with a total signal-to-noise ratio of ~25 in the radial range of 200 to 3500kpc/h. The stacked tangential-shear signal is well described by a family of standard density profiles predicted for dark-matter-dominated halos in gravitational equilibrium, namely the Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW), truncated variants of NFW, and Einasto models. For the NFW model, we measure a mean concentration of $c_{200c}=4.01^{+0.35}_{-0.32}$ at $M_{200c}=1.34^{+0.10}_{-0.09} 10^{15}M_{\odot}$. We show this is in excellent agreement with Lambda cold-dark-matter (LCDM) predictions when the CLASH X-ray selection function and projection effects are taken into account. The best-fit Einasto shape parameter is $\alpha_E=0.191^{+0.071}_{-0.068}$, which is consistent with the NFW-equivalent Einasto parameter of $\sim 0.18$. We reconstruct projected mass density profiles of all CLASH clusters from a joint likelihood analysis of shear-and-magnification data, and measure cluster masses at several characteristic radii. We also derive an ensemble-averaged total projected mass profile of the X-ray-selected subsample by stacking their individual mass profiles. The stacked total mass profile, constrained by the shear+magnification data, is shown to be consistent with our shear-based halo-model predictions including the effects of surrounding large-scale structure as a two-halo term, establishing further consistency in the context of the LCDM model.Comment: Accepted by ApJ on 11 August 2014. Textual changes to improve clarity (e.g., Sec.3.2.2 "Number-count Depletion", Sec.4.3 "Shape Measurement", Sec.4.4 "Background Galaxy Selection"). Results and conclusions remain unchanged. For the public release of Subaru data, see http://archive.stsci.edu/prepds/clash

Crónicas, comparaciones y análisis de los programas de estudio del eje Natación 1

Encontrándonos dentro de la UNLP, específicamente en la FAHCE, en las carreras de Profesorado y Licenciatura en Educación Física, y siendo docentes y una adscripta graduada, perteneciente a la Cátedra de Educación Física 2, tuvimos la inquietud, de indagar acerca de los diversos motivos que llevaron a la Cátedra, a prestar detenida atención en los contextos y situaciones cambiantes, los cuales fueron motivos de revisión y renovación de los programas de estudio. Este trabajo tendrá como punto de partida un recorte temporal sobre los programas del eje, que irá desde el año 2010 hasta el programa actual, en vías de aprobación. En ellos utilizaremos como técnica de abordaje, la comparación de diversos aspectos que nos parece interesante destacar y profundizar, a la hora de definir la necesidad de que se genere un cambio.Mesa 16: Educación física y educación superiorFacultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Crónicas, comparaciones y análisis de los programas de estudio del eje Natación 1

Encontrándonos dentro de la UNLP, específicamente en la FAHCE, en las carreras de Profesorado y Licenciatura en Educación Física, y siendo docentes y una adscripta graduada, perteneciente a la Cátedra de Educación Física 2, tuvimos la inquietud, de indagar acerca de los diversos motivos que llevaron a la Cátedra, a prestar detenida atención en los contextos y situaciones cambiantes, los cuales fueron motivos de revisión y renovación de los programas de estudio. Este trabajo tendrá como punto de partida un recorte temporal sobre los programas del eje, que irá desde el año 2010 hasta el programa actual, en vías de aprobación. En ellos utilizaremos como técnica de abordaje, la comparación de diversos aspectos que nos parece interesante destacar y profundizar, a la hora de definir la necesidad de que se genere un cambio.Mesa 16: Educación física y educación superiorFacultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació