Smart Textile Based on Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors for Respiratory Monitoring: Design and Preliminary Trials.

Continuous respiratory monitoring is important to assess adequate ventilation. We present a fiber optic-based smart textile for respiratory monitoring able to work during Magnetic Resonance (MR) examinations. The system is based on the conversion of chest wall movements into strain of two fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, placed on the upper thorax (UT). FBGs are glued on the textile by an adhesive silicon rubber. To increase the system sensitivity, the FBGs positioning was led by preliminary experiments performed using an optoelectronic system: FBGs placed on the chest surface experienced the largest strain during breathing. System performances, in terms of respiratory period (TR), duration of inspiratory (TI) and expiratory (TE) phases, as well as left and right UT volumes, were assessed on four healthy volunteers. The comparison of results obtained by the proposed system and an optoelectronic plethysmography highlights the high accuracy in the estimation of TR, TI, and TE: Bland-Altman analysis shows mean of difference values lower than 0.045 s, 0.33 s, and 0.35 s for TR, TI, and TE, respectively. The mean difference of UT volumes between the two systems is about 8.3%. The promising results foster further development of the system to allow routine use during MR examinations.Continuous respiratory monitoring is important to assess adequate ventilation. We present a fiber optic-based smart textile for respiratory monitoring able to work during Magnetic Resonance (MR) examinations. The system is based on the conversion of chest wall movements into strain of two fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, placed on the upper thorax (UT). FBGs are glued on the textile by an adhesive silicon rubber. To increase the system sensitivity, the FBGs positioning was led by preliminary experiments performed using an optoelectronic system: FBGs placed on the chest surface experienced the largest strain during breathing. System performances, in terms of respiratory period (TR), duration of inspiratory (TI) and expiratory (TE) phases, as well as left and right UT volumes, were assessed on four healthy volunteers. The comparison of results obtained by the proposed system and an optoelectronic plethysmography highlights the high accuracy in the estimation of TR, TI, and TE: Bland-Altman analysis shows mean of difference values lower than 0.045 s, 0.33 s, and 0.35 s for TR, TI, and TE, respectively. The mean difference of UT volumes between the two systems is about 8.3%. The promising results foster further development of the system to allow routine use during MR examinations

Medieval wooden sculpture in Sweden ; vol. I : Attitudes to the heritage ; vol. V : The Museum Collection-Plates

Salet Francis. Medieval wooden sculpture in Sweden ; vol. I : Attitudes to the heritage ; vol. V : The Museum Collection-Plates. In: Bulletin Monumental, tome 123, n°3, année 1965. pp. 264-265

Physycal Exercise And Multiple Sclerosis: Effects On Inflammatory Index

Background.The aim of this study was to investigate, in patients with Multiple Sclerosis, the possible anti inflammatory effect of physical exercise; for this reason we are evaluated the serum levels of specific inflammatory markers like pro and anti inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress. Methods.Twenty-two patients (10 male and 12 female, with an average of 49 years of age), with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, were enrolled. Each patient underwent a program of therapeutic exercise in hypo-gravity (swimming pool) within an 8 week period in a Day-Hospital regimen and at the beginning and at the end of the treatment had undergone, previous informed consent, to provide a blood sample. TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Total Antioxidant Status were measured before and after therapeutic exercise. Cytokines concentration were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on two monoclonal antibodies (R&D Systems, Inc. Minneapolis, USA), plasma ROMs (mainly hydroperoxides) were evaluated by performing the d-ROM test (Diacron International s. r. l., Grosseto, Italy) and plasma antioxidant capacity was measured using a TAS kit (Randox Laboratories, Crumlin, UK). Data obtained were compared by paired t test. Results. We observed a significant decrease after the training program in IL-6 (P0.05) at the end of the eight week of treatment. Conclusions The hypo-gravity exercise induce a significant reduction of chronic inflammatory state which characterizes patients with Multiple Sclerosis