19 research outputs found
Recent Results on the Implementation of a Burst Error and Burst Erasure Channel Emulator Using an FPGA Architecture
The behaviour of a transmission channel may be simulated using the performance abilities of current generation multiprocessing hardware, namely, a multicore Central Processing Unit (CPU), a general purpose Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). These were investigated by Cullinan et al. in a recent paper (published in 2012) where these three devices capabilities were compared to determine which device would be best suited towards which specific task. In particular, it was shown that, for the application which is objective of our work (i.e., for a transmission channel simulation), the FPGA is 26.67 times faster than the GPU and 10.76 times faster than the CPU. Motivated by these results, in this paper we propose and present a direct hardware emulation. In particular, a Cyclone II FPGA architecture is implemented to simulate a burst error channel behaviour, in which errors are clustered together, and a burst erasure channel behaviour, in which the erasures are clustered together. The results presented in the paper are valid for any FPGA architecture that may be considered for this scope
Reliable lift-off patterning of graphene dispersions for humidity sensors
Dispersion-based graphene materials are promising candidates for various
sensing applications. They offer the advantage of relatively simple and fast
deposition via spin-coating, Langmuir-Blodgett deposition, or inkjet printing.
Film uniformity and reproducibility remain challenging in all of these
deposition methods. Here, we demonstrate, characterize, and successfully apply
a scalable structuring method for graphene dispersions. The method is based on
a standard lift-off process, is simple to implement, and increases the film
uniformity of graphene devices. It is also compatible with standard
semiconductor manufacturing methods. We investigate two different graphene
dispersions via Raman spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy and observe no
degradation of the material properties by the structuring process. Furthermore,
we achieve high uniformity of the structured patterns and homogeneous graphene
flake distribution. Electrical characterizations show reproducible sheet
resistance values correlating with material quantity and uniformity. Finally,
repeatable humidity sensing is demonstrated with van der Pauw devices, with
sensing limits of less than 1% relative humidity.Comment: 35 page
Secondary prevention of early-onset sepsis: A less invasive Italian approach for managing neonates at risk
Strategies to prevent early-onset sepsis (EOS) have led to a substantial decline in many countries. However, one of the most controversial topics in neonatology is the management of asymptomatic full-term and late preterm neonates at risk for EOS, and guidelines lack substantial consensus regarding this issue. A strategy for managing neonates, entirely based on serial physical examinations, has been developed in two Italian regions. This strategy seems safe, while reducing laboratory tests and unnecessary antibiotics. In the current commentary we provide area-based data concerning the prevention of EOS in 2 northern Italian regions, and we detail the results of their strategy for managing healthy-appearing newborns at risk for EOS
Secondary prevention of early-onset sepsis: A less invasive Italian approach for managing neonates at risk
Strategies to prevent early-onset sepsis (EOS) have led to a substantial decline in many countries. However, one of the most controversial topics in neonatology is the management of asymptomatic full-term and late preterm neonates at risk for EOS, and guidelines lack substantial consensus regarding this issue. A strategy for managing neonates, entirely based on serial physical examinations, has been developed in two Italian regions. This strategy seems safe, while reducing laboratory tests and unnecessary antibiotics. In the current commentary we provide area-based data concerning the prevention of EOS in 2 northern Italian regions, and we detail the results of their strategy for managing healthy-appearing newborns at risk for EOS
NO2 and NH3 Sensing Characteristics of Inkjet Printing Graphene Gas Sensors
Graphene is a good candidate for filling the market requirements for cheap, high sensitivity, robust towards contamination, low noise, and low power consumption gas sensors, thanks to its unique properties, i.e., large surface, high mobility, and long-term stability. Inkjet printing is a cheap additive manufacturing method allowing fast, relatively precise and contactless deposition of a wide range of materials; it can be considered therefore the ideal technique for fast deposition of graphene films on thin substrates. In this paper, the sensitivity of graphene-based chemiresistor gas sensors, fabricated through inkjet printing, is investigated using different concentrations of graphene in the inks. Samples have been produced and characterized in terms of response towards humidity, nitrogen dioxide, and ammonia. The presented results highlight the importance of tuning the layer thickness and achieving good film homogeneity in order to maximize the sensitivity of the sensor
Implementation of a burst error and burst erasure channel emulator using an FPGA architecture
In this paper, the hardware implementation of a burst error channel and a burst erasure channel simulator in Cyclone II Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is proposed. In telecommunications, a burst error channel is a data transmission channel in which errors occur in a contiguous sequence of symbols, such that the first and last symbols are in error and there exists no contiguous subsequence of m correctly received symbols within the error burst. An erasure channel is one in which each transmitted symbol is either received correctly or is corrupted so badly as to be considered erased. When the erasures are clustered together we refer to the channel as a burst erasure channel. Although software simulations are easy to set up to simulate a transmission channel behavior, they are very time consuming. In order to speed up the communication system performance evaluation process and the final parameter optimization design, direct hardware emulation is proposed and presented. The implementation can be easily extended to other FPGA architectures
Development of Graphene Based Inks for Deposition via Inkjet Printing for Sensing Application
In this work we investigate and optimize graphene based inks to achieve a stable and well-controllable jetting behavior using a DoD (Drop on Demand) inject printer which has all the required characteristics of a tool for mass production
Maternal Carriage in Late-Onset Group B Streptococcus Disease, Italy
We retrospectively investigated mother-to-infant transmission
of group B Streptococcus (GBS) in 98 cases of lateonset
disease reported during 2007–2018 by a network
in Italy. Mothers with full assessment of vaginal/rectal
carriage tested at prenatal screening (APS) and at time
of late onset (ATLO) were included. Thirty-three mothers
(33.7%) were never GBS colonized; 65 (66.3%) were
vaginal/rectal colonized, of which 36 (36.7%) were persistently
colonized. Mothers with vaginal/rectal colonization
ATLO had high rates of GBS bacteriuria (33.9%) and positive
breast milk culture (27.5%). GBS strains from mother–
infant pairs were serotype III and possessed the surface
protein antigen Rib. All but 1 strain belonged to clonal
complex 17. GBS strains from 4 mother–infant pairs were
indistinguishable through pulsed-fi eld gel electrophoresis.
At least two thirds of late-onset cases are transmitted from
mothers, who often have vaginal/rectal carriage, positive
breast milk culture, or GBS bacteriuria, which suggests
heavy maternal colonization
The application of the Ten Group classification system (TGCS) in caesarean delivery case mix adjustment. A multicenter prospective study.
BACKGROUND: Caesarean delivery (CD) rates are commonly used as an indicator of quality in obstetric care and risk adjustment evaluation is recommended to assess inter-institutional variations. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the Ten Group classification system (TGCS) can be used in case-mix adjustment. METHODS: Standardized data on 15,255 deliveries from 11 different regional centers were prospectively collected. Crude Risk Ratios of CDs were calculated for each center. Two multiple logistic regression models were herein considered by using: Model 1- maternal (age, Body Mass Index), obstetric variables (gestational age, fetal presentation, single or multiple, previous scar, parity, neonatal birth weight) and presence of risk factors; Model 2- TGCS either with or without maternal characteristics and presence of risk factors. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves of the multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the diagnostic accuracy of each model. The null hypothesis that Areas under ROC Curve (AUC) were not different from each other was verified with a Chi Square test and post hoc pairwise comparisons by using a Bonferroni correction. RESULTS: Crude evaluation of CD rates showed all centers had significantly higher Risk Ratios than the referent. Both multiple logistic regression models reduced these variations. However the two methods ranked institutions differently: model 1 and model 2 (adjusted for TGCS) identified respectively nine and eight centers with significantly higher CD rates than the referent with slightly different AUCs (0.8758 and 0.8929 respectively). In the adjusted model for TGCS and maternal characteristics/presence of risk factors, three centers had CD rates similar to the referent with the best AUC (0.9024). CONCLUSIONS: The TGCS might be considered as a reliable variable to adjust CD rates. The addition of maternal characteristics and risk factors to TGCS substantially increase the predictive discrimination of the risk adjusted model