Gas flow-assisted powder deposition for 3D printing of alfa-TCP: printing and sintering evaluations

In questa tesi, alfa TCP è impiegato per stampare 3D tablet e scaffold per scopi biomedici.ope

Gas flow assisted powder deposition for enhanced flowability of fine powders: 3D printing of α-tricalcium phosphate

Abstract The possibility of creating patient-specific individual implants makes Additive Manufacturing technologies of special interest for the medical sector. For substitution of bone defects, powder based Additive Manufacturing by Binder Jetting is a suitable method to produce complex scaffold-like structures made of bioceramics with easily adapted geometries and controlled porosity. The process inherent residual porosity in the printed part, even though desired as it supports bone ingrowth, also leads to limited mechanical strength. Currently, bioceramic scaffolds made by Binder Jetting feature suitable biocompatible and biodegradable properties, while a sufficient mechanical stability is rather challenging. The purpose of this work is to apply the gas flow assisted powder deposition introduced in 2014 by Zocca et al., to the powder bed during printing of bioceramic tablets and scaffolds using α-TCP powder as feedstock. This enables exploiting the advantages of an increased powder bed density, thereby improving the mechanical properties of the printed parts

Detection and monitoring of invasive and native species of wood-boring beetles in a changing environment

Wood-boring insects are extremely important organisms because of their impact on forest ecosystems and on the economic value of forest products, wood in particular. Recent environmental modifications, linked to global climate change, lead to a variation in both distribution and impact of wood insects species in many forest areas. New trade pattern are added to this scenario, with an increase exchange of goods and their packaging, often wood-made, and with them an increase in risk of spreading wood insect species in new ecosystems. This work is based on trap monitoring of wood-boring beetles, mainly jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambyciadae), weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), in order to evaluate the effect of climate, and in particular of temperature, on distribution and performance of some of the main species in the Alpine area. Furthermore, this works includes a study on the application of new monitoring tools based on the application of digital cameras remotely checked through the web, able to improve the early detection strategies for invasive species. A first study recalls the main wood-boring insect species invasive for Europe and their detection and monitoring techniques, and it is followed by the experimental trial of a new device for remote monitoring of wood-boring beetles. The second study concerns the distribution of wood-boring insects along an elevational gradient, considered as a spatial analogue of climate change, and it shows the positive effect of temperature on the abundance of most aggressive species against Norway spruce (Picea abies). The third study evaluates the effect of warm summer temperatures on the performance of Ips acuminatus, a bark beetle associated with Scots pine in the Alps, in the same season and between consecutive years. It shows that particularly high temperatures are likely to affect positively the population growth in the same season, but negatively the population growth of the following year. The fourth study presents an application of remote controlled photographic traps to the early detection of longhorn beetles belonging to the genus Monochamus spp., considered dangerous for being the vector of the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Camera traps have been associated to a molecular analysis device for the species identification based on a technique named LAMP-PCR. The result is an integrated system able to focus the efforts of trap checking and field molecular analysis only to those traps showing the presence of the target species. To show the wide applicability of the new proposed technologies, at the end of this work is added a study carried on in New Zealand in which remote camera traps are applied to study the phenology of a stone fruit pest

Advances in human-computer interactions: methods, algorithms, and applications

Editoria

The technological innovation serving the Venetian villas and the architectural heritage: the SWindErgy wind energy production system.

The aim of this article is to introduce SWindErgy, an innovative system among the available technological systems of energy production. The following topics will be examined: the methodological approach to the development of the idea, a critical analysis of the apparatus (costs, benefits, feasibility), possible future developments and various application possibilities. The system appears as a flat and elongated stem, anchored to the ground, devoid of rotating parts, reversible and therefore removable with low environmental impact. Only with light gusts of wind, the system begins to move, converting these small oscillations into electrical energy, through permanent magnet generators. A mathematical model was developed, allowing to carry out a series of sensitivity analyses to evaluate the parameters that can most influence the functioning and efficiency of the system. The purpose was to identify possible areas of intervention to increase the overall efficiency of the system. Through this model it was also possible to make estimates of productibility in various Italian locations. The research has also examined a technical-economic evaluation about the standard production of 20 elements and realized a study of costs/benefits ratio, as well as developed a prudential estimate of the market shares and of the sales of the SWindErgy system. The project has already been proposed for the competition of the Venetian Villas Regional Institute and was born from the need to operate on contexts like the villas, subject to constraints, with conservative interventions of the property and with advanced technological integration, as a barrier and safeguard from degradation and/or environmental deterioration

A hierarchical system for a distributed representation of the peripersonal space of a humanoid robot

Reaching a target object in an unknown and unstructured environment is easily performed by human beings. However, designing a humanoid robot that executes the same task requires the implementation of complex abilities, such as identifying the target in the visual field, estimating its spatial location, and precisely driving the motors of the arm to reach it. While research usually tackles the development of such abilities singularly, in this work we integrate a number of computational models into a unified framework, and demonstrate in a humanoid torso the feasibility of an integrated working representation of its peripersonal space. To achieve this goal, we propose a cognitive architecture that connects several models inspired by neural circuits of the visual, frontal and posterior parietal cortices of the brain. The outcome of the integration process is a system that allows the robot to create its internal model and its representation of the surrounding space by interacting with the environment directly, through a mutual adaptation of perception and action. The robot is eventually capable of executing a set of tasks, such as recognizing, gazing and reaching target objects, which can work separately or cooperate for supporting more structured and effective behaviors

Multidisciplinary approach to COVID-19 and cancer: Consensus from scientific societies in Argentina

Introduction: The world is living through an outbreak of an acute respiratory syndrome caused by a new betacoronavirus known as coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2), which has been declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organisation. Cancer patients are a very special population in this setting since they are more susceptible to viral infections than the general population. Several recommendations have been made on this issue, most of them based on expert opinion and institutional experience. It is essential to gather the evidence available for decision making. Objective: To review the evidence available in order to create a multi-institutional position from the perspective of scientific societies in Argentina involved in the management of cancer patients. Methodology: The review included two phases: 1) search and systematic revision of the medical literature; 2) consensus and revision of the document drafted by national scientific societies involved in the management and care of cancer patients using the modified Delphi method. The final results were presented at a videoconference with all the participants. Also, additional comment and recommendations were discussed. The final document was revised and approved for publication by the members of the panel. Results: The consensus panel included 18 representatives from scientific societies from Argentina who assessed the evidence and then made recommendations for the management of cancer patients in our country. International guidelines (CDC; ASCO, NCCN and ESMO) were considered as a background for analysis, as well as institutional guidelines and an open ad hoc survey administered to 114 healthcare professionals from the scientific societies involved in this study. The recommendations are grouped as follows: 1) general care interventions-training of the personnel, cleaning and disinfection of the hospital premises and patient scheduling; 2) treatment decisions-patient care, surgeries, immunosuppressive therapy, radiotherapy and screening; 3) ethical considerations-optimisation of resources, end-of-life care for critically-ill patients; 4) management of hospitalised patients; and 5) wellbeing of the healthcare team. The general recommendation arising from the study is that the management of cancer patients must adapt to the exceptional pandemic status quo without disregarding treatment or cure options. Moreover, healthcare professional accompaniment of all patients should not be neglected. All healthcare professionals must make a significant joint effort to create multidisciplinary teams to discuss the most appropriate measures for each particular situation. Conclusions: The scientific evidence available on this topic worldwide is in progress. This together with the epidemiologically shifting scenario poses unprecedented challenges in the management of cancer amidst this global pandemic. Furthermore, the key role of the healthcare structural organisation appears evident, such as the drafting of clear guidelines for all the stakeholders, adaptability to constant change and an interdisciplinary shared vision through consensus to provide adequate care to our cancer patients in the light of uncertainty and fast-paced change.Fil: Ismael, Julia. Asociación Argentina de Oncología Clinica; ArgentinaFil: Losco, Federico. Asociación Argentina de Oncología Clinica; ArgentinaFil: Quildrian, Sergio. No especifíca;Fil: Sanchez, Pablo. No especifíca;Fil: Pincemin, Isabel. Asociación Argentina de Medicina y Cuidados Paliativos; ArgentinaFil: Lastiri, Jose. Asociación Argentina de Oncología Clinica; ArgentinaFil: Bella, Santiago Rafael. Asociación Argentina de Oncología Clinica; ArgentinaFil: Chinellato, Alejandro. Instituto de Oncología de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Dellamea, Guillermo. Asociación de Oncología del Chaco; ArgentinaFil: Ahualli, Alejandro. Asociación de Oncólogos de Cordoba; ArgentinaFil: Rompato, Silvana. Asociación Formoseña de Oncología Clinica; ArgentinaFil: Velez, Julio. Asociación Oncología Clinica de Corrientes; ArgentinaFil: Escobar, Rafael. Endoscopistas Digestivos de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Zwenger, Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Rosales, Cristina. No especifíca;Fil: Bagnes, Claudia. No especifíca;Fil: Puyol, Jorge. No especifíca;Fil: Niewiadomski, Dario. Sociedad Argentina de Cancerología (sac); ArgentinaFil: Smecuol, Edgardo. Sociedad Argentina de Gastroenterologia; ArgentinaFil: Nachman, Fabio. Sociedad Argentina de Gastroenterologia; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Eduardo. Sociedad Argentina de Mastología; ArgentinaFil: Ferraris, Gustavo Nestor. Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Radiante; ArgentinaFil: Suppicich, Juan Ramos. Sociedad Argentina de Urología; ArgentinaFil: Price, Paola. Sociedad de Cancerología de la Plata; ArgentinaFil: Medina, Luis. Sociedad de Oncología Clinica de Tucuman; ArgentinaFil: O'Connor, Juan. Asociación Argentina de Oncología Clinica; Argentin