Portable Electromyograph

A portable electronic apparatus records electromyographic (EMG) signals in as many as 16 channels at a sampling rate of 1,024 Hz in each channel. The apparatus (see figure) includes 16 differential EMG electrodes (each electrode corresponding to one channel) with cables and attachment hardware, reference electrodes, an input/output-and-power-adapter unit, a 16-bit analog-to-digital converter, and a hand-held computer that contains a removable 256-MB flash memory card. When all 16 EMG electrodes are in use, full-bandwidth data can be recorded in each channel for as long as 8 hours. The apparatus is powered by a battery and is small enough that it can be carried in a waist pouch. The computer is equipped with a small screen that can be used to display the incoming signals on each channel. Amplitude and time adjustments of this display can be made easily by use of touch buttons on the screen. The user can also set up a data-acquisition schedule to conform to experimental protocols or to manage battery energy and memory efficiently. Once the EMG data have been recorded, the flash memory card is removed from the EMG apparatus and placed in a flash-memory- card-reading external drive unit connected to a personal computer (PC). The PC can then read the data recorded in the 16 channels. Preferably, before further analysis, the data should be stored in the hard drive of the PC. The data files are opened and viewed on the PC by use of special- purpose software. The software for operation of the apparatus resides in a random-access memory (RAM), with backup power supplied by a small internal lithium cell. A backup copy of this software resides on the flash memory card. In the event of loss of both main and backup battery power and consequent loss of this software, the backup copy can be used to restore the RAM copy after power has been restored. Accessories for this device are also available. These include goniometers, accelerometers, foot switches, and force gauges

The first orbital period of a very bright and fast Nova in M31: M31N 2013-01b

We present the first X-ray and UV/optical observations of a very bright and fast nova in the disc of M31, M31N 2013-01b. The nova reached a peak magnitude $R\sim$15 mag and decayed by 2 magnitudes in only 3 days, making it one of the brightest and fastest novae ever detected in Andromeda. From archival multi-band data we have been able to trace its fast evolution down to $U>21$ mag in less than two weeks and to uncover for the first time the Super-Soft X-ray phase, whose onset occurred 10-30 days from the optical maximum. The X-ray spectrum is consistent with a blackbody with a temperature of $\sim$50 eV and emitting radius of $\sim$4$\times 10^{9}$ cm, larger than a white dwarf radius, indicating an expanded region. Its peak X-ray luminosity, 3.5$\times 10^{37}$ erg s$^{-1}$, locates M31N 2013-01b among the most luminous novae in M31. We also unambiguously detect a short 1.28$\pm$0.02 h X-ray periodicity that we ascribe to the binary orbital period, possibly due to partial eclipses. This makes M31N 2013-01b the first nova in M31 with an orbital period determined. The short period also makes this nova one of the few known below the 2-3 h orbital period gap. All the observed characteristics strongly indicate that M31N 2013-01b harbours a massive white dwarf and a very low-mass companion, consistent with being a nova belonging to the disc population of the Andromeda Galaxy.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables; accepted by the Astrophysical Journa

CMB Polarization Systematics, Cosmological Birefringence and the Gravitational Waves Background

Cosmic Microwave Background experiments must achieve very accurate calibration of their polarization reference frame to avoid biasing the cosmological parameters. In particular, a wrong or inaccurate calibration might mimic the presence of a gravitational wave background, or a signal from cosmological birefringence, a phenomenon characteristic of several non-standard, symmetry breaking theories of electrodynamics that allow for \textit{in vacuo} rotation if the polarization direction of the photon. Noteworthly, several authors have claimed that the BOOMERanG 2003 (B2K) published polarized power spectra of the CMB may hint at cosmological birefringence. Such analyses, however, do not take into account the reported calibration uncertainties of the BOOMERanG focal plane. We develop a formalism to include this effect and apply it to the BOOMERanG dataset, finding a cosmological rotation angle $\alpha=-4.3^\circ\pm4.1^\circ$. We also investigate the expected performances of future space borne experiment, finding that an overall miscalibration larger then $1^\circ$ for Planck and $0.2\circ$ for EPIC, if not properly taken into account, will produce a bias on the constraints on the cosmological parameters and could misleadingly suggest the presence of a GW background.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

Motorway Speed Management in Southern Italy

AbstractComparing operating speed (V85) with the theoretical design speeds makes many of the assessments fundamental to correct design more effective. In technical literature various models for estimatingV85 are present but they cannot be extended to motorways without risking substantial approximation. This study proposes a model for estimating V85 on motorways. In addition, it proposes a second model making it possible to estimate free flow speed (FFS) in various traffic conditions. This could be very useful for Level of Service studies on motorways

A rare case of subcutaneous traumatic index finger both extensor tendons rupture. Results of WALANT extensor digiti minimi transfer and literature review

Traumatic subcutaneous index finger both extensor tendons ruptures are rare injuries. Aim of the present paper is to review the literature about this uncommon lesion and to describe the case of 56 years old woman injured when her hand became stuck under a weight during a wrist hyperflexion movement. Surgical treatment was undertaken after 7 days. An extensor digiti minimi (EDM) tendon transfer and a Pulvertaft tenodesis on the index EDC to middle EDC using wide awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique was performed. The advantage is to allow immediate visualization of active motion and confirmation of appropriate soft tissue tensioning. In our patient no complications were observed and an early rehabilitation program was started. The patient recovered full function at 2 months and resumed hear heavy labour working activity at 4 months

Recommended implementation of electrical resistance tomography for conductivity mapping of metallic nanowire networks using voltage excitation

open6noThe knowledge of the spatial distribution of the electrical conductivity of metallic nanowire networks (NWN) is important for tailoring the performance in applications. This work focuses on Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT), a technique that maps the electrical conductivity of a sample from several resistance measurements performed on its border. We show that ERT can be successfully employed for NWN characterisation if a dedicated measurement protocol is employed. When applied to other materials, ERT measurements are typically performed with a constant current excitation; we show that, because of the peculiar microscopic structure and behaviour of metallic NWN, a constant voltage excitation protocols is preferable. This protocol maximises the signal to noise ratio in the resistance measurements-and thus the accuracy of ERT maps-while preventing the onset of sample alterations.openCultrera, Alessandro; Milano, Gianluca; De Leo, Natascia; Ricciardi, Carlo; Boarino, Luca; Callegaro, LucaCultrera, Alessandro; Milano, Gianluca; De Leo, Natascia; Ricciardi, Carlo; Boarino, Luca; Callegaro, Luc

Исследование в области химии производных карбазола

A biopsy is a surgical procedure performed to establish a clear diagnosis of a lesion in order to clarify a clinical diagnostic suspicion. During a biopsy procedure it is fundamental to maintain safe and readable cut margins in order to permit histological visualization of possible marginal infiltrations or malignant transformation of a lesion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histological peripheral damage caused by application of a KTP (potassium titanium phosphate) laser during oral soft tissue biopsy procedures. A KTP laser (λ 532 nm) at different power settings and fluences was used to obtain 45 samples from pig cadaver tongues. The samples were then subdivided into five groups of nine samples each. A final specimen was taken by scalpel as a control. All samples were put into test tubes containing 10% buffered formalin solution, and were examined separately under an optical microscope by two pathologists to evaluate the peripheral thermal damage induced by the laser. In all specimens the cut edges of the incision were free from histological artefacts, especially when lower settings were applied. Statistical analysis showed no differences among the groups. The KTP laser demonstrated surgical effectiveness and caused little peripheral damage to the cut edges, and therefore would always allow a safe histological diagnosis to be obtained. © Springer-Verlag London Ltd 2010

In vitro Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity of Different Root Canal Filling Materials

Objective: Aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Real Seal 1 compared to other commercially available endodontic filling materials: Real Seal (SybronEndo, Orange, CA, USA) and Thermafil (Tulsa Dental, Tulsa, OK, USA). Material and Methods: Periodontal ligament cells from healthy patients were cultured. The eluate of Real Seal 1TM (RS1), Real Seal (RS) and Thermafil (TF) samples was used for the cells viability tests, both diluted (50%) or undiluted (100%). Incubation of the specimens was performed in culture medium for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h at 37 °C under sterile conditions. The cellular mortality was evaluated by MTT test. Results were statistically analysed and the statistical significance was set at p< 0.05. Results: None of the studied materials showed toxic effects during the period of observation (0 -72 h) when compared to the control group. Only RS induced a very modest increase in cell mortality (about 3% at both concentrations used, during the first 24 hours), when increasing the incubation time, however, only the lower concentration continued to show modest toxicity. Conclusions: Results of the present study showed that all tested materials did not exhibit cytotoxic effects when compared to the control group. © Gambarini et al

Estimating an Injury Crash Rate Prediction Model based on severity levels evaluation: The case study of single-vehicle run-off-road crashes on rural context

Abstract In general in case of crash situations the quality of collected data is very limited and several information are usually unreliable. Thus it is recognised that a significant effort is required in order to improve the quality of the crash prediction models moreover a crucial role is played by the identification of the factors influencing the crashes occurrence and the levels of severity estimation. In this paper two injury crash rate prediction models related to single-vehicle run-off-road crashes type are calibrated and in particular significant attributes estimated are identified not only with roadway geometric characteristics and surface conditions, but also with gender/number-of-drivers. To this aim a survey of injury crashes on two-lane rural roads collected in the Southern Italy was considered and analysed. Finally before the calibration step, a preliminary analysis of the data was provided through the estimation of the levels of severity by multinomial logit; in fact by this model only segments with highest values of severity are identified and involved in the calibration procedure

Mapping Time-Dependent Conductivity of Metallic Nanowire Networks by Electrical Resistance Tomography toward Transparent Conductive Materials

partially_open7Metallic nanowire (NW) networks have attracted great attention as promising transparent conductive materials thanks to the low sheet resistance, high transparency, low cost production, and compatibility with flexible substrates. Despite many efforts having been devoted to investigating the conduction mechanism, a quantitative characterization of local electrical properties of nanowire networks at the macroscale still represents a challenge. In this work, we report on the investigation of local electrical properties and their evolution over time of Ag NW networks by means of electrical resistance tomography (ERT). Spatial correlation of local conductivity properties and optical transparency revealed that the nonscanning and rapid ERT technique allows to probe local electrical inhomogeneities in the NW network, differently from conventional measurement techniques such as van der Pauw and the four-point probe. In addition, ERT mapping over time was employed for in situ monitoring the evolution of Ag NW networks conductivity, elucidating the dependence of the degradation of local electrical properties under ambient exposure on the initial conductivity. Our results shed light on the importance of the characterization of local electrical properties of NW networks where uniformity and stability represent the main challenges to overcome for their use as transparent conductive materials.openGianluca Milano; Alessandro Cultrera; Katarzyna Bejtka; Natascia De Leo; Luca Callegaro; Carlo Ricciardi; Luca BoarinoMilano, Gianluca; Cultrera, Alessandro; Bejtka, Katarzyna; DE LEO, Maria; Callegaro, Luca; Ricciardi, Carlo; Boarino, Luc